Getting There and Around in Da Lat

Part of the Da Lat travel guide — see every topic in All Da Lat Guides.

Da Lat is in the mountains, so there is no main train line to the city. Most visitors fly into Lien Khuong airport or take a bus over one of the mountain passes. The bus trips are long but scenic. Once you arrive, the centre is compact, and taxis and ride apps make the hills easy.

By air: Lien Khuong airport

Lien Khuong airport, code DLI, is about 30 kilometres south of Da Lat. Domestic flights connect it with Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and several other Vietnamese cities. There has also been an international route to Kuala Lumpur; check the current schedule. For other international trips you usually change in Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi. The drive from the airport into the city takes about 40 minutes and climbs the Prenn pass through pine forest. You can take a taxi, a ride app car or an airport shuttle bus to the city centre.

By bus and sleeper bus

Buses link Da Lat with most southern and central cities. From Ho Chi Minh City the trip takes about 7 to 9 hours. From Nha Trang it is about 3 to 4 hours, and from Mui Ne about 4 to 5 hours. There are also long overnight sleeper buses to Da Nang and Hoi An, which take around 15 hours. Sleeper buses have flat bunks or small private cabins. Book through your hotel, a bus company office or a booking app. The main long-distance bus station is just south of the centre, and many companies also pick up from hotels.

The mountain passes

All roads to Da Lat climb steep passes with many bends. The Prenn pass links the city with the airport and the road to the south. The Bao Loc pass is on the main route to Ho Chi Minh City. The Khanh Le pass on the road to Nha Trang is one of the most beautiful drives in Vietnam, with forest and long views, but it is long and winding. Landslides can close roads after heavy rain, mostly in the wet months. If you get car sick, take medicine before the trip, sit near the front and avoid riding these passes at night.

Getting around Da Lat

The city centre is small, but the streets go up and down steep hills. Taxis are easy to find, and ride apps like Grab work well and show the price first. Renting a motorbike is popular for farm and waterfall trips, but only ride if you are experienced and have the right licence. Roads outside the city can be steep, wet and foggy. Many hotels rent bicycles and electric bikes for the lake area. Day tours with a driver are a good option for the outer sights. A short heritage train also runs from the old Da Lat station to Trai Mat, about 7 kilometres away.

Getting There and Around at a glance

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