Day trips
Da Lat
Đà Lạt
Short answer
Da Lat sits at about 1,500 m on the Lang Bian Plateau in the Central Highlands, with a subtropical highland climate averaging 14-23 degrees C and a population of around 258,000 as of the end of 2022. Alexandre Yersin reached the plateau in 1893 and the French developed it as a hill station, with the town formally established by the Hue court in 1916 and laid out by the planner Ernest Hebrard. It is reached from the coast on QL27C over the Khanh Le Pass.
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Why go
- A genuine change of climate - 14-23 degrees C year round, against coastal heat
- French hill-station architecture and planning, laid out by Ernest Hebrard from 1916
- Xuan Huong Lake, the Crazy House, Da Lat railway station, Bao Dai's mansions and Truc Lam Zen Monastery
- Pine forest, flower gardens and waterfalls across the plateau
- The drive over the Khanh Le Pass is one of the best road trips in the country
How to get there
By road on QL27C over the Khanh Le Pass from Nha Trang - Wikivoyage puts the journey at roughly 5 hours, with Phuong Trang buses at about 200,000 dong and The Sinh Tourist also running the route.
Local tips
- Check the state of the Khanh Le Pass before committing to the road route - it has a history of landslide closures and night-time restrictions
- Bring warm clothing; night temperatures on the plateau have dropped below freezing on record
- Two nights is the minimum that makes the transfer time worthwhile
Map
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to visit Da Lat?
Da Lat: Free to enter the city; individual sights charge separately (Crazy House 80,000 VND, Palace III 60,000 VND, Flower Garden 70,000 VND, Truc Lam cable car 150,000 VND return, Valley of Love 250,000 VND, Pongour Falls 10,000 VND - Wikivoyage listings). Fees change, so treat this as the last pu…
How far is Da Lat from Cam Ranh airport?
Da Lat is about 151 km from Cam Ranh International Airport, roughly 330 minutes by road.
When is the best time to visit Da Lat?
Best time for Da Lat: The cooler, drier months; nights can drop to around 10 degrees C.
How long do I need at Da Lat?
Allow Overnight, ideally 2 nights for Da Lat, not counting the drive each way.
Can foreign visitors go to Da Lat?
Yes, foreign visitors are permitted at Da Lat under the current rules. Carry your passport.
How do I get to Da Lat?
By road on QL27C over the Khanh Le Pass from Nha Trang - Wikivoyage puts the journey at roughly 5 hours, with Phuong Trang buses at about 200,000 dong and The Sinh Tourist also running the route.
Sources
3Every figure on this page was checked against these pages.