Nha Trang to Da Lat: bus, private car or motorbike over the Khanh Le pass

Nha Trang to Da Lat is one of the classic journeys in Vietnam. In roughly 135 to 140 km you leave a hot beach city at sea level and arrive in a pine covered mountain town at about 1,500 m, where you will want a jacket in the evening. The road that makes it possible, National Route 27C and its long Khanh Le pass, is also the part you need to plan around.

After the landslides of November 2025 the pass runs on daytime rules and is still being repaired, so older guides are out of date. Below are the current options, fares and road conditions, checked on 22 October 2026, plus an honest plan for anyone thinking of doing the trip on a rented motorbike.

Nha Trang to Da Lat at a glance

• Distance: about 135 to 140 km by road. QL27C itself is 121 km long, from the junction with National Route 1 at Dien Khanh to Da Lat.
• The hard part: the Khanh Le pass, about 33 km of bends that climb to around 1,700 m.
• Bus or limousine van: about 3.5 to 4 hours, from 175,000 VND per seat.
• Private car: from about 2.5 hours, roughly 38 to 183 USD per vehicle depending on size.
• Motorbike: a full day with stops, for experienced riders only.
• Pass rules in autumn 2026: the repair section is closed to traffic from 18:00 to 05:00.

The road: QL27C and the Khanh Le pass

QL27C leaves National Route 1 at Dien Khanh, just west of Nha Trang, and runs inland along a river valley through farmland and small towns before the climb begins. The Khanh Le pass itself is about 33 km long. It winds through the forests of Bidoup Nui Ba National Park, tops out at around 1,700 m and then drops slightly onto the plateau around Da Lat.

The climate changes as much as the scenery. Da Lat sits at about 1,500 m, and its average daytime highs stay between roughly 21 and 25°C all year, with nights averaging 12 to 16°C. Its rainy season runs from May to October, with September the wettest month. Cloud often settles on the upper part of the pass, and the provincial authorities warn that nights there bring rain or thick fog that cuts visibility.

What changed after the November 2025 landslides

In mid November 2025 days of heavy rain set off around 100 landslides on the pass, 50 of which blocked the road completely. On the night of 16 November a slide near km45 hit a passenger coach and killed six people. The road stayed closed for more than a month while crews blasted fallen rock and repaired the road.

• 24 December 2025: reopened only for cars up to 16 seats and trucks under 5 tonnes, from 06:00 to 17:00. Larger coaches were sent via National Route 27 through Phan Rang and the Song Pha pass, a route almost twice as long.
• 13 February 2026: open to all vehicles in both directions from 05:00 to 18:00, with drivers asked to avoid travelling at night.
• September 2026: nine landslide points under repair. Since 26 September signs at the foot of the pass close the section from km63 to km65+543 to all traffic between 18:00 and 05:00.
• October 2026: the province aims to finish the repairs this month. At the time of writing no end date for the night closure had been announced.

In practice this means three things. Plan to be over the pass in daylight. Check the latest notice the day before you travel, through your hotel, the bus company or local news. And treat heavy rain as a reason to wait, because the province has already closed the pass during storms and the slopes above the road are still unstable.

Nha Trang to Da Lat by bus or limousine van

For most travellers the bus is the simplest choice. Instead of full size coaches, the companies on this route mostly use 34 berth limousine sleepers or 9 to 11 seat limousine vans, which handle the bends more comfortably.

• FUTA (Phuong Trang): 34 berth limousine sleeper, 175,000 VND, about 4 hours. Departures from the Southern Bus Station (Ben xe phia Nam) on Vo Nguyen Giap street, listed between 07:15 and 17:00, arriving at the Da Lat bus station at 1 To Hien Thanh street. Tickets on futabus.vn, in the FUTA app or by phone on 1900 6067.
• Limousine vans: several local firms run 9 to 11 seat vans roughly every hour from 06:30 to 17:30. Local listings show about 150,000 to 250,000 VND; booking sites such as 12Go show about 9 to 14 USD including their fee. The trip takes 3.5 to 4 hours.
• Night buses: there are no overnight sleepers on this route, because a night departure would arrive in the small hours, and the repair section of the pass is now closed at night.

A few practical points. The published timetables date from before the September night closure, so confirm the last departure of the day when you book. If you get car sick, ask for a seat near the front and take something before departure, because the pass has a long run of hairpins. Keep a sweater in your hand luggage: you board in shorts and step off into cool mountain air.

By private car or taxi

A private transfer is the fastest door to door option. Booking platforms list cars from Nha Trang at roughly 38 to 183 USD per vehicle and 2 hours 25 minutes to 3.5 hours, depending on the car and the operator. Transfers straight from Cam Ranh airport start at about 41 USD. For a family or three or four friends, the price per person gets close to the bus, with the bonus of choosing your own stops.

Agree on a fixed price in advance rather than using a meter, and check what it includes: tolls, waiting time, the number of bags and any photo stops on the pass. Ask the driver to set off early enough to be across before the evening closure.

Nha Trang to Da Lat by motorbike

For some riders the road is the whole point: valley farmland, then forest, then the switchbacks and the cool air at the top. It is a beautiful ride, but it is a mountain pass with heavy vehicles, fresh repair zones and weather that can change within an hour. If you have never ridden long wet descents with luggage, take the bus this time and save the pass for a later trip.

A realistic day plan

• The evening before: take delivery of the bike at your hotel, adjust the mirrors, check lights, brakes and tires, and pack.
• 05:30: check the weather and the latest pass notice. Heavy rain or a closure means you postpone, not improvise.
• 06:00 to 06:30: leave Nha Trang with a full tank and top up again in the last town before the climb.
• Aim to be over the top before early afternoon, when cloud and rain often build, and in any case well before 18:00.
• Ride the pass at your own pace. Stop only where you are fully off the road, and expect coaches and trucks to swing wide on hairpins.
• In Da Lat: check in, eat and rest. Do not plan to ride back the same day.

Why you should stay at least one night

A same day return means 270 km or more, with the 33 km pass ridden twice and the steep descent at the end of a tiring day. The night closure leaves no room for a late start back, and afternoon fog tends to arrive just when a day tripper would be heading down. One night in Da Lat turns a race against the clock into two relaxed mornings on the road.

What to pack

• A proper rain jacket and trousers, not just a thin poncho
• A warm layer: January nights in Da Lat average about 12°C
• Gloves and closed shoes
• A phone mount, a power bank and an offline map
• Water and snacks for the climb
• Passport, license and cash in a waterproof bag

Which bike works for the pass

Pick a bike you can control with luggage and, if you ride two up, with a passenger: an upright riding position, strong brakes and enough power to climb without strain. In the UNIQ Moto fleet that means models such as the Honda ADV 350 scooter (2,000,000 VND per day, deposit 600 USD), the Honda CB500X (2,500,000 VND per day, deposit 1,000 USD), the Honda NX500 (3,000,000 VND per day, deposit 1,000 USD) or, for experienced riders, the Yamaha Tracer 9 GT (4,500,000 VND per day, deposit 2,000 USD). These are the rates listed on 22 October 2026.

Every UNIQ rental comes fully serviced, with two helmets, a full tank, an alarm lock, a short briefing and free delivery to your hotel in Nha Trang. You need a photo of your passport and a deposit, which can be paid in US dollars, euros, crypto or Vietnamese dong. There is no online prepayment: a manager confirms availability before the booking is final. Handover and return run daily from 10:00 to 20:00, so arrange delivery for the evening before an early start.

For anything above 50cc you also need a motorcycle license that is valid in Vietnam, and riding without one usually leaves you without insurance cover if something goes wrong on the pass. The details are in our guide to Vietnam driving licenses for foreigners.

Bus, car or bike: how to choose

• Take the bus or a limousine van if you travel light, on a budget, or simply want to look out of the window.
• Book a private car if you are three or four people, carry big luggage, travel with children or want to stop where you like.
• Ride a motorbike only if the road itself is the goal, you have mountain experience and a valid license, and you can stay at least one night in Da Lat.

Planning the ride with UNIQ Moto

If you decide to ride, start with the motorcycles and big scooters in our catalogue and tell the manager that you plan to cross the Khanh Le pass, how much luggage you carry and whether you ride with a passenger. If you prefer four wheels and hold a valid license, there are also cars for rent. Should your trip continue beyond Da Lat, UNIQ can arrange delivery to other cities as a separate service, agreed before you leave.

More reading before you go: the best motorcycle routes near Nha Trang for shorter rides to warm up, riding gear for a tropical climate, and the best time to visit Nha Trang if you are still choosing your dates.