Transport Guide
Nha Trang to Da Lat by Bus: Time, the Road & Arriving
About 4 hours from the beach up to the cool highlands. What the ride is like, what to pack, and how to get from the bus to your bed. Updated October 2026.
The short answer
Take the bus: about 4 hours for 135–140 km, most of it climbing the Khanh Le pass from sea level to about 1,500 m. There is no practical flight. Go in the morning to see the pass in daylight, keep a jacket in your day bag (Da Lat nights are 10–16°C), and message us on WhatsApp with your date: we arrange a seat with our partner bus companies and tell you how to reach the hostel from your drop-off.
📍
135–140 km
Distance
⏱
About 4 hours
By bus
⛰️
0 → 1,500 m
Climb
🌡️
10–16°C
Da Lat nights
Bus or private car?
Both go by road over the same pass, so the time is similar.
| Option | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 🚌 Bus | About 4 hours | Solo travellers and couples: cheapest, departures through the day |
| 🚗 Private car | About 4 hours, plus any photo stops | Groups of 3–4 splitting the cost, lots of luggage, stops on the pass |
| ✈️ Flight | No direct flight | Not practical on this route |
Want a quote for a private car, or a bus seat on a fixed date? Ask us on WhatsApp with your date, group size and your hotel in Nha Trang.
What the ride is like
From the coast to the plateau, step by step.
- 1
Leaving Nha Trang
Sea level, hot and humid. Wear light clothes but keep a jacket or hoodie in your day bag, not in the hold: you will want it on arrival.
- 2
The flat first part
Out of the city and inland across dry, sunny farmland. A short comfort stop on the way is normal.
- 3
The Khanh Le / Hon Giao pass
The road (QL27C) climbs the pass in long bends through forest, with wide views back over the valleys. This is the part to sit by the window for, and the part to take motion-sickness tablets before.
- 4
On the plateau
Pine forest, vegetable farms and greenhouses: you are at about 1,500 m and the air is noticeably cooler.
- 5
About 4 hours after leaving
Arrive in Da Lat. Where the bus stops depends on the company; from most drop-off points a Grab or taxi to Mooka's Home is a short ride.
Pack for two climates: Nha Trang is beach weather, Da Lat is a cool mountain town. In the dry season (November–April) days are sunny and about 20–21°C in November and December, with nights down to 10–12°C. See the Da Lat weather guide for your month.
Arriving in Da Lat: from the bus to your bed
The question we get most from travellers on their way up.
Before you board
Message us on WhatsApp with your bus company and expected arrival time. We tell you the quickest way from your drop-off point to the hostel.
Show the driver this address
02 Cổ Loa, Phường Xuân Hương, Đà Lạt. Grab is available in Da Lat; the hostel is about 2 km from the centre, 15 minutes on foot from Xuan Huong Lake.
Reception hours
Reception is open 07:30–22:00. Check-in is from 13:30 (check-out by 11:30). Arriving later than 22:00? Tell us in advance so we can plan your check-in.
Arriving before check-in?
Ask us about leaving your bags at reception so you can go straight out to explore, then come back to check in.
Mooka's Home is a family-run backpacker hostel in Da Lat with capsule dorm beds and private rooms. Booking direct means the best available rate, no booking fees, pay at check-in and WhatsApp support from the people who will welcome you.
Your first day in Da Lat
What fits around a bus from Nha Trang, booked at our reception.
Morning bus, early arrival? The Discover Da Lat (afternoon) tour runs 13:00 – 17:00 (1,000,000 VND): flower highlands, Tuyen Lam Lake and Truc Lam Zen Monastery. Otherwise walk 15 minutes to Xuan Huong Lake and spend the evening at the Da Lat night market, about 20 minutes on foot or 5 by Grab.
Day two: Canyoning at Datanla Waterfall (1,500,000 VND, pickup 07:30 · back ~15:30), our number-one pick, or the Sunrise Cloud Hunting Tour (780,000 VND, 04:00 – 10:00 (6 h)) to watch the clouds roll over the valleys you drove up through.
How long to stay? Coming up from the coast, two or three nights gives you a day for a big tour and a day for the town. Our Da Lat itinerary (1–4 days) and things to do in Da Lat help you plan them.
Leaving Da Lat again?
A classic route is the southern loop: Nha Trang → Da Lat → Mui Ne or Saigon. We book the next leg at reception with free pickup from the hostel. Going back to the coast? See the Da Lat to Nha Trang bus with today's departure times, or every route on the Da Lat bus schedule.
View bus schedule →Onward buses from Da Lat
Nha Trang to Da Lat FAQ
How long is the bus from Nha Trang to Da Lat?
About 4 hours for roughly 135–140 km. It takes longer than the distance suggests because the second half climbs the Khanh Le pass from the coast up to about 1,500 m. Allow a little extra for traffic and a comfort stop.
How much is the bus from Nha Trang to Da Lat?
Fares depend on the company and the type of seat, and they can rise on weekends, Vietnamese public holidays and Tết. Message us on WhatsApp with your date and we arrange a seat with our partner bus companies and tell you the price before you pay.
Is the Nha Trang to Da Lat road scary?
It is a mountain road with many bends but it is the normal bus route and runs all day. The main problem is motion sickness, not danger: sit near the front, take a tablet before boarding and look at the horizon rather than your phone.
Should I take a morning or afternoon bus?
Morning if you can. You see the pass in daylight and arrive with the afternoon free. In the rainy season (May–October) showers are most common in the afternoon.
Can I fly from Nha Trang to Da Lat?
Not in any practical way. There is no direct flight between Cam Ranh (Nha Trang) and Lien Khuong (Da Lat), so the bus or a private car is how everyone goes.
How cold is Da Lat when I arrive from Nha Trang?
Daytime highs in Da Lat are about 20–24°C all year and nights drop to around 10–16°C (as low as 10°C in December and January). After the beach it feels cold, so arrive with a warm layer.
How do I get from the bus drop-off to Mooka's Home?
Take a Grab or taxi and show the driver the address: 02 Cổ Loa, Phường Xuân Hương, Đà Lạt. Drop-off points differ by company, so message us your bus company and we tell you the fastest way to reach us.
Staying in Da Lat? Book direct for our best price
Booking direct means our best available rate with no booking fees — you pay at check-in, can change plans by messaging us, and every dong goes to the hostel instead of a booking site. Capsule dorms from 150,000 VND, private en-suite rooms from 350,000 VND — a 15-minute walk from Xuan Huong Lake, tours and bus tickets booked at reception.
- Our best available rate, no booking fees
- Pay at check-in — nothing charged upfront
- WhatsApp us anytime, before and during your stay