The classic next leg after the beach: from sea level to 1,500 metres in about four hours, through dragon fruit farms and up through pine forest. The road is the best part, so take your time on it.
Per vehicle, not per person, for a daytime pickup. Tolls included. Night pickups (22:00–06:00) add 10% and Tết adds 30%. Other currencies are a guide; you pay in VND.
The road
The drive leaves the coast at Phan Thiet and heads inland through flat dragon fruit country before climbing into the Central Highlands. Our drivers usually take Highway 28B through Luong Son and over the Dai Ninh pass to Duc Trong. The second half is mountain road: slower, twisty, with pine forest and coffee farms. Anyone who gets carsick should sit in front. A calm driver matters more here than anywhere: on the pass we’d rather arrive ten minutes later.
When to go
Leave Mui Ne in the morning. Clouds often build over the passes in the afternoon, especially from May to October, and you lose the views. Arriving in Da Lat by early afternoon also gives you daylight to find your hotel’s lane, since some of the villas are up steep side roads.
Arriving in Da Lat
Most of the newer resorts are out at Tuyen Lam Lake, which the road passes before town. The car drops you at your hotel’s door. Some of the small hotels in the old villa streets have narrow access, so the driver may need to stop at the end of the lane and help with bags for the last few metres.
Dragon fruit farms north of Phan Thiet: Fields of cactus-like plants on concrete posts, lit up at night to make them flower out of season. A five-minute photo stop.
The Dai Ninh pass: Pull-ins on the climb with views back down to the coastal plain. Best on a clear morning.
Coffee farms around Duc Trong: Robusta and arabica country, with small farm cafés selling their own beans.
Elephant Falls (Thac Voi): A big, noisy waterfall near Nam Ban, south-west of Da Lat. Allow about an hour extra for the detour and a look.
Getting there
Car, bus or tour van?
Option
Time
Cost
Door to door
Good for
The catch
Private car (us)
3½–4½ h, plus stops
Per car, see the table above
Yes
Families, groups, anyone who wants to stop on the pass
Costs more than a bus seat if you're one person
Tourist bus or limousine van
About 4–5 h
Roughly 150,000–300,000₫ per seat
No
Solo travellers on a budget
Fixed departures, no stops on the pass, and a lot of tight bends to sit through in a full bus
Why most of our travellers book a car
You know the driver and the car before you land. The price is fixed, with tolls included. Someone is waiting at arrivals with your name, the flight is tracked, and the car is clean and non-smoking with working seatbelts and child seats if you need them. After a long flight, that's worth more than the saving.
FAQ
About this route
How long does Mui Ne to Da Lat take?
About 3½ to 4½ hours without stops, over roughly 160 km. The mountain section is slow, winding road, so allow extra time if you want to stop for photos or coffee.
Which road do you take?
Usually Highway 28B: inland from Phan Thiet through Luong Son, up the Dai Ninh pass to Duc Trong, then north into Da Lat. It's quieter than the old roads, with few trucks.
Does it get cold in Da Lat?
Compared with the coast, yes. Da Lat is at about 1,500 metres and evenings are often 15–18°C. Keep a jumper in your hand luggage, not in the boot.
Can you pick us up from Phan Thiet instead of Mui Ne?
Yes. Phan Thiet and Mui Ne are priced the same for this route. Choose "Phan Thiet" in the booking box.
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