# How do you get from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) to Da Lat?

> Saigon to Da Lat: fly about 1 hour (roughly 600,000-1,400,000 VND) or take a 7 to 8-hour sleeper bus from about 400,000 VND. Times, operators, roads.

- Source: https://clevertourists.com/resources/ho-chi-minh-city-to-da-lat-bus-flight-guide
- Authors: Evan & Clara, Clever Tourists (first-hand, from years of travel across 20 countries)
- Published: 2026-11-05
- Last updated: 2026-11-11

**Fly if time matters: about 1 hour from Tan Son Nhat (SGN) to Lien Khuong (DLI), with Vietnam Airlines quoting roughly 600,000 to 1,400,000 VND (≈ $23–55) one way. Take the bus to save money: about 7 to 8 hours on a sleeper or cabin bus from about 400,000 VND (≈ $15.6) (US$15 to US$19).** Saigon to Dalat is about 300 km by road, climbing from the plain to a plateau at about 1,500 m. There is no train, and the expressway that will shorten the drive is still under construction, so in 2026 the bus takes the old highway over the Bao Loc pass.

## The options at a glance

Bus and car figures are from 12Go listings checked on 11 November 2026; the fare range for flights is from Vietnam Airlines' own route page. All are indicative.

| Option | Time | Price (one way) | Best for |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Flight SGN–DLI | About 1 h in the air, about 4 h door to door | Roughly 600,000 to 1,400,000 VND (≈ $23–55) | Short trips, anyone prone to carsickness |
| Sleeper or cabin bus | About 7 to 8 h | From about 400,000 VND (≈ $15.6) (US$15 to US$19) | Budget, overnight to save a hotel night |
| Private car | About 7 h | Several times the bus fare, per car | Families and groups who want stops |

## Option 1: fly Tan Son Nhat to Lien Khuong (fastest)

Vietnam Airlines lists the flight at about **1 hour**, with **5 to 10 flights a day** on the route, and a typical one-way fare of roughly **600,000 to 1,400,000 VND (≈ $23–55)** including taxes. Compare it with low-cost carriers on the route, and compare totals once checked bags are added.

Add the ground time before judging it. Tan Son Nhat is close to the centre, but you still need to be at the airport about an hour before a domestic flight. **Lien Khuong airport is about 30 km south of Da Lat**, roughly 40 minutes by taxi or Grab. An airport shuttle bus has run in the past, but reports conflict on whether it currently operates, so check at arrivals. Door to door, plan on about 4 hours. Our [Saigon airport guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/ho-chi-minh-city-airport-to-city-guide) covers getting to SGN.

## Option 2: sleeper bus or limousine cabin bus (cheapest)

Buses take about **7 to 8 hours**. **FUTA Bus Lines (Phuong Trang)** is the largest operator, with frequent departures through the day and night and fares from about **400,000 VND (≈ $15.6)**; check the current timetable on futabus.vn or the FUTA app. On 12Go, Binh Minh Tai Limousine's 22-berth single-cabin bus from Nguyen Cu Trinh street in District 1 was listed at about **US$19**, 7 hours 30 minutes.

Cabin ("limousine") buses give each passenger a curtained pod and cost a little more than standard double-decker sleepers. Night buses arrive in Da Lat in the early morning, before hotel check-in; day buses let you see the climb, which is the more pleasant ride.

Pickup points vary by company: some leave from a central office in District 1, FUTA mainly from its own stations. Check the boarding address on the ticket, and the drop-off in Da Lat, since some stop at the inter-provincial bus station south of the centre and some at a company office.

## Option 3: private car

A car with driver takes about **7 hours**. It is the most comfortable choice for families, and you can stop for coffee or a viewpoint on the way. Prices on 12Go vary widely by car size, so compare a hotel quote with transfer sites. For three or four people, the gap to bus fares narrows.

## The road: Highway 20, the Bao Loc pass and the expressway

Buses leave Saigon on the **HCMC–Long Thanh–Dau Giay expressway**, then follow **National Highway 20** through Dong Nai and Lam Dong, climbing the **Bao Loc pass** and continuing past Bao Loc and Di Linh to the plateau. It is a winding mountain road for the last few hours; carsick-prone travellers should sit near the front and take medication before leaving.

The **Dau Giay–Lien Khuong expressway** will cut the trip sharply, but it is not open. As of late 2026, Vietnamese news reports put the Dau Giay–Tan Phu section at completion in 2027, the Tan Phu–Bao Loc section (work began in December 2025) at end-2027, and Bao Loc–Lien Khuong around 2028. Ignore any guide that quotes a 4-hour drive "on the new expressway" for now.

## When to go and booking tips

• Da Lat is a favourite domestic weekend break, so Friday evening buses and Sunday afternoon returns fill first. Book a few days ahead for weekends and a week or more for Tet and the 30 April to 1 May holiday.

• The rainy season in Da Lat is roughly May to October, with afternoon downpours; heavy rain can slow the pass. December to March is drier.

• Night buses save a hotel night but you arrive tired at dawn. If you have the time, a morning bus gets you to Da Lat by mid-afternoon.

Plan your stay with our [Da Lat guide](https://clevertourists.com/guides/da-lat) and [how many days in Da Lat](https://clevertourists.com/resources/how-many-days-in-da-lat). Onward, [Da Lat to Nha Trang](https://clevertourists.com/resources/da-lat-to-nha-trang-bus-limousine-van-guide) takes you down to the coast, and coming from the north, see [Hoi An to Da Lat](https://clevertourists.com/resources/hoi-an-to-da-lat-sleeper-bus-flight-guide).

## Frequently asked questions

### How long is the bus from Saigon to Da Lat?

About 7 to 8 hours for the roughly 300 km road trip over the Bao Loc pass. A private car takes about 7 hours.

### How much is the bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Lat?

From about 400,000 VND (≈ $15.6) with FUTA (Phuong Trang), and about US$19 for a single-cabin limousine bus on 12Go listings checked 11 November 2026.

### How long is the flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Lat?

About 1 hour. Lien Khuong airport is about 30 km from Da Lat, so plan on roughly 4 hours door to door.

### Is the Dau Giay–Da Lat expressway open?

Not yet. Vietnamese news reports in 2026 put its sections at completion between 2027 and about 2028, so buses still use Highway 20 over the Bao Loc pass.

### Is there a train from Saigon to Da Lat?

No. Da Lat has no mainline railway; only a short tourist line to Trai Mat survives. Fly or take the bus.

## Official sources

- [Vietnam Airlines: Ho Chi Minh City to Da Lat flights](https://www.vietnamairlines.com/vi-vn/v%C3%A9-m%C3%A1y-bay-t%E1%BB%AB-tp-h%E1%BB%93-ch%C3%AD-minh-%C4%91%E1%BA%BFn-%C4%91%C3%A0-l%E1%BA%A1t)
- [FUTA Bus Lines (Phuong Trang): timetables and tickets](https://futabus.vn)