How to get fromHo Chi Minh to Da Lat

There are 4 ways to travel the 320 kilometers (199 miles) from Ho Chi Minh to DaLat. You can choose between the bus, minivan, private transfer and flight. The journey takes 2 hours 35 minutes to 8 hours and the quickest way is by flight. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at 253,000 VND ($9.90).

Travel time by bus from Ho Chi Minh to DaLat takes around 6 hours 30 minutes to 8 hours — longer than a plane ride, but you can travel overnight so that you won’t lose an entire day on the journey.

Some of the main companies operating on this route are Tien Oanh, Kumho Samco, Trong Minh, Canh Hoa, An Anh Limousine, Futa Bus, GoEz Travel, Long Van Limousine and Da Lat Oi. Their buses depart and arrive close to the city centre, but you might need a short taxi ride to get to/from their bus stations.

Bus fares from Ho Chi Minh to DaLat start from 253,000 VND ($9.90).

Departure and arrival station

Futa Bus has several departure points in Ho Chi Minh. The nearest one to Pham Ngu Lao is 2 km away at the Phuong Trang Bus Stop. Its arrival point in Da Lat is at the Intercity Bus Terminal, some 3 km south of the tourist centre.

Thanh Buoi departs from its Ho Chi Minh office in District 5, 3 km west of Pham Ngu Lao. It parks at its headquarters in Da Lat, 4 km east of the tourist centre.

An Anh Limousine leaves from Tao Dan Park, 3 km north of Pham Ngu Lao. It arrives at its bus station in Da Lat, just a few minutes walk from Xuan Huong Lake in the city centre.

Minivans are faster and more comfortable than the bus. A minivan journey from Ho Chi Minh to DaLat takes only 6 hours 30 minutes to 7 hours — 2 hours faster than a bus trip.

However, their departure and arrival points are a bit far from the centre of both cities. You’ll need to spend extra costs and time to get to/from their terminals.

If you still want to take a minivan, you can choose from two companies: Lac Hong. Rates start from 424,000 VND ($16.60).

Departure and arrival stations

Dan Anh departs from its terminal in District 11, 6 km west of Ho Chi Minh’s tourist centre. You can get there by taxi for around 150,000 VND ($5.90). It arrives at its headquarters in Da Lat, 5 km north of Xuan Huong Lake. A taxi to your hotel should cost around 100,000 VND ($3.90).

Lac Hong leaves from its District 10 office, 5 km northwest of Pham Ngu Lao. That’s about 15 minutes by taxi with fares from 125,000 VND ($4.90). It parks at its terminal in Da Lat, some 2 km west of the city centre.

With a flight, you can get from Ho Chi Minh to DaLat in just around 2 hours 35 minutes. We recommend this option if you are short on time and don’t mind spending a few more bucks.

TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.

You can find Tan Son Nhat Airport some 9 km north of Ho Chi Minh city centre.

The cheapest way to get there is by bus for around 6,000 VND ($0.20). Take Public Bus #152, which you can find across Ben Thanh Market, just a 10-minute walk from Pham Ngu Lao.

Alternatively, you can take a taxi which will bring you for about 150,000 VND ($5.90) to the airport.

See our guide on Ho Chi Minh Airport for more transport options.

Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, and Jetstar offer several daily flights from Ho Chi Minh to DaLat. Vietjet Air usually offers the cheapest fares for this journey that takes 50 minutes.

Airfares start from 580,000 VND ($23). It’s best to book your tickets early. Prices soar to over 1,000,000 VND ($39) when you book close to your travel date or during the busy season.

There are 2 ways you can get to Da Lat city centre from Da Lat Airport (Lien Khuong Airport): a bus (1 hour) and a taxi (45 minutes).

Buses operate from 06:00 to 18:00 daily and will take you from the airport to the city centre for 40,000 VND ($1.60).

If your arrival in Da Lat falls beyond the operating hours of the bus, you can also take a taxi. Rates start from 288,000 VND ($11.30).

For more details, check out our page on Da Lat Airport.

Travelling in a group? You can choose from a variety of cars to take you door-to-door from Ho Chi Minh to DaLat.

Rates start from 3,450,000 VND ($135) for a 3-seater private transfer. Divide the cost and that’s just about 1,150,000 VND ($45) per person. Larger vehicles are also available for bigger groups of up to 12 people.

Book your private transfer through BookAway, which offers comfortable cars that come with trusted drivers.

Private Transfer options from Ho Chi Minh to Da Lat