Getting to Da Lat in 2026: airport, buses, prices and travel times
Lien Khuong airport reopens on 19 August 2026 after a runway rebuild. Until it does, the only way in is by road: 6–8 hours from Ho Chi Minh City, 3–4 from Cam Ranh. Here is what each option costs and where people lose money on arrival.
Check whether the airport has actually opened
Lien Khuong (DLI) resumes work at 00:00 on 19 August 2026 with 36–40 flights a day. All of them are domestic. Seoul, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur routes have not been announced, so an international ticket still lands you in Ho Chi Minh City or Cam Ranh. Reconstruction has run late before — check the date again before you book.
Fly into Cam Ranh, not Ho Chi Minh City
From Cam Ranh the drive is 3–4 hours, from Ho Chi Minh City 6–8. The difference is half a day, and the ticket price to either airport is usually close. If you are coming from Nha Trang anyway, this is the cheapest way in.
Take the night sleeper bus
Sleeper buses leave in the evening and arrive early in the morning, so the ride replaces a night in a hotel. The last hour is mountain switchbacks: if you get motion sick, take a seat in the middle of the bus and skip dinner.
Order a car in the app instead of taking one at the station
The standard trick: the driver says your hotel is closed or overbooked and takes you to another one for a commission. Grab works with foreign cards and does not need a Vietnamese number. On the street, only Mai Linh and Lado are safe defaults.
Withdraw cash at VPBank or Eximbank
Da Lat still runs on cash. VietQR, which locals pay with, needs a Vietnamese bank account, so it is closed to tourists. VPBank and Eximbank charge the least per withdrawal; Vietcombank charges the most — 50,000–66,000 ₫ a time.
Prices were collected in July–August 2026 from carrier listings and our own trips. They rise around Tet and national holidays.