On the journey to Da Lat, a comfortable trip is more important than a quick one. The drive by private car from Nha Trang to Da Lat is about 136 km, but this journey is about more than just the distance. The route passes through Khanh Le Pass, with about 30 km of winding mountain roads climbing to an elevation of 1,700 meters. For travelers prone to motion sickness, sharing a cramped minivan—with limited space and little flexibility for rest stops—can make the uphill drive quite uncomfortable.
By booking a private transfer with Mui Ne Private Car, you’ll travel at a more leisurely pace. Enjoy your own window seat, request stops as needed, and take in the mountainous scenery along the way. The journey itself will become part of the experience—not just a road to be traversed.
| Distance | ~136 km (85 miles) |
| Driving time | ~3 hours 17 minutes - slow for the distance because of the pass |
| Main roads | QL27C west via Dien Khanh & Khanh Vinh · Khanh Le Pass · Lac Duong plateau into Dalat |
| Suggested departure | 8:00–9:00 AM, when the pass is clearest · any hour on request |
| Rest stop | One break of 15–20 minutes at the Khanh Le Pass viewpoint |
| Pickup points | Nha Trang beachfront hotels on Tran Phu · Nguyen Thien Thuat tourist quarter · Nha Trang railway station |
| Drop-off points | Xuan Huong Lake & central Dalat hotels · Hoa Binh Square & Dalat Market area · Tuyen Lam Lake resorts |
Looking at the numbers, this route seems odd: 136 km that takes over three hours. The main reason is the Khanh Le Pass, and this is also why this trip is worth planning carefully rather than booking a tour on the morning of the trip.
There are no trains, nor is there any comfortable public transportation. The alternatives are shared minivans and open-top tour buses—vehicles that are always packed to capacity, follow their own schedules, and navigate the curves at speeds dictated by the driver’s schedule rather than the passengers’ needs.
With a private driver, you set the pace. Our drivers regularly traverse this pass, maintaining a steady line through the curves and stopping for passengers to rest when needed—on this 30-kilometer stretch with continuous curves, this is the difference between a memorable trip and a terrible one.
You’ll also get to enjoy the scenery. With a private driver, everyone has a window to take in the views, the stop at the pass summit is just for you, and you’ll be dropped off right at your hotel’s doorstep in Da Lat instead of having to carry your luggage to the bus office in the city.
Good to know: If anyone in your group is prone to motion sickness, say so when you book. We will note a front seat for them, keep the pace gentle on the climb and plan an extra stop or two on the pass.
On a mountain pass, how smoothly a vehicle rides counts as much as how much it holds. Choose by group size, then by comfort.
Kilometre marks are approximate. Your driver will set the pace to suit the group and fit the break around the pass.
Your driver reaches your hotel a little before the agreed time with the air conditioning already on. They will load your luggage and check that everything is aboard before you leave the coast behind.
The road turns inland and the city gives way quickly to the flat farmland of the Cai river plain - rice paddies, small workshops and the old citadel town of Dien Khanh.
Ahead the mountains are already visible as a dark wall across the horizon. For now the driving is easy and level, which is a good moment to settle in.
QL27C follows the river upstream into Khanh Vinh district, a quieter, greener corner of Khanh Hoa where the valley narrows between forested ridges.
Villages here are small and the fields give way to plantations and uncleared forest. This is also where travellers detour to the Yang Bay waterfall park, a little off the main road.
By the end of this stage the road has begun to tilt upward in earnest, and the first long bends arrive. If anyone wants a last stop on flat ground, this is the place.
This is the stage the whole journey is really about. The road climbs the flank of the Hon Giao massif in tight switchbacks toward roughly 1,700 metres, with sheer drops on one side and forest wall on the other.
The outlook back toward the coast on a clear morning is extraordinary - ridge behind ridge falling away to the Khanh Hoa lowlands, with thin waterfalls streaking the rock faces after rain. The viewpoint near the top is where we take the rest break.
Then the climate changes as you cross the watershed into Lam Dong. The air turns noticeably cooler and often damp, cloud drifts through the trees, and the vegetation shifts to the mossy cloud forest along the edge of Bidoup Nui Ba National Park.
Over the top the driving relaxes. The road runs across the high plateau through pine forest, and after the tropical coast the smell of pine through an open window is the clearest sign you have arrived somewhere different.
Through Lac Duong the farmland reappears in a highland version of itself: greenhouses, strawberry rows, coffee plots and flower nurseries, with Lang Biang mountain standing over it all.
Dalat arrives as villa roofs among the pines. Your driver continues to your hotel entrance, and before unloading will ask you to check the car for phones, headphones, chargers and passports, then help with your bags and wish you a good stay in the cool air.
Route Map: Nha Trang to Dalat via Dien Khanh, Khanh Vinh & the Khanh Le Pass
Honest timings below. The pass viewpoint is free of charge in every sense; the others are real detours.
A pull-in near the top of the pass with the long view back down toward the coast. It is the natural rest break and the best photograph of the journey. Mornings are clearest; by afternoon the cloud often closes in.
A waterfall and leisure park in the hills off the main road in Khanh Vinh district, with an entrance fee. A genuine detour rather than a quick look, so it works best if you have set out early and are not in a hurry.
Beyond the summit the road runs along the boundary of the national park, through damp, mossy highland forest. A short stop here is enough to feel how completely the climate has changed; proper trails need a planned visit of their own.
Lang Biang mountain and the strawberry and coffee farms around Lac Duong sit on the final approach to Dalat. A half-hour browse at a farm is easy to add; climbing to the Lang Biang summit area is closer to two hours and better kept for your stay.
About stops & pricing: The fares below cover the direct Nha Trang to Dalat transfer including the pass viewpoint break. Detours that add real time, such as Yang Bay or Lang Biang, may carry a small surcharge. Tell us what you would like and we will quote the whole day as one figure.
Mui Ne Private Car offers private chauffeur-driven transfer services throughout Vietnam, and mountain routes like National Highway 27C are exactly the kind of journey where the choice of driver makes the biggest difference.
Our drivers regularly travel through the Khanh Le Pass and are well-acquainted with the locations of blind curves, rockfall zones, and safe stopping points. They drive steadily and without rushing—and that’s by design.
The braking system, tires, and air conditioning are inspected regularly—which is especially important on descents longer than any other stretch of road. Bottled water is provided to each passenger.
Your quote includes the cost of fuel, tolls, and parking fees for the entire 136-km journey. All detours will be priced before departure, so there will be no additional charges when you arrive in Da Lat.
Baby and booster seats are free on request, so tell us your child's age when booking. On a winding road we are happy to seat children where the ride is smoothest, and larger parties stay together in the van or the limousine.
Would you like to depart earlier to avoid traffic, or add a last-minute stop? Message us via WhatsApp or Zalo at any time, and we’ll make the arrangements right away.
Our drivers and support staff – ready for every journey, short or long
| Vehicle | Capacity | Luggage | Price / Car |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Sedan (4 seats) |
1–3 pax | 2 suitcases + 2 handbags | $60 USD |
|
Medium SUV (7 seats) |
1–4 pax | 3 suitcases + 2 handbags | $65 USD |
|
Large SUV (7 seats) |
1–5 pax | 4 suitcases + 2 handbags | $70 USD |
|
Van 16 seats |
1–12 pax | 8 suitcases + 6 handbags | $100 USD |
|
Limousine 9 seats |
1-8 pax | 6 suitcases + 4 handbags | $125 USD |
Rates can rise during Tet, Vietnamese public holidays and the Dalat high season. Send your travel date on WhatsApp or Zalo and we will confirm the exact fare.
Q1: How long does a private car take from Nha Trang to Dalat?
A: About 3 hours 17 minutes for 136 km. The distance is short but the time is long, because the middle section climbs the Khanh Le Pass on QL27C, where no one should be driving quickly.
Q2: How winding is the road, and what if we get motion sickness?
A: The Khanh Le Pass is one of the most winding stretches in Vietnam, with continuous bends for roughly 30 km as the road climbs toward 1,700 metres. Our drivers hold a steady, gentle line and will pull over for fresh air whenever you ask. If you normally take something for motion sickness, take it before departure rather than on the climb, and ask for a front seat when you book.
Q3: What time should we leave Nha Trang?
A: Between 8:00 and 9:00 AM is the usual choice. The pass is clearest in the morning, cloud and rain often settle over the summit later in the day, and a morning start puts you in Dalat for an afternoon check-in.
Q4: Will the driver stop along the way?
A: Yes. One break of 15 to 20 minutes is built in, normally at the viewpoint near the top of the pass, which is the best outlook on the route. Ask for extra stops at any point and your driver will find a safe place to pull in.
Q5: Can you pick us up from Cam Ranh International Airport instead?
A: Yes, but it is a different journey. From Cam Ranh the road to Dalat runs inland on QL27 rather than over the Khanh Le Pass, so the distance, time and fare all change. Send us your flight details and we will quote that route separately.
Q6: How much does the transfer cost?
A: Per vehicle, one way: $60 for a sedan, $65 for a medium SUV, $70 for a large SUV, $100 for a 16-seat van and $125 for a 9-seat limousine. Fuel and road tolls are included.
Q7: Which vehicle should I choose?
A: On a winding pass, a smooth ride matters more than space. A sedan sits lowest and corners most steadily for one to three passengers, a medium or large SUV gives a family more room, the 16-seat van suits a group, and the 9-seat limousine is the most comfortable choice for the climb.
The Khanh Le Pass is the best scenery between the coast and the highlands, and worth travelling in a vehicle where you set the pace. A private driver from Nha Trang to Dalat gives you a fixed fare, a morning departure of your choosing, a proper stop at the viewpoint and a drop-off at your hotel door. Send us your date, your Nha Trang pickup address, your Dalat hotel and the number of passengers and bags - and tell us if anyone needs the front seat.
For same-day or last-minute requests, WhatsApp or Zalo reaches us fastest. Our team answers around the clock.