Dalat is an attractive tourist destination in Southern Vietnam. Dalat captivates visitors not only by the atmosphere but also by the beautiful scenery and wonderful attractions. Many tourists travel there from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) as there are several ways how to get from Ho Chi Minh City to Dalat.
The distance from Ho Chi Minh City to Dalat is approximately 300 km. After renovation of Highway 20, traveling between these cities takes significantly less time.
There are several ways to travel between destinations and detailed information about how to get from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) to Dalat can be found below.
Flight from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) to Dalat
The best way to travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Dalat is taking a flight between two cities. This is the fastest and most comfortable way for getting to Dalat as the flight takes only 50 minutes. Flight schedule can be found and tickets can be booked here:
Flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Dalat
Dalat Airport is officially called Lien Khuong Internatinal Airport (DLI) and is located not in the city but in Duc Trong district, which is about 30 km from Dalat.
There are several means of transportation that can be used for getting from Lien Khuong Airport to Dalat City. The fastest and easiest way to get from the airport to your hotel or resort is with a pre-booked private transfer as it will take you straight to your hotel door ensuring a hassle-free journey. Detailed information about other transportation options on this route can be found here: How to get from Dalat Airport to City Center.
Bus from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) to Dalat
Taking a bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Dalat is also a popular choice to travel on this route because it is cheap and quite convenient. Some bus companies even offer a transfer from the bus terminal to hotels in the center of Dalat city.
On average, there are about 100 buses departing from Ho Chi Minh City to Dalat in a day. Usually, the bus companies use a 16-seat bus, 28-seat bus or 45-seat bus. If you are not fond on taking a sleeper bus, you can also choose a seated bus.
There are plenty of companies offering bus from Ho Chi Minh City to Dalat and vice versa so you will never be short of choice on this route. Some of the most popular bus companies connecting two cities in Southern Vietnam:
1. The Sinh Tourist
Bus Type: Sleeper bus
Departure time from Saigon: 22:00
Pick up point in Saigon: The Sinh Tourist Office, 246 Duong De Tham, Phuong Pham Ngu Lao, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Drop off point in Dalat: The Sinh Tourist, 22 Bui Thi Xuan, Ward 2, Dalat, Lam Dong, Vietnam
Ticket price: starting at 300,000 VND per person
2. Futa Bus
Bus Type: Sleeper bus
Departure time from Saigon: 00:30, 06:30, 7:30, 9:30, 17:30, 19:30, 21:30, 22:30, 23:30
Pick up point in Saigon: Eastern Bus Station (Ben xe Mien Dong), 292 Dinh Bo Linh, Phuong 26, Binh Thanh, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Drop off point in Dalat: Dalat Intercity Bus Station (Ben xe lien tinh Dalat), 01 Duong To Hien Thanh, Ward 3, Dalat, Lam Dong, Vietnam
Ticket price: starting at 350,000 VND per person
3. An Phu Travel
Bus Type: Reclining Seats bus
Departure time from Saigon: 09:00, 23:00
Pick up point in Saigon: 58 Duong Tran Hung Dao, Phuong Pham Ngu Lao, Distric 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Drop off point in Dalat: 16 Duong Pham Ngu Lao, Ward4, Dalat, Lam Dong, Vietnam
Ticket price: starting at 530,000 VND per person
Notes
If you will be taking the sleeper bus, it’s better to choose the lower floor (A floor) for less chance of motion sickness than on the upper floor.
You should book a bus ticket in advance because the best seats are normally sold out fast. On the sleeper bus it is recommended to book one of the seats from A4 to A9. If you will be booking one of front seats A1, A2 or A3, the seat will be a bit shorter. The last row of seats is also uncomfortable as there are 3 seats combined and you need to share the space with strangers.
VIP Cabin Bus
There is also VIP cabin bus from Ho Chi Minh to Dalat service offered by several companies. These buses offer you more comfortable facilities such as luxury single berths with massage function, air-conditioning, blanket, personal TV & headphones, and charger sockets. VIP cabin bus services are offered by these bus companies:
1. Phong Phu
Bus Type: Cabin Bus
Departure time from Saigon: 08:00, 08:20, 23:00, 23:20
Pick up point in Saigon: 184 Nguyen Van Troi, Phuong 8, Phu Nhuan, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Drop off point in Dalat: 2 Le Dai Hanh, Ward 1, Dalat, Lam Dong, Vietnam
Ticket price: starting at 450,000 VND per person
2. Kumho Samco
Bus Type: Cabin Bus
Departure time from Saigon: 09:30, 23:00
Pick up point in Saigon: Kumho Samco Buslines, 263 Pham Ngu Lao, Phuong Pham Ngu Lao, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Drop off point in Dalat: Kumho Da Lat, Duong 3/4, Ward 3, Dalat, Lam Dong, Vietnam
Ticket price: starting at 350,000 VND per person
3. Nguyen Kim
Bus Type: Cabin Bus
Departure time from Saigon: 23:15, 23:45
Pick up point in Saigon: 275F Pham Ngu Lao, Phuong Pham Ngu Lao, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Drop off point in Dalat: 17 Duong Luong The Vinh, Ward 3, Dalat, Lam Dong, Vietnam
Ticket price: starting at 480,000 VND per person
Limousine from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) to Dalat
Another way to travel between Ho Chi Minh City and Dalat is taking a limousine. When using this service, you will travel like a VIP in a full-size limousine van between these two cities. Limousine is suitable for maximum of 9 travelers and is equipped with reclining seats and various modern amenities, best interior design and high-class decorative lighting.
Limousine from Ho Chi Minh City to Dalat is more suitable for group travelers and those who want to enjoy the comfort, convenience and luxury way of traveling to Dalat from Saigon. Your driver will meet you at a specified location at your preferred time. You will feel the smoothness of the long journey. The duration of such a transfer is about 6-7 hours.
You can choose between Minh Tri Limousine and Hoang Vu Limousine, two of the most trusted limousine transfer operators in the city.
Ho Chi Minh to Dalat Route Schedule:
- Hoang Vu Limousine: 8:00, 22:00, 22:30, 22:59, daily
- Minh Tri Limousine: 8:00, 11:00, 16:00, 21:00, 22:00, 22:58, daily
Dalat to Ho Chi Minh Route Schedule:
- Hoang Vu Limousine: 11:00, 12:00, 14:00, 17:00, daily
- Minh Tri Limousine: 8:30, 11:30, 12:30, 15:30, 22:30, 23:28, daily
Limousine Tickets: City Transfers between Ho Chi Minh and Dalat
Train from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) to Dalat
You cannot take train from Ho Chi Minh City to Dalat because Dalat Railway Station only operates a single tourist route to Trai Mat Railway Station.
If you really want to take a train from Saigon to Dalat, you can stop at Thap Cham Railway Station or Nha Trang Railway Station and then continue your trip to Dalat by another kind of transportation.
Booking Tickets
You can book tickets for transportation between Ho Chi Minh City and Dalat at a tour company in Ho Chi Minh City or Dalat. However, we would recommend booking tickets online on a reliable website where you can check travel details such as schedules, pick up/drop off points, prices and facilities of all companies, and choose the most suitable transportation for yourself.
Transportation tickets can be easily booked online. We would suggest using these reputable websites:
- 12go.Asia: The main websites that we used for booking our transportation in Vietnam. This website can also be used when travelling to other countries in Southeast Asia.
- Klook: Another website that we used for booking transfers, local SIM cards, tours and activities in Vietnam.
Travel Tips for Dalat
If you are planning to travel to Dalat and wondering where to stay in this highland city, check our guide to the best areas in Dalat to help you decide on the area to base for your trip. You can also check the list of the best rated hotels in Dalat to find the accommodation with great reviews that should ensure a perfect stay during your vacation.
Dalat is an amazing city that most people have dreamt of visiting. Discover the best things to see and do in Dalat with our list of top tourist attractions in the city of thousand flowers. With so much development happening in Dalat, many new spots are popping up. Here are the best new attractions in Dalat to try on your next trip.
Dalat cuisine has a large variety of dishes and regional specialties. The ultimate food guide to the must-try dishes in Dalat can be found here: Dalat Food: Top 9 Dishes to Eat in Dalat.