Tips for Budget Traveling to Da Lat

Transportation Methods to Da Lat

Traveling by Airplane

Air travel is the fastest and most convenient means of transportation to Da Lat. Currently, domestic airlines such as Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Jetstar Pacific, Bamboo Airways operate flights to Da Lat. Departure points vary including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hai Phong, making it easy for you to choose a flight here.

Da Lat flight ticket prices currently range from 1,200,000 VND to 1,900,000 VND for one-way tickets from Hanoi to Da Lat, and about 600,000 VND to 1,700,000 VND for one-way tickets from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Lat. The flight duration is about 1 hour and 50 minutes (from Hanoi) and 50 minutes (from Ho Chi Minh City).

Da Lat has Liang Khuong Airport located on the outskirts, about 50km from the city. So when you arrive and complete the procedures, you can move to the city by bus with tickets priced at 40,000 VND each, or take a shuttle taxi from the airport for 100,000 VND to 150,000 VND per person.

Lien Khuong Airport

Tips for purchasing tickets to Da Lat: Research flight details, timings, and suitable fares that match your budget and schedule. To grab cheap Da Lat flight deals, explore promotional hours offered by airlines. Additionally, book tickets 1-2 months in advance for better prices. Ensure a stable internet connection and a reliable device for seamless booking.

Usually, with promotional tickets, immediate payment is required upon booking. If you lack experience or feel hesitant, contact ticket agents for personalized assistance regarding pricing, preferred flight dates, booking procedures, and payments. Arrive at the airport at least 2 hours before departure for check-in procedures.

Traveling by train

Considering transportation options to Da Lat? Besides flying, another option is train travel, which may take longer but can be more economical.

To travel to Da Lat by train, you must understand train codes to differentiate between fast and slow trains, procedures, and ticket purchasing methods. Firstly, gather information about train routes and ticket purchasing methods. Tickets can be bought directly at the station or online. Some essential information to know includes:

- Typically, trains are labeled with codes like SE, TN to differentiate between fast, slow, or freight trains. SE trains are fast, completing journeys in 29-33 hours, while TN trains are slow, taking 36-40 hours.

- Even-numbered train codes run from South to North (e.g., SE2, SE4, TN2...), while odd-numbered codes run from North to South (e.g., SE3, SE7, TN1...)

- When purchasing tickets, you need personal identification documents such as ID card/passport. If booking online, follow the instructions on the website, check the code and train information sent to your email or phone. At the station, present the received ticket code for verification by train staff.

Train voyage to Dalat

Depending on your time and budget constraints, you can opt for either swift or leisurely train rides, different seat types, beds, etc. If travelling to Dalat via train from the Northern region, consider choosing either firm/soft berth tickets or soft seat tickets. Firm seat tickets are suitable for short-distance travel or those on a tight budget.

Prices are always available on the company's website. Train ticket prices depend on the seat type and carriage you choose (including soft/hard seats, soft/hard beds, air-conditioned/non-air-conditioned carriages). Depending on the seat or bed type, train tickets range from 60,000 VND to 2,000,000 VND per person.

Additionally, ticket prices depend on your departure location; the farther the destination, the higher the ticket price. Since Dalat doesn't have a train station, you can travel to Nha Trang and then catch a bus directly to Dalat (bus ticket prices range from 100,000 VND to 150,000 VND per person). The travel time is approximately 2 hours. Therefore, if you take the fast train, it will take you almost 2 days to reach Dalat.

>>> You might be interested in super fun, super budget-friendly travel experiences in Dalat.

Traveling by bus

To travel to Dalat by bus, you need to ensure you're in good health to endure long bus rides. Bus tickets to Dalat from Hanoi range from 600,000 VND to 700,000 VND per person, taking approximately 1.5-2 days depending on the bus company. Tickets from Ho Chi Minh City to Dalat cost around 170,000 VND to 230,000 VND per person, with a travel time of about 6 hours.

Mytour recommends some reputable bus companies to Dalat for your reference:

You can directly contact the bus companies via phone or check their website for information on departure dates, times, and pickup/drop-off locations. The bus companies will take you directly to the inter-provincial bus station in Dalat or to their own bus stations.

Means of transportation in Dalat

Motorcycles

This is a popular means of transportation in Dalat chosen by many tourists. Their advantage is cost-effectiveness, allowing you to be flexible in your journey. Especially for those traveling independently to Dalat, motorcycles are the perfect choice to freely explore every corner and discover the attractions of Dalat that you love.

Motorbike rental prices range from 100,000 VND to 150,000 VND per day. You can choose from several motorcycle rental shops in the city or contact the hotels and homestays in Dalat where you're staying to rent a motorcycle. Some popular motorcycle rental points include:

- Happy Day Dalat: 127 Phan Boi Chau, Ward 1, Dalat, Lam Dong.

- Ngoc Anh Shop: 2 Tran Hung Dao, Ward 3, Dalat, Lam Dong.

- Mr. Din: 78 Ly Tu Trong, Ward 2, Dalat, Lam Dong.

- Minh Khang Store: 5A Thu Khoa Huan Street, Ward 1, Dalat, Lam Dong.

- Thao Vy Store: Lot A13, Dalat Planning Area, Nguyen Khuyen Street, Ward 5, Dalat, Lam Dong.

Motorbike rental in Dalat

According to travel experiences in Dalat, when renting a motorbike, you need to consider the following points:

- Keep the contact information of the motorbike rental owner handy so you can call for assistance if needed.

- As Dalat roads are mainly hilly, it's advisable to rent powerful motorcycles. Additionally, thoroughly check the lights, brakes, tires, etc., to ensure safety.

- Use Google Maps to avoid getting lost during your journey.

Taxi

If you're traveling with a large group, accompanied by children or elderly individuals, it's best to choose a taxi for convenience. Depending on the number of passengers, you can opt for a 4-seater or 7-seater taxi. On average, taxi fares range from 9,000 VND to 10,000 VND per kilometer (for distances over 20km), and 11,500 VND to 13,500 VND per kilometer (for distances under 20km). You can save the phone numbers of some popular taxi companies in Dalat such as:

- Phuong Trang Dalat Taxi: 0633 556 556 – 063 35 35 35 35

- Mai Linh Dalat Taxi (063) 38 38 38 38

- Thang Loi Taxi: (063) 3835 835

- Dalat Taxi: http://dalattaxi.com.vn 063.3556655 – 3 533 222

- Anh Dao Taxi: (063) 3570570

- Dalat Toserco Taxi: (063) 3830 830

Currently, calling a taxi in Dalat is quite easy. You can use your smartphone with ride-hailing apps like Grab for quick and convenient assistance.

Taxi services in Dalat

Bicycles

If you want to spend more time admiring the beauty of Dalat or cycling around the streets, you can rent a bicycle. For couples, you can try tandem biking, which you can rent near Xuan Huong Lake area.

Recommended bicycle rental addresses:

Ms. Lien: 0167.431.3937

Ms. Lan: 0123.588.0245

Additionally, you can also consider other transportation options in Dalat such as buses, self-driving cars, electric vehicles, horse-drawn carriages, etc.

Book all-inclusive tours in Dalat

For those who lack experience in traveling to Dalat independently or don't have time to research transportation options, booking all-inclusive tours is a great choice. Typically, the prices of these Dalat tours include airfare and transportation throughout the trip. Therefore, you don't need to worry much about convenience and savings in transportation.

Additionally, there are now combo packages in Dalat that include transportation (round-trip car/airplane tickets) and accommodations. With this service, tourists can still enjoy freedom and flexibility in planning their sightseeing itinerary according to their personal preferences.

Above is a summary of transportation options when traveling to Dalat, hope you have gained useful information. Wishing you the most wonderful journeys in the foggy city!

Thao Chi

Image Source: Internet