Nha Trang is a tropical resort town in Vietnam. Nha Trang has beaches, diving spots, a promenade with seafood restaurants, and even an amusement park. But apart from that, it has temples and pagodas that make it a unique city. Once you’ve absorbed the energy of Nha Trang, you may want to enjoy something more peaceful. If you head inland you will be able to reach the city of Dalat. Located next to a lake and a golf course, you might think Dalat is a resort like any other. But the truth is that it is surrounded by unique landscapes of pine hills, lakes and waterfalls, which makes it a place with a much more relaxed atmosphere. Read on to find out how you can travel from Nha Trang to Dalat.
Travel options from Nha Trang to Dalat
The shortest road route is 135 kilometers from Nha Trang to Dalat. It doesn’t seem like much, but Dalat is southwest of Nha Trang, on the other side of the mountainous region, and the road is full of curves, so the journey may be longer than you expect. The only options to get from Nha Trang to Dalat are bus, private car and taxi as you cannot fly from one city to another and there are no trains that run this route. It was possible to fly with a transfer in Ho Chi Minh City, but by adding the waiting time and transfers, we would not save either time or money.
From Nha Trang to Dalat by bus
Traveling by bus from Nha Trang to Dalat is a very common option with hundreds of tourists every month. It is so popular because it is a cheap means of transport and you can easily book tickets through the website 12Go.asia.
There are several bus companies that offer this route from Nha Trang to Dalat: The Sinh Tourist and Hanh Café. Both are well known, reliable and have a good reputation in Vietnam. You can book tickets at Hanh Café through 12Go to travel on a standard air-conditioned bus. They offer two departures a day, one at 7.30 am and the other at 12.30 noon. The scheduled travel time from Nha Trang to Dalat is four hours, so although buses are not well served, this is usually not a problem as it is not a very long journey. If you choose to depart first, you will arrive in Dalat around 11:30 AM, in time to check into your hotel and eat. On the second exit you would arrive in Dalat around 4.30pm.
At Hanh Café, buses depart from offices in downtown Nha Trang and arrive at offices in downtown Dalat.
The best thing about traveling by bus is that it is very cheap. In fact, it is the cheapest option to travel from Nha Trang to Dalat.
From Nha Trang to Dalat by taxi
Private taxi services, sometimes called limousines, are another option to get from Nha Trang to Dalat. Taxis have several advantages over buses. First of all, you can book a taxi for any time of the day, which means you have maximum flexibility to adapt your trip to your plans and you won’t have to stick to rigid timetables. In addition, a taxi can pick you up at your hotel in the city and take you to your accommodation at your final destination. Starting your journey is much easier than looking for a bus station or company office, and it saves the time and costs involved.
Plus, taxis travel from Nha Trang to Dalat in less time than buses, so that’s a plus. You can expect a taxi ride to take up to 3 hours, but usually the trip will be even faster and you can save over an hour compared to traveling by bus.
Private taxis can be easily booked through the 12Go website. You will get a taxi from Nha Trang to Dalat using Dichung Taxi or Mui Ne Sky Travel and you will receive instant confirmation with both companies. The obvious reason why many travelers do not take a taxi from Nha Trang to Dalat is the price, as it is much more expensive than a bus ticket. Prices vary depending on the type of vehicle booked. You can choose a sedan if you’re just a couple of travelers, or an SUV or minivan if you’re four.
Taking a taxi makes sense if you are traveling with a group of friends or family. You pay a fixed price for a taxi, and if the total cost is divided between several passengers, the price per person is not so high in the end. Vans can be booked for up to nine passengers. Although it will still be more expensive than the bus, you can enjoy a more comfortable, more practical service and perhaps more on-board amenities such as Wi-Fi. Therefore, depending on your budget and the service you are looking for, it may be worth spending more on a taxi.
Although almost all tourists take buses or taxis, some choose to travel from Nha Trang to Dalat on their own by renting a car or motorbike. If you are new to driving in other countries and are not comfortable with winding roads, we do not recommend this option. It is always best to leave this task to a professional. In addition, this way you can enjoy the scenery while someone else drives for you.