About the route from Hanoi to Dalat
Hanoi lies in the far north, and Dalat sits high in the Central Highlands of the south, roughly 1,360 kilometers apart by road. For nearly every traveler that settles it: a flight covers the gap in under two hours, where driving would take around twenty. Dalat also has no railway of its own, so there is no through train either, which leaves the plane as the one direct way to get from Hanoi to Dalat. The overland version, set out below, is better thought of as a multi-day trip down the coast than a single transfer. Hanoi, where the trip starts, is the busy northern capital, and our Hanoi travel guide has it covered if you are still shaping your time there.
Dalat is a cool, green mountain town, and after the heat and noise of Hanoi the change is striking. Perched at around 1,500 meters, it has a mild, spring-like climate, with pine-covered hills, flower gardens, waterfalls, and old French villas left from its days as a colonial retreat. It is a calm, relaxed place, popular with Vietnamese couples and travelers looking to escape the cities and the coast for a few days. Our Dalat travel guide sets out what is worth doing.
Flying from Hanoi to Dalat
Across a distance this long, flying is how almost everyone travels, and it is fast and straightforward. Under two hours in the air replaces the full day, or more, that any overland route demands, and it drops you within easy reach of the highlands.
How it works
Direct flights from Hanoi to Dalat take around 1 hour 50 minutes, operated mainly by Vietnam Airlines and VietJet Air, with several departures a day. They leave Noi Bai Airport, about 45 minutes to an hour outside Hanoi, and land at Lien Khuong Airport, roughly 30 kilometers south of Dalat. Watch out on booking sites, where some of the cheaper listings are one-stop connections through Saigon or Da Nang that stretch the trip to five hours or more, so make sure you are choosing a non-stop.
Prices and booking
For the distance, fares are good value. Vietnam Airlines and VietJet often start from around 1,200,000 to 1,400,000 VND (roughly $47 to $55), with the lowest fares limited to hand luggage. Prices rise nearer the departure date and during busy periods, so it pays to book ahead. Tickets are available straight from the airlines or through sites like 12Go and Traveloka. Our domestic flights guide runs through the basics of flying within Vietnam.
Getting to and from the airports
The one thing to plan around is that neither airport is close to its city. Noi Bai sits well north of Hanoi, so allow 45 minutes to an hour to reach it, which our guide on getting from the Old Quarter to the airport covers.
At the far end, Lien Khuong is around 30 kilometers and 40 minutes south of Dalat, and our guide on getting from the airport into Dalat explains that transfer. On a trip that is otherwise quick, the drives to and from the terminals are the parts most worth allowing for.
Alternative ways to travel from Hanoi to Dalat
There is no fast way to do this overland, and the twenty-hour drive is not one anyone tackles in a single go. But for travelers with time on their hands who would rather experience the country than skip over it, there is a satisfying way to do it: break the trip into stages down the coast.
The overland route heads south from Hanoi by train or sleeper bus, and the trick is to stop along the way rather than grind through in one long stretch. Ninh Binh makes an early break, followed by the caves and jungle of Phong Nha, the old imperial city of Hue, and the pair of Da Nang and Hoi An further down. Each is a strong destination in its own right and an easy stop on the southbound line. Our guide on getting from Hanoi to Nha Trang lays out the train and the stops in detail.
The catch comes at the end. Because there is no railway to Dalat, you can only take the train or coastal bus as far as Nha Trang. From there you climb inland to the highlands, a scenic three-and-a-half-hour trip over the Khanh Le Pass, which our guide on getting from Nha Trang to Dalat covers. Pieced together this way, the trip becomes a journey through much of Vietnam rather than a transfer to get out of the way. It only works if you have the days for it, though. For most people heading straight to the highlands, the flight is the clear choice.
Conclusion: what is the best option for Hanoi to Dalat
For almost everyone, the answer for Hanoi to Dalat is to fly. A direct flight takes under two hours, runs several times a day, and stays cheap for the distance, making it easily the most sensible way to cross the country. Just allow time for the transfers at both airports, and take care to book a non-stop rather than one of the long connections that fill the search results.
The overland route, south down the coast and then up to the highlands from Nha Trang, is only worth it if you have days to spare and want the journey to be part of the trip. As a straightforward way to reach Dalat, nothing beats the flight.
