I initially chose not to take National Highway 20 to Da Lat to avoid the heavy traffic and the complicated and treacherous Chuoi and Bao Loc passes. Another reason was to seek a new experience, as traveling on National Highway 20 had become too familiar and boring.
No matter which route you take, you'll start on the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay expressway. But instead of turning left onto National Highway 20 at Dau Giay, this time you should continue straight. That means at the interchange, you should turn right onto the Phan Thiet - Dau Giay expressway .
Dawn over the Phan Thiet - Dau Giay Expressway
PHOTO: VO TIEN
Driving on the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay expressway in the early morning is beautiful, but the Phan Thiet - Dau Giay expressway is even more stunning. The route still passes through a continuous series of hills and slopes, but it gradually heads towards the sea.
Dong Nai is so vast; you could drive on and on and still not see the end of the endless rubber plantations. At times, the road winds through the middle, flanked by forests of trees producing latex, making you feel like you're in some exotic land. As the sun rises, its rays slant through the canopy, creating a dazzling spectacle.
A lone bird in the early morning mist
PHOTO: VO TIEN
We were driving uphill towards the plateau, and in some sections, I could almost smell the sea breeze. And it really was a sea breeze, especially in the stretches through open fields and overgrown vegetation, where herds of cows grazed on the pastures visible from the car window.
Then we reached the intersection of the Phan Thiet - Dau Giay Expressway and National Highway 55. Turning right a little further would take us to the coastal town of La Gi , but we'd bid farewell to the windswept Bình Thuận coast and turn left to head towards the mountains and hills of Lâm Đồng . After the merger, it's all part of the same province, the only difference being that Lâm Đồng is coastal and Lâm Đồng is mountainous.
The sun-drenched slope gradually leads up to the plateau.
PHOTO: VO TIEN
The car passed by landmarks that sounded distant and evoked many thoughts, such as Song Phan station, Song Phan bridge, then La Nga, La Ngau. In the distance, there was the roof of An Son pagoda, or the bell tower of Our Lady of La Vang church.
The road runs parallel to the Phan River in some sections, and at times crosses it. At the point where the highway intersects the river, the road and river split into two branches: the river flows into the Phan River reservoir, while the road continues towards Lac Thanh, formerly a town in Tanh Linh district.
The fields and meadows are in bloom during the Tet holiday season.
PHOTO: VO TIEN
The car continued through many deserted stretches of forest and fields. Several fields of lush green crops promised a bountiful harvest. Occasionally, we would come across a town or village, with a few children playing around houses, beside rows of clothes and blankets drying in the bright sunlight.
In particular, several large lakes appeared along the road, creating a striking visual surprise. As the car sped through the green forests and hills, suddenly the lakes ahead lit up with a vibrant color reaching halfway up the sky. Some lakes were deep and dark right at the foot of the pass, while others shimmered with silver light in the distant forest, half real, half surreal.
Houses on floating rafts on Ham Thuan Lake amidst the hills and mountains.
PHOTO: VO TIEN
Encountering such a beautiful lake, we stopped at a roadside cafe to admire it. The cafe is perched precariously on the mountaintop, overlooking Ham Thuan Lake. This is the reservoir for the Ham Thuan hydroelectric power plant, overflowing the lower hills. The lake is enormous; from the cafe, we can only see a small corner, yet the view stretches endlessly.
Before reaching this lake, there were several other lakes, such as Da Mi Lake and Daguri Lake... It's quite unusual to see several lakes nestled deep within the green forest, something rarely seen on National Highway 20.
The traveler stands wistfully by the clear water's edge, far from the lush green forest.
PHOTO: VO TIEN
As the view of Ham Thuan Lake drew the eye, the car had just left Binh Thuan province and entered Lam Dong province according to the old border. Before officially setting foot on the plateau, the road bid farewell to travelers with a few highlights. These included Quan Am Pagoda and Da Tro Parish Church. High on the hill, the main church, under construction, stood out against the blue backdrop of the mountains, forests, and sky.
Ahead lies Bao Loc, home to the famous Linh Quy Phap An Pagoda, not far from National Highway 55. Once in the highlands, you can already feel the characteristic chill in the air. After driving a little further, you'll reach a junction with National Highway 20, where you can turn right towards Da Lat .
The church bell tower is under construction on the hilltop.
PHOTO: VO TIEN
Eventually, we made a short detour back to the city of flowers. But most of the journey along the Phan Thiet - Dau Giay expressway and National Highway 55 was a worthwhile experience. It was a little further than taking National Highway 20, about a few dozen kilometers, but in return, it gave the traveler a sense of wistfulness amidst the beauty of a land that was both familiar and strangely close.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/lu-khach-bang-khuang-tren-cung-duong-khac-la-di-da-lat-18526020713090971.htm
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