The mountain passes leading to the city of a thousand flowers.

There's a beautiful proverb about Da Lat: Dat Aliis Laetitian Aliis Temperriem, which means: Bringing joy to some and coolness to others. And perhaps coincidentally, the first letters of that proverb spell out the name DALAT.

This city, with its vibrant flowers, whispering pines, simple and kind-hearted people, and rich cultural values, also boasts spectacular mountain passes that have made it famous on the Vietnamese tourism map.

First and foremost is D'Ran Pass, the most unusually named pass in the entire region, named after the beautiful town of D'Ran located on the mountainside in Don Duong district. It was this very pass that Dr. Yersin affectionately nicknamed "Little Langbian" during his third conquest of Langbiang in 1893. Over 10km long, D'Ran Pass connects Don Duong with Tram Hanh, extending through Cau Dat, Xuan Truong, Xuan Tho, and Trai Mat before finally reaching the center of Da Lat.

With its unique winding curves and hairpin bends, D'Ran Pass is a captivating route for thrill-seeking drivers. Tourists have dubbed D'Ran Pass the "teardrop road," a tribute to nature's generosity in bestowing upon it a landscape that is both treacherous and mystical, poetic and enchanting.

In spring, D'Ran displays the elegant beauty of peach blossoms amidst the crisp, cool weather. Towards the end of autumn and beginning of winter, the pass is adorned with the vibrant yellow of wild sunflowers. Besides the fresh air and lush green scenery, D'Ran offers many rest stops along the way where visitors can experience local cuisine amidst the breathtakingly beautiful, ancient pine forests.

For over a century, the D'Ran Pass has remained a loyal and enduring friend, connecting on one side the ancient relics of the Sa Huynh culture, the Phan Rang - Thap Cham region of Ninh Thuan province, with on the other side the vibrant and modern heart of Lam Dong province, Da Lat city.

Longer than D'Ran Pass and also one of the longest mountain passes in Vietnam, Khanh Le Pass plays a vital role in connecting Da Lat to Nha Trang, affectionately known as the "road connecting the sea and flowers". Khanh Le Pass is 33km long, located on the eastern slope of the Southern Truong Son mountain range, connecting the end of Provincial Road 723 in Lac Duong District, Lam Dong Province, with Provincial Road 652 in Khanh Vinh District, Khanh Hoa Province.

The pass is also known by many other names such as Bi Doup Pass (named after the Bi Doup mountain peak that the pass crosses nearby), Hon Giao Pass (named after the Hon Giao mountain range located north of the pass), or Long Lanh Pass. When traveling through Khanh Le Pass, people will be amazed by the natural scenery with its green mountain ranges and crystal-clear streams. The winding roads and the mists have become a "specialty" of this place where earth and sky meet. Compared to the famous "Four Great Passes" of Northwest Vietnam, or the majestic Hai Van Pass crossing Bach Ma Mountain, Khanh Le Pass embodies the romantic and poetic spirit of the Central Highlands.

Heritage Magazine