Landslides Affect Now, Da Lat’s Accessibility, But the City’s Tourism Still Shines

Published on November 24, 2025

The ongoing landslides caused by heavy rains have blocked several key access roads to Da Lat, a popular tourist destination in the central highland area of Vietnam, and severely disrupted the city’s tourism economy during the high season of November and December. Travellers scheduled to visit the city during the high season have been canceling and/or postponing their trips to the city due to the dangerous access roads and high risk of the city being closed to the public.

In the past few days, the landslides have been closing key road sections and major highways including the Prenn Pass, the Mimosa – Da Lat Pass, and National Highway 20, the top routes to the city. Visitors have been informed to adjust their planned trips to Vietnam to avoid Da Lat during this time. Vietnam’s authorities have been trying to clear the roads of the debris and landslides to reopen the roads and pass public highways. However, the ongoing risk of landslides has caused many to retract their travel plans to the city.

Plans of Access: Routes Impacted by Landslides

The landslides leading to the closure of access to Da Lat are as a consequence of the abnormal weather the area has experienced with recent heavy rains. These conditions have resulted with the closure of the major roads and mountain passes vital for tourism such as;

Prenn Pass: One of the main access roads to Da Lat, known as the scenic entry to Da Lat, and is also prone to landslides.

Mimosa Pass: Another mountain pass that has direct access to and from Da Lat and other regions of Vietnam. Currently closed for safety reasons.

National Highway 20: A major highway to the city of Da Lat, currently closed for vehicular movement. Recently has also been blocked by mudslides and falling debris.

On November 20, the only two accessible routes into Da Lat were Sacom Pass (Prenn 2) and Ta Nung Pass. These routes have also been subject to landslides making them highly unreliable for travelers and thus a more vexing problem for tourism as the city is now more accessible than ever, with road delays and more dangerous travel conditions.

Impact on Tourism: Cancellations and Postponements

Travellers, particularly those who are supposed to make the trip by land, are cancelling their trips to Dalat because of the road closures brought on by the landslides. Travel time increases considerably when main routes are shut, and the risk of becoming trapped on an unpassable road raises increasing levels of anxiety. Also, potential landslides and the danger they pose to the travelers heightens the risk averseness.

November and December are peak months in the tourism calendar for Dalat, but travel agencies and tour operators have reported increased cancellations for these months. December is when the school holidays for the winter break occurs, and the blooming flower gardens and other attractions in the city draw many travelers and tourists, both International and Domestic, to the city. A portion of the recently cancelled trips to Dalat are likely to result in travel to other parts of Vietnam, and thus the impact on the tourism potential of the region will be even greater than on Dalat itself.

Concerns for Safety and the Continued Efforts to Open the Roads

The Ministry of Transport and the local authorities continue undertaking the tireless efforts of removing the land obstacles and allow access to Da Lat. The government has deployed teams to remove the loose materials and secure the places along Prenn Pass and Mimosa Pass and National Highway 20. However, the constant rain and loose ground continue to be obstacles, and it will take time to open and secure the remaining routes for risk-free passage.  

Travellers planning on visiting Da Lat in the imminent future should be cautioned to keep a close watch on the road condition monitoring before making any arrangements for their trip. The condition of road is often reported in local publications or the Vietnamese Ministry of Transport news. Furthermore, travelers are encouraged to consider other ways of traveling, such as instant flights to Lien Khuong Airport, which is located in the city and is of great use to travelers.

Delays in Sightseeing in Da Lat

Even with recent inconveniences in access, Da Lat continues to capture the interest of visitors with its enchanting configurations of nature and safe, vintage French colonial architecture. With its evergreen, temperate weather, Da Lat’s picturesque flowered jacaranda and pine valleys, flower gardens, and blanketed, calm lakes have its visitors complementing the evergreen, temperate weather. Visitors are able to access these scenic places even in the midst of the travel disruptions. Among the most popular to visit are Xuan Huong Lake, the multi-faceted Datanla Falls, and the valley of amorous encounters, The Valley of Love.

In Da Lat, the numerous flower farms, strawberry fields, and coffee plantations provide the backdrop for the region’s agricultural sightseeing. It’s also the most popular of the country’s eco-tourism and culture’s sightseeing for its the winter season, hiking, and biking in the historic sites such as the Towering Da Lat Cathedral and the Quite Literally Crazy House.

Future Prospects: Restoring Da Lat’s Status as a Key Tourism Destination

Recent landslide incidents in the Da Lat area are a reminder of the difficulties all of Vietnam’s mountain areas face in relation to climate and to the accessibility of infrastructure. During the current stage of development of the Vietnam tourism sector, investments in roads and transportation infrastructure in Da Lat and in other tourist hotspots in the region are expected. Improved road maintenance planning and monitoring of areas prone to landslides will be critical to avoiding road closures in the future and to ensuring tourist access to the degraded city.

After the temporary closure of roads in the region, Da Lat’s charm will continue to appeal to the major tourist markets in Vietnam. The city will once more be a top tourist magnet for the country as a result of the city’s diverse and interesting cultural activities and attractions, unique and stunning landscapes, and the cool climate, which offers a refreshing change for visitors.

Conclusion

Landslides in the region have severely impacted local businesses and tourism in Da Lat, which is still an important and cherished place in Vietnam. The impact of these challenges, however, should not stop people from coming to Da Lat. The beauty of the region will always fascinate people from all corners of the world. Vietnam will continue to be a central highland destination. The city is Da Lat. The authorities are fully aware and will replace the damage caused by the landslides, ensuring that travel to Da Lat is safe and accessible.