Direct flights between Da Nang and Da Lat resume from 19 August 2026, restoring a useful link between Central Vietnam and the Central Highlands after Lien Khuong International Airport temporarily closed for runway and taxiway upgrades. Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet both announced plans to operate the route again, giving travelers a practical alternative to a long overland journey or a connecting flight through another major city.
For international visitors, the important point is not simply that the route is back. A direct Da Nang–Da Lat flight makes it easier to combine the beaches, food and cultural sights of Central Vietnam with Da Lat’s cooler highland setting without backtracking through Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City.
Da Nang to Da Lat direct flights resume from 19 August 2026
The direct air link between Da Nang International Airport and Lien Khuong International Airport resumes from 19 August 2026. This is a restored route rather than a completely new connection. Flights had previously operated between the two destinations, but Lien Khuong Airport was temporarily closed from 4 March 2026 while its runway and taxiway infrastructure was upgraded.
The reopening matters to travelers because Da Nang and Da Lat fit naturally into the same Vietnam itinerary but are not especially convenient to connect by rail. The restored flight gives travelers a point-to-point air option between two very different destinations: coastal Central Vietnam and the cooler Central Highlands.
Which airlines fly directly from Da Nang to Da Lat?
Two Vietnamese airlines announced plans to restore direct services on the route from the reopening of Lien Khuong Airport.
Vietnam Airlines
Vietnam Airlines announced one daily round trip between Da Nang and Lien Khuong from 19 August 2026, using Airbus A321 aircraft in its reopening plan. The airline’s route information lists an average flight time of about 1 hour 5 minutes between Da Nang and Da Lat.
The daily frequency is useful for travelers building a multi-city itinerary because it gives more flexibility than a route operating only on selected days. However, departure times, flight numbers and frequencies can change, particularly while airport operations and airline schedules are settling after a reopening. Check the live timetable for your exact travel date before booking accommodation or onward transport around a flight.
Vietjet
Vietjet announced a plan to restore Da Nang–Da Lat service at three round trips per week. This adds another direct option, although the operating days and departure times should be checked directly for the date you intend to travel.
For practical planning, compare the actual schedule rather than choosing only by headline frequency. A flight that fits your hotel checkout time and onward transfer in Da Lat can be more useful than a cheaper option that creates a long airport wait or forces an extra hotel night.
Which airports does the route use?
The route connects Da Nang International Airport (DAD) with Lien Khuong International Airport (DLI).
- Da Nang: domestic flights use Terminal 1 at Da Nang International Airport.
- Da Lat: flights arrive at Lien Khuong International Airport, the main commercial airport serving Da Lat and the surrounding area.
- Airport transfer in Da Lat: Lien Khuong Airport is roughly 30 km from central Da Lat, so the flight time is only one part of the door-to-door journey.
If you are staying in Hoi An before the flight, remember that Hoi An does not have its own commercial airport. Da Nang International Airport is the practical departure airport for the wider Da Nang–Hoi An travel area.
How long is the flight from Da Nang to Da Lat?
Vietnam Airlines lists an average flight time of about 1 hour 5 minutes for the Da Nang–Da Lat sector. That makes flying attractive when your priority is to protect sightseeing time rather than spend a large part of a travel day moving between destinations.
Do not compare only the airborne time with road travel. A realistic flight day also includes travel to Da Nang Airport, check-in and security, boarding, baggage collection and the transfer from Lien Khuong Airport into Da Lat. The direct flight still has a strong time advantage for many short itineraries, but the door-to-door difference depends on where you stay and the schedule available on your date.
Flying vs road or train: which option makes more sense?
The restored flight is the most straightforward option for travelers who want to move quickly between Da Nang and Da Lat, but it is not automatically the best choice for every trip.
Flying is strongest when time matters
A direct flight makes particular sense for travelers with a limited number of days in Vietnam, families who want to reduce a long overland transfer, or visitors combining several regions in one trip. It can also simplify an itinerary that would otherwise require a connecting flight through another major airport.
Road travel can still suit slower or budget-focused trips
Overland transport may suit travelers who prioritize budget, prefer overnight travel, or want to stop in other destinations along the way. The trade-off is time and comfort: a road journey between the Central Coast and the highlands is fundamentally different from a short direct flight, so compare the full travel day rather than only the ticket price.
Bus operators, departure points, fares and journey times can change. Check the current operator information for your travel date instead of relying on an old timetable copied into a general travel guide.
There is no direct train from Da Nang to Da Lat
A direct national railway journey to Da Lat is not available. The historic Da Lat railway does not function as a through intercity rail connection to Da Nang. The operating Da Lat–Trai Mat section is primarily a local heritage and tourism experience, so travelers trying to reach Da Lat by rail still need a separate road connection for part of the journey.
This is an important distinction when comparing transport options. A search for ‘train from Da Nang to Da Lat’ can make the journey sound simpler than it is; for point-to-point travel, the restored direct flight or a road service is much more relevant.
Who benefits most from the restored route?
The direct flight is especially useful for international travelers who are already visiting Central Vietnam and want to add Da Lat without breaking the flow of their itinerary.
- Short-stay travelers: flying protects more time for actual destination experiences.
- Da Nang and Hoi An visitors: both can use Da Nang Airport as the departure point before continuing to the Central Highlands.
- Multi-region travelers: the route creates a cleaner transition from Central Vietnam to Da Lat before continuing elsewhere in southern Vietnam.
- Families and travelers carrying more luggage: a direct flight can reduce the physical burden of a long overland journey, although baggage rules should still be checked before booking.
The route is less important for travelers whose main goal is the overland journey itself or who want to stop in multiple places between the coast and Da Lat. In that case, road travel may remain part of the experience rather than simply a transfer.
How to combine Da Nang and Da Lat in one Vietnam itinerary
The strongest itinerary value of the restored route is that it lets travelers connect two contrasting parts of Vietnam without returning to a major aviation hub first.
A simple travel flow can be:
- Da Nang and Hoi An: spend several days exploring the coast, food, heritage and nearby attractions.
- Fly Da Nang to Da Lat: use the direct route to move into the Central Highlands.
- Continue from Da Lat: build the next leg around southern Vietnam or another domestic flight depending on your wider itinerary.
This works particularly well for travelers who want variety. Da Nang and Hoi An deliver a coastal and heritage-focused Central Vietnam experience, while Da Lat offers a different climate, landscape and pace. The direct air connection reduces the transport friction between those two travel zones.
Planning your time in Da Nang before flying to Da Lat
If Da Nang is the first part of your trip, avoid treating the flight day as a full sightseeing day. Keep enough buffer for the airport transfer, domestic check-in and any schedule changes. It is usually better to finish your main Da Nang activities before departure rather than schedule an important attraction immediately before the flight.
If you still have time to plan your stay in Da Nang, the related tours below can help you compare practical ways to use your days before continuing to Da Lat.
Related Tours
What should you check before booking?
Because the route is resuming after an airport closure and airlines can adjust schedules, verify the operational details for your exact travel date rather than treating the reopening announcement as a permanent timetable.
- Operating day and departure time: confirm that the airline is flying on your chosen date.
- Flight number and status: check again close to departure.
- Baggage allowance: compare the fare conditions, not just the base ticket price.
- Da Nang terminal: domestic departures use Terminal 1.
- Da Lat airport transfer: allow time and budget for the journey between Lien Khuong Airport and your accommodation.
- Connection risk: leave a sensible buffer if you are connecting to another flight, tour or long-distance transfer on the same day.
The reopening is good news for trip planning, but exact schedules are operational data and can change. Build the itinerary around the live booking information available for your date, not around an old screenshot or a timetable published before the airport reopened.
Nearby Attractions
Frequently asked questions
Q: Is there a direct flight from Da Nang to Da Lat?
Q: When did direct flights between Da Nang and Da Lat resume?
Q: Which airlines fly directly from Da Nang to Da Lat?
Q: How long is the flight from Da Nang to Da Lat?
Q: Is there a direct train from Da Nang to Da Lat?
Practical travel planning and local operations knowledge for Central Vietnam.
About our local teamRelated Travel Guides
Planning a Da Nang trip?
Tell us your travel dates, destinations and group size. Our local team can help you plan the next practical step.
Plan My Trip