Lien Khuong Airport (DLI) sits about 30km south of central Da Lat.
Without a plan for the last leg, you may overpay at the taxi rank.
Here is how to go from the Da Lat airport to city center, with costs and guidance.
| Option | Price | Duration | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxi (arrival rank) | 250,000–350,000 VND | 30–40 minutes | Most travelers, no advance planning |
| Pre-booked private transfer | 315,000–1,200,000 VND | 30–40 minutes | Groups, late arrivals, fixed pricing |
| Airport shuttle bus | ~40,000 VND | ~45–60 minutes | Budget travelers, daytime arrivals |
| Local public bus | ~20,000 VND | ~1 hour | The cheapest option, more walking |
| Grab | 250,000–300,000 VND | 30–40 minutes | Familiar app booking, limited availability |
Taxi
Taxis queue at the arrivals area and are the default choice for most travelers. Walk-up fares run 250,000-350,000 VND ($9.50-13.50) and take 30-40 minutes into the city. Agree on a fare before getting in, or specifically ask the driver to use the meter — unmetered negotiation is common at the rank, and confirming the price upfront avoids any argument on arrival. If you don’t yet know where you’re staying, our guide to Da Lat’s best hotels is worth checking before you land, since giving the driver a specific address rather than “somewhere central” tends to get a fairer fare.
Pre-Booked Private Transfer
Booking a car in advance (through a hotel, a travel agent, or a service like BookAway) fixes your price before you land, which matters most if you’re arriving late or traveling as a group. Typical pricing runs 315,000 VND for a standard 3-passenger car, 365,000 VND for an SUV seating 5, and up to 1,200,000 VND for a 12-seat minivan. It costs roughly the same as a negotiated taxi for solo or paired travelers, but the value is in certainty — a driver holding a name sign at arrivals rather than a scramble at the taxi rank.
Airport Shuttle Bus
A shuttle service runs from the airport into the city for around 40,000 VND ($1.50), operating roughly 6:00am to 8:00pm and typically dropping passengers near Ngoc Phat Hotel in the city center — from there it’s a short taxi or walk to most accommodation. This is the clear budget pick if your flight lands during operating hours, but it’s not a fallback for a late-night arrival, since service stops well before most evening flights would land.
Local Public Bus
The cheapest option at around 20,000 VND (roughly $0.80), taking about an hour. The catch is that the nearest stop sits about 1km from the terminal — look for a red Futa minivan or a green bus marked “Duc Trong – Da Lat” — so budget extra time and be prepared to walk or grab a short ride to the stop itself. It also stops running by early evening, so it’s really a daytime-arrival option only.
Grab
Grab operates around Lien Khuong at similar pricing to a taxi — roughly 250,000-300,000 VND — with the advantage of a fixed, app-quoted fare before you commit. Availability can be inconsistent right at the airport itself, particularly for motorbike options, so treat it as worth checking on landing rather than something to rely on exclusively.
Which Option Actually Makes Sense
If you’re arriving solo or as a pair during the day and don’t mind a short walk to the bus stop, the local public bus is genuinely the cheapest way in. If you’d rather not deal with negotiating or waiting, a taxi from the rank is the simplest default and still reasonably priced. Traveling as a group, arriving late, or just wanting a name sign waiting for you at arrivals — book a private transfer ahead of time. The shuttle bus sits in between: cheap, but only useful for daytime landings.
Timing and Weather Notes
- Flights into Lien Khuong can face delays from morning fog, particularly November through February — build in buffer time if you have a same-day onward plan.
- Temperatures at this elevation run cool, roughly 10-15°C from November to February — pack a real layer for the drive in, not just what you’d wear at sea level.
- The airport itself has only basic services, so grab water or a snack before boarding rather than counting on landing with options.
- If your flight lands after 8:00pm, rule out the shuttle bus and local bus entirely and plan on a taxi or a pre-booked transfer.
Where to Stay Once You’re in the City
Where you’re headed matters for which transport option makes sense — a hotel right in the center is a short, cheap ride from any of the options above, while something further out (a lakeside villa or a hill-country stay) may cost more by taxi and isn’t realistically reachable by the local bus at all. Our Best Hotels in Da Lat guide covers real options across the city, so you can book a hotel and confirm your transfer plan in the same sitting. If this is your first trip to the city more broadly, our Da Lat for First-Time Visitors guide and our Best Da Lat Tours & Experiences guide cover what to do once you’ve settled in.
Arriving from Elsewhere in Vietnam
Not everyone reaching Da Lat flies in — a fair number of visitors arrive overland from the coast. If you’re coming from Nha Trang rather than flying into Lien Khuong, our Nha Trang to Da Lat travel guide covers that route separately.
Common Questions
How far is Lien Khuong Airport from Da Lat city center?
About 30km, translating to roughly 30-40 minutes by car or up to an hour by bus.
What’s the cheapest way from the airport to Da Lat?
The local public bus, at around 20,000 VND, though it requires a short walk to the nearest stop and only runs during the day.
Is there a shuttle bus from Lien Khuong Airport?
Yes, running roughly 6:00am to 8:00pm for around 40,000 VND, dropping passengers near Ngoc Phat Hotel in the city center. It doesn’t cover late-evening arrivals.
Should I book a private transfer in advance?
It’s worth it for groups, late-night arrivals, or anyone who’d rather have fixed pricing and a driver waiting than negotiate at the taxi rank. For solo or paired daytime travelers, a walk-up taxi works just as well at a similar price.
Does Grab work at Lien Khuong Airport?
Yes, generally, at pricing similar to a taxi, though availability — especially for motorbikes — can be inconsistent right at the terminal.
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