Prenn Pass Rockfall Closes Da Lat’s Main Gateway Road

A Prenn Pass rockfall hit National Highway 20 on the evening of September 19, 2026, temporarily blocking Da Lat’s main southern gateway road after torrential rain. No injuries were reported, and traffic was restored the same evening, but the pass has seen repeated slides this rainy season and is worth checking before you drive it.

What Happened

Around 4:30 PM on September 19, large rocks and soil broke loose from a slope above Prenn Pass in Xuan Huong-Dalat Ward and came down onto the highway after heavy downpours. Drivers on the road at the time were able to stop in time and no one was hurt. Local authorities and road crews moved in quickly to clear the debris, and the pass reopened to traffic later the same evening.

Why the Prenn Pass Rockfall Matters for Visitors

Prenn Pass is the roughly 10-kilometer stretch of National Highway 20 that most visitors use to reach Da Lat from the south — it’s the route from Ho Chi Minh City, Phan Thiet, and the coast, winding up through pine forest and waterfalls (including Datanla) to the city center. It’s also become a familiar trouble spot: the slope has had recurring rockfall and landslide incidents through this rainy season, including similar events in late 2025.

What Travelers Should Do

If you’re driving up to Da Lat during rainy-season downpours, build in extra time on Prenn Pass and avoid stopping directly beneath the exposed slopes. Heavy, sustained rain is the trigger for these slides, so a burst of torrential rain in the hours before your drive is the clearest warning sign. Buses and shared-van operators running the Ho Chi Minh City–Da Lat and coastal routes typically hold departures during active closures, so check with your operator if a storm has just passed through. As of this writing the road is open and clear.

The Bigger Picture

This Prenn Pass rockfall is part of the same wet spell that has brought landslides and flash-flood warnings to several parts of Vietnam this month, from the Tam Dao area near Hanoi to provinces further north. Central Highlands routes like Prenn Pass are exposed to the same pattern of intense, short-burst rain, so it’s worth checking road conditions the same day if you’re traveling in or out of Da Lat during a storm.