The mountain passes to the city of thousands of flowers

There is a very nice proverb about Dalat: Dat Aliis Laetitian Aliis Temperriem, which means: Bring joy to one person and coolness to another. And perhaps by coincidence, the first letters of that saying formed the name DALAT.

This city of thousands of brilliant flowers, of rustling pine trees, of simple and gentle people and profound cultural values ​​also has spectacular mountain passes that have made its name on the Vietnamese tourism map.

First of all, we must mention D'Ran, the pass with the "strange" name in the whole region, named after the beautiful town of D'Ran at the back of the pass in Don Duong district. It was this pass that Dr. Yersin lovingly named "miniature Langbiang" during his third conquest of Langbiang in 1893. More than 10km long, D'Ran Pass connects Don Duong with Tram Hanh, stretching through Cau Dat, Xuan Truong, Xuan Tho, Trai Mat before stopping at the center of Da Lat.

Uniquely winding with hairpin bends, this is the road that invites passion for thrill-seeking drivers. Tourists have honored D'Ran as the "teardrop road" as a thank you to the Creator for the many favors given to D'Ran Pass, which is both dangerous and magical and poetic.

In spring, D'Ran shows off its elegant peach blossoms amidst the cool, clear weather. In late autumn and early winter, the pass is adorned with the brilliant yellow of wild sunflowers. In addition to the fresh air and lush green natural scenery, D'Ran has many roadside stops for visitors to experience local cuisine amidst the breathtakingly beautiful pine forests.

After hundreds of years, D'Ran Pass has always been a loyal and steadfast friend connecting the ancient vestiges of Sa Huynh culture, Phan Rang - Thap Cham land, Ninh Thuan province on one side and the most modern and youthful heart of Lam Dong province, Da Lat city on the other side.

Longer than D'Ran and also one of the longest passes in Vietnam - Khanh Le Pass plays a vital role connecting Da Lat to Nha Trang, which people affectionately call "the road connecting the sea and flowers". Khanh Le Pass is 33km long, located on the eastern slope of the Southern Truong Son 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.

The pass is also known by many other names such as Bi Doup Pass (after the Bi Doup mountain peak that the pass crosses nearby) or Hon Giao Pass (after the Hon Giao mountain range located north of the pass) or Long Lanh Pass. When moving through Khanh Le Pass, people will be amazed by the natural scenery with green mountains and clear streams. The emotional curves and even the fog have become "specialties" at this place where the earth and sky meet. Compared to the famous "Four Great Passes" of the Northwest, or the majestic Hai Van Pass across Bach Ma, Khanh Le has the breath of the lyrical and poetic Central Highlands.

Heritage Magazine