Reopened Da Lat Airport: Vietnam's Highland Resort City is Once Again More Quickly Accessible
On August 19, traffic resumed at Lien Khuong International Airport serving Da Lat after more than five months. The opening of the modernized airport is also important for Hungarian travelers: Da Lat, one of the most popular destinations in Vietnam's Central Highlands, can once again be reached by domestic flights from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, or Da Nang, eliminating the need for long road detours.
According to the Vietnamese civil aviation authority, the first two Vietnam Airlines flights on August 19 arrived from Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang. The two Airbus A321s carried a total of 368 passengers, both aircraft operating at full capacity. Flight VN1380 landed at 7:00, and VN1955 landed at 7:15, officially restoring air connections between Da Lat and the country's major transport hubs.
Why did Lien Khuong Airport have to close?
The airport, coded DLI, suspended operations from March 4 due to comprehensive repairs of the runway and taxiways. During the more than five months of closure, it was not simple maintenance: the work aimed to restore the load-bearing capacity of the long-used runway structure, increase operational safety, and improve conditions necessary to receive larger aircraft.
According to the authority, the renovated runway is now capable of receiving wide-body aircraft such as the Airbus A350 or Boeing 787. This does not yet mean announced European or direct Hungarian flights, and should not be interpreted as a fixed schedule. However, the development creates technical possibilities for airlines to consider larger capacities or longer routes in the future.
Lien Khuong's long-term development plan estimates handling approximately five million passengers per year by 2030, and a capacity of seven million by 2050. For the initial period following the opening, approximately 6,800 passengers per day are expected, and for the last four months of 2026, traffic of about 816,000 people is estimated. These are target values and forecasts, not already realized passenger numbers.
Which flights have resumed?
The Vietnam Airlines Group has once again connected Da Lat with Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and Can Tho starting August 19. In the initial program, there are two daily flights between Hanoi and Da Lat, four from Ho Chi Minh City, and one round trip from Da Nang. These three routes are operated by Airbus A321s, with a total of seven round trips per day.
Direct connection between Can Tho, the center of the Mekong Delta, and Da Lat has returned after nearly six years of suspension. VASCO operates one round trip per day initially; in September and October, the plan is five pairs of flights per week, operating on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Since the schedule may still adjust to demand and operational experience in the weeks following the opening, the date and connection should always be checked in the airline's current system before booking.
Provincial plans mention the stabilization of the international connection to Kuala Lumpur, as well as the later restoration or opening of other Asian connections as goals. However, the intention toward Incheon, Bangkok, Singapore, or other markets is not identical to a flight that can already be sold. Travelers should only rely on these if the full route appears with a specific flight number and date on the airline's booking interface.
What does the reopening mean for those departing from Hungary?
Currently, there are no direct flights from Budapest to Lien Khuong. The most straightforward solution is an international flight to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, followed by a domestic connection to Da Lat. Da Nang can also be used as a transfer point, especially if the Vietnamese itinerary includes the central part of the country, such as Hoi An or Hue.
The reopening of the airport represents a significant improvement because during the March closure, passengers had to reach Da Lat from another airport via a longer road section. With the return of domestic feeder flights, the journey can once again be organized into a single flight chain, and ground transfer time may decrease. This is particularly important for shorter Vietnamese tours, elderly passengers, or those with a lot of luggage.
The booking method, however, determines the risk. With a connection on a single ticket, the airline generally treats the journey as a unified route, and rebooking may be easier in case of delays. With separately purchased international and domestic tickets, the passenger bears the risk that they will not reach the second flight. In such cases, it is advisable to leave ample time for entry control, luggage collection, possible terminal changes, and re-checking in; tight, independent transfers should not be planned for the period following the opening.
How to get from the airport to Da Lat?
Lien Khuong is not located in Da Lat city center, so ground transfer must be planned alongside the flight ticket. According to the Vietnam Airlines airport guide, the journey typically takes 30–40 minutes by taxi or car ordered via an app, and about one hour by bus. Previously published information indicated taxi prices of 250,000–350,000 Vietnamese dong and bus tickets of 50,000 dong, but these amounts and schedules may vary, so they should only be treated as approximate guidelines.
Bus services offer connections toward the Da Lat market, the city bus station, and the area around Xuan Huong Lake. Hotel transfers can be a convenient alternative, especially for late-evening arrivals or groups of several people. It is advisable to coordinate the price, meeting point, and whether the driver monitors flight delays in writing with the accommodation before departure.
On the UniFly reinforced Lien Khuong airport page, passengers can also overview flight options related to the DLI airport. However, the specific daily operation should always be checked based on the current information from the carrier and the airport.
What should those booking to Da Lat pay attention to?
- Check the full route: do not only look at the international section, but also the number, date, and luggage rules of the domestic flight arriving at DLI.
- Avoid too short independent transfers: Vietnamese entry, luggage handling, and re-checking in may require more time.
- Check which airport is on the ticket: for Da Lat as a destination, the Lien Khuong and DLI code are decisive; an airport in another city could mean a long road continuation.
- Book or confirm the transfer: the road between the airport and the city is not within walking distance, pre-arrangement is especially important for late-evening flights.
- Keep flexible conditions: if the travel is several months later, it is advisable to choose a tariff or insurance that can provide an appropriate response to additional costs resulting from schedule changes.
- Use only official entry pages: for the Vietnamese electronic visa, look for the official e-visa portal of the immigration authority, and check the conditions valid for your own passport, duration of stay, and entry point directly before departure.
Why is this important for Da Lat's tourism?
Da Lat's cooler highland climate, gardens, coffee plantations, lakes, and architectural heritage remaining from the French colonial era differ from the usual image of coastal Vietnam. The city is one of the defining destinations for domestic tourism, but it can also be easily integrated into foreign tours. The months-long closure of the airport was therefore not just a transport issue: it affected accommodations, tour operators, caterers, and the surrounding agricultural region.
The province considers safe, stable operation and the handling of approximately 6,800 passengers per day as the main goal in the first 30 days following the reopening. In the following period, the stabilization of domestic routes, the development of travel packages, and the gradual restoration of international connections may come to the fore. The year-end Da Lat Flower Festival and other cultural events can create particularly strong demand, so it is advisable to look for accommodation and domestic flights earlier for popular dates.
From the perspective of a Hungarian traveler, the most important conclusion is simple: Da Lat is once again directly accessible from Vietnam's main domestic air hubs, but the coordination of international and domestic sections still requires careful planning. The reopening brings real convenience, but international routes announced for later should only be treated as a secure option after an official schedule announcement.
Sources
The article was based on the August 19 traffic resumption announcement and technical summary of the Vietnamese Civil Aviation Authority, the tourism plan of the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Vietnam Airlines airport guide. Information was verified on August 20, 2026.