Last updated: 21 October 2026 · By the GoGolfVietnam team
To get from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Lat with golf clubs, fly. The flight takes about 50–55 minutes, against roughly six hours on the road in 2026. Book a private car only if your group is big enough to fill one, or you would rather see the highlands on the way up.
Quick Answer
- Fastest: fly Tan Son Nhat (SGN) to Lien Khuong (DLI), about 50–55 minutes.
- Golf bag: free up to 23 kg on most Vietnam Airlines domestic fares; on Vietjet it uses your checked allowance.
- By road: about 6 hours, as the expressway to Da Lat is not complete until 2027–2028.
- Play on arrival: The Dalat at 1200 is about 15 minutes from the airport.
Should golfers fly, hire a private car or take a limousine from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Lat?
Flying wins for almost everyone carrying clubs. A private car makes sense for groups of four or more, and the shared limousine van is the one option we would not plan around with full-size bags.
| Option | Door to door | Golf bags | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight SGN–DLI | About 3–3.5 hours including check-in and the 45-minute drive into town | Checked in; free on most Vietnam Airlines fares | 1–4 golfers | Low-cost fares without checked allowance |
| Private car or van | About 6 hours | Inside the vehicle with you | 4+ golfers or lots of luggage | Bao Loc pass, slow trucks on Route 20 |
| Shared limousine / sleeper bus | About 6–7 hours | Limited space, not guaranteed | Solo travellers without clubs | Fixed pick-up points, no golf stops |
Door-to-door times are our planning estimates built from the flight time and the drive figures below; road time from news reporting (March 2026).
Most of our guests start the trip in the south, so budget the city leg first. Our breakdown of what a golf day in Ho Chi Minh City actually costs covers green fees, caddies and transfers before you add the highlands.
How do you fly from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Lat with golf clubs?
Book a direct flight from Tan Son Nhat to Lien Khuong and check the bag rules on your exact fare. Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet both fly the route several times a day; schedules change by season, so confirm when booking.
- Vietnam Airlines: one golf set up to 23 kg travels free on domestic itineraries for most fare classes. Heavier sets pay an overweight fee (airline website, checked 21 October 2026).
- Vietjet: a golf bag up to 203 cm in total dimensions counts as standard checked baggage. Its cheapest fares include no checked bag, so add allowance when you book.
- Timing: a morning departure leaves the afternoon free for a round on arrival day.
GoGolfVietnam, a local golf tour operator based in Da Nang, books this flight for guests far more often than the drive: at about 50–55 minutes in the air, it saves most of a day each way.
Can you drive from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Lat on the expressway in 2026?
Only part of the way. You can leave the city on the expressway towards Dau Giay, but after that the trip continues on National Route 20 and over the Bao Loc pass, which is why it still takes about six hours.
| Section | Status (October 2026) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Dau Giay – Tan Phu (about 60 km) | Under construction; expected to open in 2027 | VnEconomy; Bao Xay Dung, 6 Aug 2026 |
| Tan Phu – Bao Loc (about 67 km) | Early stage; 8% of land handed over by April 2026 | Tuoi Tre, 21 Apr 2026 |
| Bao Loc – Lien Khuong (about 74 km) | Under construction; planned to open Q4 2028 | Thanh Nien, 14 Aug 2026 |
When the full Dau Giay–Lien Khuong route opens, the drive is expected to fall to about three hours. Until then, our team only suggests the road for bigger groups, and we build in a lunch stop. If you would rather not plan any of it, our highland packages that take care of the Lien Khuong pickup handle the transfer for you.
Can you play golf on the day you land in Da Lat?
Yes, if you fly in the morning. The Dalat at 1200 Country Club is about 15 minutes from Lien Khuong airport, so you can tee off before checking in to a hotel in town, around 45 minutes further on.
That is how we usually set it up: the driver meets you at arrivals, your clubs go straight to the course, and the round ends with a drive up into town in the late afternoon. For the other two courses and their drive times, see Da Lat’s three courses side by side.
What does a 5-day Ho Chi Minh City and Da Lat golf trip look like?
Two days in Ho Chi Minh City, then three in Da Lat, works well: two rounds in the heat, one flight, then three rounds in the cool. Here is the shape we use.
| Day | Where | Golf |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Ho Chi Minh City | Arrive; afternoon round near Tan Son Nhat if time allows |
| Day 2 | Ho Chi Minh City | Round at a course such as Vietnam Golf & Country Club; evening in town |
| Day 3 | Fly SGN → DLI | Morning flight; round at The Dalat at 1200 on the way in |
| Day 4 | Da Lat | Dalat Palace, about 10 minutes from central hotels |
| Day 5 | Da Lat | SAM Tuyen Lam on the lake side of town; fly out or stay on |
If you want more time in the highlands, we run all three highland courses over five days from USD 649; it includes the airport pickup, three rounds and a free day in the middle. We can add the Ho Chi Minh City nights in front of it.
When is the switch from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Lat most worth it?
Whenever the heat in the south gets tiring, which is most of the year. Ho Chi Minh City stays around 25–35°C year-round, with a dry season from about November to April and afternoon storms from May to November.
Da Lat is cool all year, and its own dry season also runs from about November to April. In December and January, early tee times there can start in a jacket. Our guests usually find that two hot rounds in the city followed by three cool ones in the hills is the best mix.
What if you are travelling with non-golfers?
Da Lat is one of the easier places in Vietnam to split a group. While you play, others can visit the markets, lakes and flower gardens; we cover that in our Da Lat guide for non-golfers.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How long is the flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Lat?›
About 50–55 minutes in the air from Tan Son Nhat (SGN) to Lien Khuong (DLI). Add roughly 45 minutes by car from Lien Khuong into central Da Lat.
2. Can I take golf clubs on the bus to Da Lat?›
Shared limousine vans and sleeper buses run the route, but luggage space is tight and a full-size golf travel bag is not guaranteed a place. Confirm with the operator before you book, or use a private car, which is what we arrange for golfers.
3. Is it worth driving from Saigon to Da Lat?›
Only if your group is large or carrying a lot of bags. In October 2026 the road still takes about six hours, mostly on National Route 20 and over the Bao Loc pass, because the expressway to Da Lat is not finished.
4. Do Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet charge for golf bags on this route?›
Vietnam Airlines carries one golf set up to 23 kg free on domestic itineraries for most fare types. Vietjet treats a golf bag up to 203 cm in total dimensions as standard checked baggage, so you need checked allowance on your ticket. Check your exact fare before flying.
5. Which Da Lat golf course is closest to the airport?›
The Dalat at 1200 Country Club, about 15 minutes from Lien Khuong airport. Dalat Palace, the town course, is about 45 minutes from the airport.
6. When will the Ho Chi Minh City to Da Lat expressway open?›
Not before 2027–2028. Dau Giay–Tan Phu is expected to open in 2027, while the Bao Loc–Lien Khuong section is planned for the fourth quarter of 2028. Once the full route opens, the drive is expected to drop from about six hours to about three.
Sources: Vietnam Airlines golf and sports baggage page (checked 21 Oct 2026); Vietjet baggage service page; CafeF/An Ninh Tien Te (27 Mar 2026); VnEconomy; Bao Xay Dung (6 Aug 2026); Tuoi Tre (21 Apr 2026); Thanh Nien (14 Aug 2026). Drive times in Da Lat and to the courses from our Da Lat guides.
GoGolfVietnam is a Vietnam-based golf tour operator arranging tee times, flights, transfers and hotels across Ho Chi Minh City, Da Lat and the rest of the country.
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