Major mountain passes leading to Vietnam’s Da Lat reopen after landslides

The Lam Dong Department of Construction has announced that the Prenn Pass would reopen temporarily under controlled hours from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm on Friday, and from 5:00 am to 10:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Outside these hours, vehicles must continue using alternate routes while repair crews work to stabilize the slopes.

The department will issue another notice on Sunday.

Until then, cars and passenger buses heading into Da Lat, a famed tourist destination in the Central Highlands, are advised to use the Sacom-Tuyen Lam route, while trucks are directed to the Ta Nung Pass on Provincial Road 725 to ensure traffic safety.

Earlier, a major landslide struck the Prenn Pass at midday on Thursday, when soil, rocks, and pine trees collapsed from the uphill slope, burying the roadway and forcing authorities to halt traffic in both directions for clearing and slope inspection.

According to the Lam Dong Traffic Police Division, prolonged heavy rain from Wednesday night through early Thursday also triggered additional landslides along the Mimosa Pass, Gia Bac Pass, and several other routes, causing temporary blockages.

As of 9:00 am on Friday, however, major gateway routes to Da Lat had reopened, restoring traffic between Da Lat and Ho Chi Minh City, Phan Thiet, Nha Trang, and Phan Rang.

The Lam Dong Department of Construction continues to maintain barricades, warning lights, and 24-hour monitoring posts, while clearing drainage channels, reducing slope loads and reinforcing weak downhill embankments.

Traffic police and the administration of Xuan Huong-Da Lat Ward have increased patrols to guide drivers during the allowed travel windows on the Prenn Pass.