Vietnam Landslides Cut Central Highways And Trains

Published on Nov 18, 2025, 9:43 am CST

9 min read

Key points

Days of heavy rain in central Vietnam have triggered landslides and flash floods that killed at least seven people and injured dozens
A landslide on Khanh Le Pass buried a Da Lat to Quang Ngai coach, while damage on Prenn Pass has severed a main gateway into Da Lat
Flooding near Cam Ranh submerged the north south railway, halting multiple trains and stranding about 800 passengers
Closures and restrictions affect National Highways 1, 24, 27C, 29 and stretches of the Ho Chi Minh Highway across several central provinces
The US State Department Vietnam advisory remains at Level 1, with no specific flood alert despite localized transport disruption

Impact

Travel To Da Lat And Nha Trang: Expect closures and long detours on key passes into Da Lat and on the mountain route between Da Lat and Nha Trang, and consider flying instead of driving while repairs continue
Overland Routes And Trains: Overnight trains and long distance buses through Khanh Hoa and neighboring provinces face delays, diversions or cancellations, so keep your phone reachable and monitor operator updates
Tours And Self Drive Itineraries: Multi day loops that combine the central coast with the Central Highlands may need to reroute or skip segments, and travelers should confirm revised plans with guides before setting out
Safety And Flexibility: Heavy rain can trigger new slides with little warning, so avoid traveling at night on mountain roads, carry extra water and medication, and build buffer time into connections
Insurance And Documentation: Keep digital copies of tickets, receipts and confirmation emails, since disruption letters from rail or bus operators can support insurance or refund claims after the trip

Days of intense rain in central Vietnam have triggered deadly landslides, flash floods and rail washouts that are now cutting road and rail links between the central coast and the Central Highlands, including tourist hubs such as Nha Trang and Da Lat. At least seven people have died across the region, dozens more are injured, and about 800 train passengers were stranded when sections of the north south railway near Cam Ranh were submerged and covered by debris. For travelers, this turns what is usually a flexible network of mountain passes, buses and sleeper trains into a patchwork of closures, diversions and slow moving convoys that can derail overland itineraries on short notice.

Central routes cut by landslides and floods

State and local media report that rainfall of roughly 100 to 200 millimeters, with some local peaks closer to 400 millimeters, has saturated steep slopes in Khanh Hoa and surrounding provinces, pushing rivers toward high alert levels and triggering multiple landslides on key passes. The most serious incident occurred late on November 16 on Khanh Le Pass, the high mountain section of National Highway 27C between Nha Trang and Da Lat, where a landslide buried a long distance coach traveling from Da Lat toward Quang Ngai, killing six passengers and injuring 19 others.

Rescue teams struggled to reach the wrecked coach because additional slides blocked the road in several places, and authorities in Khanh Hoa and Lam Dong have effectively suspended traffic on the pass while they assess slope stability and work to clear dozens of new slide points. On nearby passes such as Gia Bac and Ngoan Muc, further landslides have left vehicles stranded overnight and forced rolling closures as crews cut single lane channels through debris.

At the southern gateway to Da Lat, a large portion of the roadway on Prenn Pass has collapsed downslope, leaving only half the pavement and a network of deep cracks that could give way if heavy rain resumes. Local authorities have cordoned off the damaged section and diverted all traffic to the parallel Mimosa Pass, which was already the designated route for trucks, but this detour lengthens travel times and concentrates vehicles on a narrower, winding road.

Beyond the marquee passes, heavy rain has also damaged stretches of National Highways 1, 24 and 29, plus parts of the Ho Chi Minh Highway, with reports of washed out shoulders, fallen rock and localized flooding that keep some villages temporarily cut off. That matters because many coastal to highlands loops, including trips that connect Nha Trang with Buon Ma Thuot or Pleiku, rely on these roads to complete multi day circuits.

Trains and buses slowed by submerged tracks

The north south railway, Vietnam's main spine line between Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, has also been hit where it runs close to the coast in Khanh Hoa Province. Heavy afternoon rain near Cam Ranh left more than 100 meters of track under water, in one spot about 25 centimeters above the rail head, and washed soil and rocks onto other sections, forcing dispatchers to halt trains.

As a result, trains SE6 and SE22 from Ho Chi Minh City were held at intermediate stations, while SE21 from Da Nang waited at Nha Trang and train STN1 out of Nha Trang stopped at Cay Cay until conditions improved. Local reports estimate about 800 passengers were stuck on board these trains during the stoppage, and although service is being restored in stages once inspectors declare the track safe, the incident highlights how quickly rain driven flooding can paralyze the line.

Long distance buses and tour coaches that normally offer multiple daily departures between Nha Trang, Da Lat, Quy Nhon, Hoi An and coastal cities further north are also affected. Some operators have already canceled or rerouted services that rely on Khanh Le Pass or damaged sections of National Highway 1, while others are opting to wait out road inspections rather than risk night time transit through unstable slopes.

How this affects typical tourist circuits

Most international visitors reach central Vietnam by flying into coastal airports such as Cam Ranh International Airport, which serves Nha Trang, or Da Nang International Airport, then connect onward by train, bus or private car. Da Lat, in the Central Highlands, is usually linked to Nha Trang by the scenic but steep Khanh Le Pass, and to Ho Chi Minh City by National Highway 20 through Prenn Pass.

With Khanh Le and Prenn both compromised, the classic loop that runs Ho Chi Minh City to Da Lat to Nha Trang and back becomes much harder to complete overland. Travelers already in Nha Trang who planned to go up to Da Lat by road will either face long diversions over alternative passes such as Mimosa or will need to switch to domestic flights via Ho Chi Minh City or Da Nang, which can add a connection but avoid landslide zones. Those in Da Lat who had intended to descend to the coast by bus should check with their operator on whether departures are still running and whether the route now uses a safer but longer detour.

For rail fans, the north south line remains an efficient way to move between major cities once sections reopen, but it is vulnerable where it hugs floodplains or river mouths. Anyone planning to take the Reunification Express style trains in the next few days should budget extra time in their itinerary and avoid tight same day connections to international flights, especially through Nha Trang or other coastal stops that have seen flooding.

What to do if your train or bus is stranded

If your train is stopped between stations because of flooded tracks, crews will usually keep passengers on board until inspectors confirm that track structures, culverts and embankments are stable, then either proceed at low speed or reverse to the nearest station. Follow staff instructions, stay clear of doors unless told to disembark, and use any pause at a station to refill water, buy snacks and confirm onward plans over local Wi Fi or mobile networks. If railway authorities decide to terminate your train early, they may arrange onward buses or allow ticket changes to later services once the line is clear. Keep your paper or digital tickets; they are your proof of disruption for refunds or insurance claims.

On long distance buses, particularly routes that cross high passes or narrow river valleys, operators may face a choice between turning back, waiting at a roadside restaurant or small town until road crews reopen a lane, or diverting over an alternate pass. If your bus stops for an extended period, stay with the vehicle unless emergency services direct otherwise, watch for debris on the road shoulders, and keep valuables on you in case you have to transfer to a different vehicle. When a trip is canceled mid journey, ask the company for written confirmation or a text message documenting the reason and segment completed.

For travelers who hired a private driver or rental car, the safest option is to avoid traveling during heavy rain or overnight through mountain sections. If your driver suggests waiting for daylight or turning back, treat that as a safety call rather than an inconvenience; local experience with slide prone curves is one of the best risk indicators you have. Never attempt to cross visibly moving floodwater in a vehicle or on foot, even if local motorcycles appear to be trying; depth and current strength can be deceptive.

Background: advisory level and seasonal risks

Despite the current flooding and landslides, the United States State Department travel advisory for Vietnam remains at Level 1, Exercise Normal Precautions, which is the lowest of four levels and does not include any specific nationwide warning about flood or landslide risk. The advisory instead focuses on standard guidance, such as enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, STEP, and monitoring local media.

Central Vietnam is one of the most flood prone regions in Southeast Asia, with narrow coastal plains squeezed between the sea and steep mountains. When late season storms or moisture plumes from the tropics stall over the region, they can dump hundreds of millimeters of rain in a day, rapidly overloading rivers, drainage systems and cut slopes above roads and rail lines. This latest episode comes only weeks after Typhoon Kalmaegi and earlier flooding, which had already saturated soils and left some infrastructure weakened.

For visitors, the lesson is not that central Vietnam is off limits, but that itineraries built around passes and trains are more weather sensitive than straightforward point to point flights between major cities. Flexible routing, an eye on the forecast and willingness to adjust plans can keep most trips viable even when individual segments are disrupted.

Final thoughts

Central Vietnam's latest landslides and floods show how fragile the links between its coastal resorts and highland retreats can be when intense rain hits already saturated slopes. With Khanh Le Pass, Prenn Pass and stretches of the north south railway all affected to some degree, travelers aiming for Nha Trang, Da Lat and neighboring provinces in the next several days should treat road transfers and sleeper trains as provisional, not guaranteed. Checking with operators before departure, keeping backup flight options in mind, and building slack into your schedule will help you adapt if closures tighten, while the broader advisory picture for Vietnam remains stable at Level 1.