KHANH HOA – Connecting the coastal city of Nha Trang to the flower city of Da Lat, Khanh Le pass is 33 km long, one of the longest passes in Vietnam, also known as “the road connecting the sea and flowers”.
Khanh Le Pass is a pass connecting the end of provincial road 723 in Lac Duong district, Lam Dong province, with provincial road 652 in Khanh Vinh district, Khanh Hoa. Therefore, this is also the road connecting two famous tourist cities of Vietnam, Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa province) and Da Lat (Lam Dong province), also known as “the road connecting the sea and flowers”.
Khanh Le Pass curves from Khanh Vinh valley, across Di Linh plateau to Lam Vien plateau. From Nha Trang to Da Lat, compared to the distance through Ngoan Muc Pass (Ninh Thuan), going through Khanh Le Pass helps tourists shorten the distance from 220 km to about 140 km.
Khanh Le Pass is 33 km long, is the eastern slope of the Southern Truong Son range. Most of the passes are located in Khanh Hoa province, going from an altitude of about 200 m to 1,700 m above sea level. Starting from Lam Dong province, the pass has a gentle slope from 1,700 m to 1,500 m.
Khanh Le 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.
Experience crossing the pass in early October, Nguyen Dinh Hoang Khanh (29 years old, Ho Chi Minh City) said Khanh Le Pass brings excitement but no less danger to backpackers. The pass has a steep slope, winding with many bends, combined with fog and abyss on one side, requiring a lot of experience and skills in handling situations.
Khanh Le Pass is the intersection between two climate zones. Khanh Vinh has a dry, hot climate, while Lac Duong has the characteristics of highlands, with a temperate, cool climate all year round. Along with the altitude difference of more than 1,000 m, the landscape and weather at Khanh Le Pass are special.
In the summer, the weather in Nha Trang and Da Lat is dry, but heavy rain can still occur in this area. In autumn and winter, dense fog often appears on Khanh Le pass around 2 pm onwards.
“Khanh Le Pass has similarities with Hai Van Pass. Just passing through the pass, the weather in Da Nang and Hue can be clearly different,” Khanh shared.
Having gone through the pass many times, Khanh said that each time he went he encountered a different type of weather. This time he was lucky to go when the weather was clear. Previously, when taking his parents from Da Lat to Nha Trang, he encountered heavy rain and dense fog, almost completely obscuring the view ahead. “I have to drive slowly and follow the reflective road markings to control the car. Because I’m carrying my parents, it’s twice as stressful,” he said.
On another business trip, Khanh rode a limousine from Nha Trang to Da Lat via Khanh Le Pass but felt “thrilled and dramatic like sitting on a roller coaster”. Maybe because he was familiar with the road and knew every turn, the driver drove quite fast, which made him scared.
Even though it is dangerous, Khanh Le Pass also gives backpackers and tourists the feeling of being at the intersection of heaven and earth. The pass is located between rolling mountains and hills, passing through a vast natural space. On the side of the road, there will sometimes appear white waterfalls and streams of water flowing from the mountains, bringing poetry and lyricism.
Rain and fog are “specialties” of Khanh Le pass. During heavy rains, the pass often experiences landslides and traffic jams, increasing the danger.
Because it is difficult to predict the weather at the top of the pass, visitors should prepare raincoats when traveling here. The pass is quite long, so it is necessary to check the vehicle, especially the brakes and wheels, to avoid incidents, Khanh shared.
The landscape on Khanh Le Pass changes on each section of the road. From the Cai Men River section along National Highway 27C in Khanh Vinh, winding roads with dense fog on Khanh Le Pass, cherry blossoms blooming on both sides of the road in K’Long K’Lanh village (Lam Dong). to the pine forests when coming to Da Lat.
“Even though I have gone many times, I am still impressed with the natural scenery of the pass and want to return to this place when I have the opportunity,” Khanh said.
Photo,Video: Internet (Vinlove.net)