Conquering Da Lat’s iconic mountain passes

Races above the clouds

“This year’s race features Ta Nung Pass, one of the most scenic routes around Da Lat. Over the years, all four major passes in Da Lat have been included in the race routes for riders to challenge themselves,” said Ngo Van Lui, Head of the Organising Committee of the Biwase Tour of Vietnam 2026.

With more than 100 cyclists from 22 teams, including seven domestic and 15 international teams, the Biwase International Women’s Cycling Race has long maintained its leading position in Vietnam’s women’s cycling scene.

This year’s event adopts a combined format, bringing together the Biwase Tour of Vietnam 2026 and the Ho Chi Minh City International Women’s Cycling Race for the Biwase Cup 2026. Each competition features five stages, including an opening circuit around Xuan Huong Lake in Da Lat. Covering more than 1,300 km, the route starts in Ho Chi Minh City, passes through Dong Nai, Lam Dong and Khanh Hoa, and finishes back where it began. Lam Dong hosts five stages.

Featured in this year’s race, Ta Nung Pass stretches over 7.2 km, connecting Da Lat with Lam Ha and leading towards Dak Lak. It is one of the most picturesque passes, winding along mountainsides with lush green valleys and evergreen forests on one side. Along the route, steep slopes curve through peaceful villages, creating scenery that is both poetic and challenging for riders.

“We chose Ta Nung for the new route because of its beauty. Including the surrounding sections, it is comparable in length to Bao Loc Pass, but its narrower roads demand greater technical skill from riders,” Lui added.
Alongside Ta Nung, Da Lat is home to three other well-known passes: Prenn, Mimosa and D’ran, with Prenn and Mimosa having long been part of the race route.

Especially, D’ran Pass is considered one of the most beautiful yet challenging, with continuous steep climbs, sharp bends, misty conditions, and majestic scenery. It was added to the race route in 2025 as a new challenge for female cyclists.

A land of hospitality

Beyond the well-known passes around Da Lat, several other routes leading to the city also present major challenges for cyclists. These include Bao Loc Pass, about 10 km long on National Highway 20; Ngoan Muc Pass (Song Pha), an 18.5-km stretch on National Highway 27 linking Lam Dong with Phan Rang; and Khanh Le Pass, which runs for more than 30 km between Lam Dong and Khanh Hoa and is considered one of the longest and most rugged mountain passes in Vietnam.

These routes have been featured in major cycling events such as the Biwase Cup for women and the Ho Chi Minh City Television Cycling Cup for men over the years.

In professional cycling, alongside titles such as the white jersey (best young rider), green jersey (best sprinter), and yellow jersey (overall leader), there is also the red jersey known as the King of the Mountains, awarded to riders who excel in conquering mountain passes.

Beyond its challenging terrain, Da Lat also stands out for its cool climate, picturesque routes, and warm hospitality. “Da Lat is a tourism city with gentle, friendly people, and local authorities always provide strong support for the race. That is why, for the past 16 years, Lam Dong has consistently been a destination for the event,” Mr.Lui affirmed.