Central Highlands town D’ran boasts peaceful pace of life

By Phuoc Tuan November 24, 2020 | 11:43 pm PT

Unlike Da Lat, D’ran Town in Lam Dong Province is a lesser-known, more peaceful destination, offering visitors a slower pace of life.

Dran Town in Don Duong District was formed at the same time as Da Lat in the early twentieth century. Dran was named by the French, lying halfway between two long passes, Dran and Ngoan Muc. D’ran locals make a living by farming persimmons, chayote squash, tomatoes, and yardlong beans.

D'ran in Don Duong District was established at the same time as Da Lat in the early 20th century. The town was named by the French, lying halfway between two long passes, D'ran and Ngoan Muc.
D’ran locals make a living by farming persimmons, chayote squash, tomatoes, and yardlong beans.

Tourists run on a street in Dran, known for its pristine hills, old pinewood houses and beautiful persimmon gardens. Unlike its sister Da Lat flooded with holiday-goers during the weekends and holidays, Dran turns more tranquil and less crowded.

D'ran is known for its pristine hills, old pinewood houses, and beautiful persimmon gardens. Unlike its sister Da Lat, flooded with visitors during the weekends and holidays, D'ran is more tranquil and much less crowded.

At first, Dran was just a stop on the railway route from Phan Rang in south central Ninh Thuan Province to Da Lat. After that, workers working on railway lines started reclaiming and settling down there. The Da Lat – Phan Rang rail route is one of only two in the world to use rack rails. The track, laid by the French administration of Indochina in 1932, runs a total length of 84 kilometers, including 40 km of rack rails.

At first, D'ran was just a stop along the railway route from Phan Rang, capital of south-central Ninh Thuan Province, to Da Lat, with rail workers eventually settling in the area.
The Da Lat – Phan Rang rail route is one of only two in the world to use rack rails. The track, laid by the French colonial administration of Indochina in 1932, runs a total length of 84 km, including 40 km of rack rails.

About 40 km from downtown Da Lat to Dran, visitors will easily witness natural vegetable terraced valleys. The automatic watering system was installed by Da Lat farmers for agricultural production.

About 40 km from downtown Da Lat, D'ran vegetable patches are irrigated via automatic watering systems.

Hills are leveled, forming beautiful terraced fields seen from above.

Hills are leveled, forming beautiful terraced fields, seen here from above.

A small house by green vegetable beds in the suburbs of Da Lat.

A small house hugs green vegetable beds in the suburbs of Da Lat.

Female farmers in conical hats work on a vegetable farm in Dran.

Female farmers in conical hats cultivate vegetables in D'ran.

At this time of the year, streets in Dran are covered with the yellow color of wild sunflowers,

At this time of year, D'ran is blanketed by wild sunflowers.

A parish in Don Duong District helps visitors feel the peace of this land after a long journey of discovery. From Dran, tourists can follow National Highway 27 to Phi Nom junction to return to Da Lat or down Ngoan Muc Pass to explore Ninh Thuan, home to many beach resort destinations.

A peaceful parish in Don Duong District.
From D'ran, tourists can follow National Highway 27 to Phi Nom junction to return to Da Lat or to Ngoan Muc Pass to explore Ninh Thuan Province, home to many beach resort destinations.