The sea is Nha Trang city, and the flowers are Da Lat city. 140km is the distance between the two cities. From the beginning of Vo Nguyen Giap Street (Nha Trang), cross the intersection onto National Highway 27 to go up to Da Lat. National Highway 27 starts with beautiful rice fields on both sides. In the first months of the year, the rice fields here are a deep green of young rice, stretching to the foot of the mountains. Looking towards the sea, among the rice fields are small villages and further away is the city. Those who love traveling by bicycle or motorbike passing through here all feel a tug at their hearts and slow down a bit to enjoy the fragrance of rice drifting in the morning breeze. After passing all the green rice fields, you will encounter sugarcane fields waiting for harvest, and by then the highway and the city's traffic lights are far behind.
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Since the Khanh Le Pass was built, the Nha Trang - Da Lat road has become shorter than before, very suitable for those who like to go on road trips. The more you travel, the more familiar you become, familiar with the winding curves, familiar with the rows of trees and bushes along the road. Passing the intersection to the center of Khanh Vinh district, the road gradually ascends. Someone will look for the red suspension bridge on the side of the road, at the other end of which is some village. There is a place that you like to stop by without planning, that is Khanh Le market. The small market is located next to a slope, just an empty house with simple wooden stalls inside. I have stopped by the market many times, the first time just out of curiosity to see what people buy and sell in such a small market. After a few visits, I found it pleasant; it is like a resting place before climbing the pass. In that market hall, the most numerous are stalls selling breakfast, just sticky rice, banh can, banh xeo, and simple sweet soups at very cheap prices. After 7 a.m., the market begins to disperse; the vendors are very friendly and happily explain that the market opens from 4 or 5 in the morning. When leaving, don't forget to stop at the market gate to buy a loaf of golden, fragrant bread. Asking "Is this Nha Trang bread?" you will hear a proud reply: "This bread is made in Khanh Vinh, sister."
When the Khanh Le Pass was newly opened, this road was still very deserted, but now many restaurants have been opened to serve tourists from the sea city to the flower city, which is increasingly crowded. Khanh Le Pass is 31km long, one side clinging to the mountain, the other side with primeval forests below the abyss, and has been voted one of the most beautiful passes in the country. The pass road consists of long slopes with gradually increasing altitude, so it is easy to drive; you can go a bit slower to admire the white reeds swaying in the wind on both sides of the road, so no matter the season, crossing the pass is always beautiful. In April, this route has an additional yellow flower blooming all over the cliffs. The higher you go, the bluer the sky with white clouds sprawling in the golden sunshine. But no matter how sunny it is, when you reach the top of Hon Giao, you find yourself in the mist, sometimes feeling like you can hold the clouds in the palm of your hand. That means you have traveled half of the Nha Trang - Da Lat road.
The remaining part of the road belongs to Lam Dong province, where primeval forests gradually give way to pine forests and the cold begins to seep into your hair. The pine-lined curves take us through sparsely populated small communes; if you stop for a drink, you will hear a story from each place. The trip will be more interesting and the road never seems long.
If you have never traveled on this road, try it once to see how close the sea and flowers are. Above all, you will see how beautiful your country is and how many interesting things there are to discover. Knowing more, you will love your country so much.
LUU CAM VAN
