Open-Jaw Highlands Road Trip: Private Car from Da Nang / Hoi An to Mang Den & Kon Tum, Fly Out of Pleiku (PXU)

Planning an open-jaw highland itinerary—travelling overland by private car from Da Nang or Hoi An up to Mang Den’s pine forests, visiting Kon Klor Suspension Bridge and Bien Ho Lake, and flying directly out of Pleiku Airport (PXU) to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City—saves a full 6 hours of backtracking to the coast. Instead of retracing mountain roads on the final day, your luggage stays securely inside your dedicated vehicle from your coastal hotel all the way to the Pleiku departure terminal.

[!IMPORTANT] Sun Travel Operational Standards for One-Way (Open-Jaw) Charters Ending at Pleiku Airport

When operating one-way overland routes from the central coast to the northern Central Highlands in our well-maintained 4, 7, and 16-seat fleet, we follow 3 clear commitments:

1. Continuous luggage custody from Da Nang / Hoi An to Pleiku Airport: Your suitcases remain locked inside your private vehicle with the driver watching over them while you explore the Wooden Cathedral, Kon Klor Suspension Bridge, and Bien Ho Lake.
2. Daylight Vi O Lac Pass crossing and precise 2-hour airport check-in buffer: Morning departures clear National Highway 24 before 03:30 PM on Day 1, and final-day transfers reach PXU terminal right on schedule for your flight check-in window.
3. All-inclusive fuel, expressway tolls, airport barrier fees, and free cancellation 2 hours prior: Quotes include all fuel (covering the vehicle’s empty return leg to Da Nang), highway tolls, Pleiku Airport entry fees, and free cancellation when notified in advance of your scheduled pickup per agreed trip terms.

Open-Jaw Pleiku Flight Departure vs. Round-Trip Overland Return to Da Nang

Connecting the central coast to Mang Den Commune in Quang Ngai Province, passing through Kon Tum Ward in Quang Ngai Province, and finishing in Pleiku Ward in Gia Lai Province gives travellers flying from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City a major time advantage:

Comparison Factor	Option 1: One-Way Da Nang – Mang Den – Fly Out of Pleiku (PXU)	Option 2: Round-Trip Overland Da Nang – Mang Den – Pleiku – Da Nang	Best Fit Traveller Group
Total Road Distance	Approx. 350 – 370 km spread comfortably across 2 to 3 days	Approx. 660 – 680 km (adds a 310 km return drive via National Highway 14)	Travellers flying into Da Nang who want a direct flight home from the Central Highlands
Final-Day Driving Time	Only 15 – 25 km of short city transfers in Pleiku before airport drop-off	6 to 6.5 hours driving from Pleiku over Lo Xo Pass back to Da Nang	Families with seniors, young kids, or business travellers returning to work the next day
Scenery Progression	Zero route repetition: Coast → Vi O Lac Pass → Pine Forest → Dak Bla River → Bien Ho Crater Lake	Adds the Ho Chi Minh Highway (National Highway 14) mountain corridor on Day 3	Guests who prefer maximum sightseeing time rather than long highway driving
Luggage & Gift Handling	Load bags once in Da Nang and unload directly at Pleiku Airport departure curb	Keep bags aboard for the full loop back to Da Nang / Hoi An hotels	Travellers carrying full-size suitcases and buying boxed Pleiku coffee for checked baggage

If your group prefers a compact weekend focused solely on the pine plateau before returning to Da Nang, see our Da Nang & Hoi An to Mang Den 2D1N Car Tour.

3-Day 2-Night Open-Jaw Pacing from Da Nang Through Mang Den & Kon Klor to Pleiku Airport

To make the most of a one-way highland charter without rushing your airport check-in at Pleiku, the 3-day 2-night journey breaks naturally into three short stages:

• Stage 1 (Day 1 – Da Nang / Hoi An → Vi O Lac Pass → Mang Den, approx. 240 km): Pickup between 06:00 and 06:30 AM from your coastal hotel or Da Nang Airport, cruising the Da Nang – Quang Ngai Expressway before climbing National Highway 24. After clearing Vi O Lac Pass in bright morning light, enjoy a grilled chicken and bamboo rice lunch, check in, and spend the afternoon visiting Dak Ke Lake, Pa Sy Waterfall, and Zone 37 farms.
• Stage 2 (Day 2 – Mang Den → Kon Klor Bridge → Bien Ho Pleiku, approx. 110 km): Check out at 08:30 AM and descend smoothly into the Dak Bla River valley. Your suitcases stay safely locked inside the car while you tour the Wooden Cathedral, Bishop’s House, and Kon Klor Suspension Bridge and enjoy a wild-leaf lunch. In the afternoon, drive flat National Highway 14 to Bien Ho Lake, the tea plantation, and the century-old pine avenue before checking into your Pleiku hotel.
• Stage 3 (Day 3 – Minh Thanh Pagoda → Highland Coffee Shopping → Pleiku Airport Drop-Off, approx. 20 km): Start with Pleiku’s signature two-bowl dry pho, admire the timber architecture of Minh Thanh Pagoda, and arrive at Pleiku Airport (just 6 to 8 km from downtown) 2 hours before your flight.

You can review the full day-by-day sightseeing stops on our Da Nang – Mang Den – Pleiku 3D2N Car Tour page.

Coordinating Day 1 Da Nang Flight Arrivals and Day 3 Pleiku Flight Departures

When booking open-jaw airline tickets (arriving at DAD and departing from PXU), matching your flight windows to highland road rules prevents unnecessary overnight hotel stays:

Airport Hub	Recommended Flight Window	Private Car Coordination Plan	Baggage & Timing Buffer Notes
Arrival: Da Nang Airport (DAD)	Land before 07:30 AM (or arrive the evening before)	Driver tracks your flight number, meets you at DAD arrivals, and departs directly for Mang Den	Ensures the vehicle clears Vi O Lac Pass before 02:30 PM, well ahead of late-afternoon fog
Departure: Pleiku Airport (PXU) – Midday Flight	Takeoff between 11:30 AM and 01:30 PM	Enjoy dry pho breakfast, visit Minh Thanh Pagoda, and reach PXU terminal between 09:30 and 11:30 AM	Pleiku Airport sits just 15 to 20 minutes by private car from downtown hotels
Departure: Pleiku Airport (PXU) – Afternoon Flight	Takeoff between 03:00 PM and 06:00 PM	Spend the morning at Bien Ho Tea Lake, have a relaxed lunch, and transfer to PXU at 01:00 – 03:30 PM	Leaves ample time to box roasted coffee and wild pepper for airline checked luggage

How One-Way Interprovincial Charter Pricing Works and Airline Packing Tips

When a group finishes a multi-day charter at Pleiku Airport instead of returning to Da Nang, the vehicle and driver must complete an empty 310 km return drive back to our coastal depot after dropping you off. Because of this, our upfront package quote bundles two-way fuel, expressway tolls, airport barrier fees, and driver overnight allowances into one transparent figure with zero surprise charges at the terminal curb.

If you purchase highland honey, codonopsis roots, or Pleiku coffee to check in on your flight, your driver can stop at specialty shops that provide airline-ready carton taping and shrink-wrapping. For complete intercity distance matrices across all regional airports, consult our South Central Vietnam & Central Highlands Road Trip Handbook.

Frequently Asked Questions About One-Way Da Nang – Mang Den – Pleiku Airport Charters

For a one-way private car trip from Da Nang through Mang Den and Kon Tum ending at Pleiku Airport (PXU), what is the reference fare? +

There is no separate listed fare for a one-way Da Nang – Mang Den – Kon Tum – Pleiku Airport itinerary. The figures below are for the closest listed route, Da Nang / Hoi An ↔ Mang Den – Kon Klor – Bien Ho, Pleiku (3 days, 2 nights): 4-seat car from US$309, 7-seat car from US$351 and 16-seat van from US$438 (including fuel, road tolls and parking). The fare for a one-way Da Nang – Mang Den – Kon Tum – Pleiku Airport itinerary is quoted after checking your pickup and drop-off points, itinerary and departure time.

Can we book a one-way private car from Da Nang to Mang Den for 1 night and transfer directly to Pleiku Airport the next day? +

Yes. We frequently operate 2D1N and 3D2N open-jaw charters that pick up in Da Nang or Hoi An, stay overnight in Mang Den, stop at Kon Klor Suspension Bridge and the Wooden Cathedral, and drop off directly at Pleiku Airport.

Is our luggage safe inside the car while we stop to visit the Wooden Cathedral and Kon Klor Bridge on the way to Pleiku? +

Yes. All suitcases and carry-on bags stay locked in the private vehicle's trunk under the direct supervision of your driver in the parking area while your group explores and has lunch.

How long does it take to drive from downtown Pleiku or Bien Ho Lake to Pleiku Airport (PXU)? +

Pleiku Airport is located only 6 to 8 km from downtown Pleiku and about 10 km from Bien Ho Lake, taking just 15 to 20 minutes in a private car.

What happens if our Day 1 arrival flight into Da Nang is delayed, and what is the cancellation policy? +

Our dispatch team monitors your flight code to adjust pickup timing automatically; if a severe delay pushes arrival too late to cross Vi O Lac Pass safely in daylight, we will coordinate a safe routing adjustment, and you can cancel free of charge with in advance of your scheduled pickup per agreed trip terms.