Khanh Le Pass, a vital 33 km section of National Highway 27C, connecting the tourist hubs of Nha Trang and Da Lat, reopened on 24/12/2024. The pass had been closed for over one month following historic heavy rains in November, which triggered about 100 landslides along the route. Authorities have since cleared the majority of the debris, allowing vehicles under 16 seats and trucks under 5 tons to pass daily between 6h and 17h.

A landslide site on the pass, at an elevation of about 200 m, has been cleared by construction crews. Nearby, a large black rock protrudes, posing a risk of further collapse.

A landslide area on the downhill slope, which took up part of the road at the foot of Khanh Le Pass in Tay Khanh Vinh commune, has been reinforced with steel piles by authorities to stabilize the geology, pending further repair plans.

Route of National Highway 27C and landslide areas on Khanh Le Pass. *Graphics: Tam Thao*

Despite the reopening, several severely damaged sections on the pass still require extensive repairs. One major downhill slope landslide caused the road surface to fracture and sink about 5 m, creating potholes and cracks across an area of approximately 1.500 m2. This location is currently barricaded to warn drivers, while construction crews stabilize the remaining road surface to ensure passage for lighter vehicles.

Landslides affected various elevations of the pass. At the foot of Khanh Le Pass in Tay Khanh Vinh commune, a downhill slope landslide encroached upon a section of the road. Authorities have reinforced this area with steel piles to stabilize the geology, awaiting further repair plans. At an elevation of about 200 m, construction crews have cleared a landslide site, though a large rock nearby still poses a risk of collapse. Another hairpin bend at 400 m, known for serious landslides in 2024 and 2025, has been cleared, restoring two-lane traffic.

Le Thuan Doan, Director of Khanh Hoa Road Management and Construction Joint Stock Company, reported that the historic floods caused about 100 landslides across the pass, with over 50 points completely blocked. Over the past one month, his company cleared thousands of cubic meters of fallen rocks and removed over 100.000 cubic meters of landslide debris. This extensive effort highlights the scale of the damage and the challenges faced by repair teams.

Even with the pass open, travelers face hazards. Binh, a driver traveling a car from Nha Trang to Da Lat, experienced an engine breakdown on a slope of the pass during the late afternoon. He advised: “Luckily, I fixed it in time. Drivers should travel the pass in the morning or at noon, avoiding the late afternoon like I did, because breakdowns can be dangerous.” Many multi-ton rocks from past landslides still line the roadside, obstructing drivers’ visibility.

Construction crews continue working to fully restore the pass. One worker stated that medium-sized rocks are drilled, reinforced with iron bars, and then broken apart with sledgehammers, while larger rocks require explosives.

A section of the pass at an elevation of 500 m, which previously suffered a landslide blocking the road and was near the site of an accident that killed 6 people on the night of 16/11/2024, has been cleared, allowing two-lane traffic. However, during heavy rains, mud and soil still spill onto the road, posing safety risks.

While a serious uphill slope landslide has been addressed and the road is clear, the road surface in some reopened sections remains uneven and is still undergoing completion. Previously, hundreds of tons of large rocks fell onto the road, causing blockages and forcing authorities to use explosives to clear the route.

Light rain persists on the pass, and many water seepage points are visible in the mountains. Authorities advise people to limit travel during heavy rains and to obey traffic signs and diversion plans. For vehicles not yet cleared to use Khanh Le Pass, authorities recommend taking National Highway 27 (Phan Rang – Da Lat) or other suitable routes between Khanh Hoa and Lam Dong. The section at 1.500 m is clear, with only minor landslides despite the historic heavy rains in November.

Bui Toan