Dalat railway station recognised as tourist destination

Vietnam Railways (VNR), in collaboration with Lam Dong People's Committee, made the announcement on July 11.

The recognition of tourist destinations aims to open up opportunities for areas and sites by promoting, advertising, and developing products, and attracting investment.

A tourist destination must fulfil the following criteria: possess appealing tourism resources that attract a minimum of 100,000 visitors each year, provide convenient transportation access, and comply with safety regulations as mandated by law.

Dalat Station is renowned as the most beautiful vintage railway station in Vietnam and Indochina. It has long been a popular attraction and check-in spot for residents and domestic and international tourists.

Photo: laodong.vn

According to Vietnamplus, the recognition of Dalat Station as a tourist destination is expected to attract investment and upgrades to ensure better product quality and services for visitors.

"This is not merely an administrative recognition but also a foundation and motivation for the railway sector to exploit its advantages and potential, sharing and spreading cultural values with the community, contributing to the development of local tourism and economy," emphasised Tran Anh Tuan, deputy general director of VNR.

Built between 1932 and 1938 at over 1,500m above sea level, Dalat was once the main station on the railway line connecting Thap Cham and Dalat. Moreover, it was the only railway station in the Central Highlands region with distinctive indigenous architecture. The central architectural block mimics the three peaks of Langbiang Mountain and the roofs of Central Highlands communal houses, flanked by two elongated structures on either side.

The station serves the 7km Dalat - Trai Mat railway line, operating both day and night tours, taking visitors to Linh Phuoc Pagoda and the Trai Mat area.

The tourist train moves at a leisurely pace of only 15 km/h, allowing passengers to fully appreciate the beauty of Dalat, especially at night.

Speaking at the ceremony, Nguyen Chinh Nam, head of the Business Planning Department at VNR, expressed the company's desire to transform Dalat Station into a cultural, artistic, historical, and heritage destination.

In recent years, the railway sector has invested in upgrading and developing transport products on the Dalat - Trai Mat line. This has gradually formed a complete service supply chain, creating tourism highlights such as the "Railway, Flower Road" movement and the launch of the "Dalat night journey".

These innovations have led to a significant increase in the number of visitors. Specifically, in the first six months of 2024, the number of visitors to the station reached 275,212, an 11.6 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2023. The total revenue from tourism was $458 million, a rise of over 186 per cent on-year.

"The number of tourists travelling by train on the Dalat - Trai Mat route reached 138,024, representing 194 per cent compared to the first six months of 2023," Nam added.

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