From mid-April, the Da Lat – Trai Mat tourist train will have more night trips and open a movie screening room about Da Lat history on the train.
The Da Lat – Trai Mat tourist train will operate more night trips, opening ticket sales for tourists from April 14. The train passes through areas where flowers are grown with bright lights, serving tourists to see the city full of flowers at night.
According to Vietnam Railways Corporation, before officially running on April 14, the railway industry organizes train runs with an experience price of 1,000 VND on April 11-13. Trains running at night include trains DL11/12 and DL13/14 departing from 6:15 p.m. to 9:20 p.m. every day.
The space outside Da Lat station. Image: faliqhan
Ticket prices range from 72,000 VND to 100,000 VND for one go or return trip. Passengers who buy round-trip tickets receive a 25% discount, and passengers who buy group tickets of 10 or more people receive a 15-40% discount. The train serves artichoke tea and is equipped with free wifi.
In order to increase the experience for tourists, the Da Lat – Trai Mat ancient train line also has a documentary screening room about the history of the formation of Da Lat station and the Thap Cham – Da Lat cog railway. The cinema room will be open to the public from April 14.
Previously, Vietnam Railway Corporation organized many outstanding events at Da Lat station and on the ancient train line Da Lat – Trai Mat such as launching the movement “Train line – Flower line” and renovating houses. station, embellishing locomotives and carriages in an antique style, organizing events and performing arts on the train.
Mr. Le Anh Kiet, Head of the Culture and Information Department of Da Lat City, said that the Da Lat – Trai Mat station line in operation is part of the Thap Cham – Da Lat cog railway line that is about to be restored.
In August 2023, Lam Dong Provincial People’s Committee issued a plan to orient the development of railway transport to 2030, with a vision to 2045, with a focus on restoring, renovating and effectively exploiting the railway line. Unique sawtooth Da Lat – Thap Cham for tourism purposes. The cog railway is more than 83 km long, with only the Trai Mat – Da Lat section, nearly 7 km long, being operated by tourist trains.
“The Da Lat – Trai Mat railway section is a unique product of city tourism. The two stations are also places where many young tourists check in and take photos,” Mr. Kiet said.
Foreign tourists check in next to the old train building at Da Lat station. Image: m.i.c.h.e.l.u.t.t.i
The train route runs on cog wheels, crossing the coastal region to the plateau. In addition to the cog rail, cog wheels are also installed in the locomotive to overcome steep passes on the Lam Vien plateau.
The Thap Cham – Da Lat route is one of the first two mountain cog railways in the world, started in 1908, completed in 1932 and put into use 4 years later. This is a long and unique cog railway, not only for Vietnam but also for the whole world. After 1975, almost all the rails and sleepers on this route were removed.
The Thap Cham – Da Lat railway passes through Phan Rang city, Ninh Son district, Ninh Thuan, to Don Duong district, Da Lat city, Lam Dong. The railway restoration project is expected to be implemented from January 2025 to June 2029. Once completed, there will be 16 stations and passenger stations, two additional stations and two passenger stations compared to the old line. New bridges, tunnels, and stations will be built. The section from Trai Mat station to the currently operating Da Lat station will also be upgraded, and the stations will be renovated and preserved.
Before opening the night route, the Da Lat – Trai Mat train ran 1-2 times per day. There are 2-3 flights on weekends. Ticket prices range from 88,000 to 98,000 VND per trip depending on seat type.
