Entrance fees to Da Lat train station have increased tenfold.

The outdoor space of Da Lat train station.

According to an announcement on September 9th from the Saigon Railway Exploitation Branch (the unit managing Da Lat station), under the Vietnam Railway Corporation , the entrance fee to Da Lat - Trai Mat station will be 50,000 VND per person from October 1st, ten times higher than the current price. The 50,000 VND fee applies to passengers over 6 years old, and is free for children under 6 years old or under 1.32 meters tall. Discounts and exemptions for people with disabilities will be applied according to regulations.

The fare increase was implemented after the Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee recognized Da Lat railway station as a tourist destination. Currently, the station operates as a tourist attraction combined with transportation services.

The Saigon Railway Branch announced that with an entrance fee of 50,000 VND, visitors can tour, enjoy recreational activities, and use some services free of charge within the Da Lat railway station architectural heritage site. Tickets for the Da Lat - Trai Mat railway line (8 km) are charged separately, approximately 72,000-100,000 VND per trip. Passengers who purchase train tickets do not need to buy an entrance fee.

The price increase aims to mobilize additional funds for the maintenance, repair, and renovation of the station to match its status as a national-level architectural landmark, enhance the image of the tourist station, and provide more amenities for visitors.

Tourists reacted differently to the fare increase. Phan Huy Hoang, 30, from Hue City, said he "accepts the fare increase" now that Da Lat Railway Station has become a tourist attraction. "However, charging ten times the fare should still provide tourists with a commensurate experience," Hoang said.

Ms. Thao Nguyen, 27, a local resident, said that Da Lat train station is one of the city's attractions. Although the ticket price has increased tenfold, the attraction hasn't offered any new activities or experiences compared to the current one.

Phuong Hoa, who lives in Binh Duong, said that the newly announced ticket prices for a tourist attraction are "not high" compared to the general prices of other places in Da Lat.

Mr. Tran Tuong Huy, Deputy Director of the Institute for Social Tourism Research, believes that it is "normal" for a tourist attraction to adjust its ticket prices. However, the sudden announcement of the price increase could cause a negative reaction from tourists in the initial period of implementing the new prices.

"When operating with the new price, if the tourist attraction has positive innovations that meet the needs of visitors well, there will be no problem," Mr. Huy said.

A representative from a travel company in Da Lat stated that the price adjustment was done according to procedure and would not significantly affect the company's tour programs. "The 5,000 VND entrance fee has always been just a parking fee for visitors to the Da Lat - Trai Mat train station," the representative said. When the station becomes a tourist destination, it needs to meet criteria such as landscape, staffing, maintenance, repair, and beautification.

TH (according to VnExpress)

Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/ve-tham-quan-ga-da-lat-tang-10-lan-392809.html