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From October 1, Da Lat station increased entrance fees from 5,000 VND to 50,000 VND after being recognized as a tourist destination.
According to the announcement on September 9 of the Saigon Railway Operation Branch (the unit managing Da Lat station), under the Vietnam Railway Corporation, the entrance ticket price for Da Lat - Trai Mat station from October 1 is 50,000 VND per trip, 10 times higher than the current price. The 50,000 VND level applies to guests over 6 years old, free for children under 6 years old or under 1.32 m tall. Exemptions for people with disabilities are applied according to regulations.
The fare increase was announced after the Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee recognized Da Lat Railway Station as a tourist destination. Currently, this train station operates as a tourist attraction combined with transportation.
The Saigon Railway Branch said that with an entrance ticket of 50,000 VND, visitors can visit, have fun and use some free services in the architectural relic area of Da Lat station. The ticket for the Da Lat - Trai Mat railway route (8 km) is calculated separately, about 72,000 - 100,000 VND per trip. Passengers buying train tickets do not need to buy an entrance ticket.
The price increase aims to mobilize additional resources to maintain, repair and renovate the station to match the national architectural work and enhance the image of the tourist station as well as increase amenities to serve tourists.
Tourists have had mixed reactions to the fare increase. Phan Huy Hoang, 30, from Hue City, said he "accepts the fare increase" when Da Lat Railway Station becomes a tourist destination. "However, charging 10 times more for tickets must also bring customers a commensurate experience," Hoang said.
Ms. Thao Nguyen, 27 years old, a local, said that Da Lat station is one of the tourist attractions of the mountain town. The new ticket price has increased 10 times but the tourist attraction has not added any new activities or experiences compared to the present.
Phuong Hoa, who lives in Binh Duong, said the newly announced ticket price for a tourist destination is "not high" compared to the general price of other locations in Da Lat.
"When operating with the new price, if the attraction has positive innovations and meets the needs of tourists well, there will be no problem," said Mr. Huy.
A representative of a travel company in Da Lat said that the ticket price adjustment is in accordance with the procedure and will not greatly affect the company's tour programs. "The entrance fee of 5,000 VND up to now is actually just a parking fee for passengers entering the Da Lat - Trai Mat train station," this person said. When the station becomes a tourist destination, it needs to meet criteria such as landscape, service personnel, maintenance, repair, and renovation.
