A Vintage Train Ride in Dalat, Vietnam: Guide, Schedule & Prices

Did you know you can take a train ride from Dalat through the Vietnamese central highlands?

Although you can’t access Dalat by train from the rest of Vietnam, you can take a 7km heritage train journey through the mountain countryside in an old-fashioned train carriage. The 30 minute ride takes you from Vietnam’s oldest train station in Dalat to the village of Trai Mat and the impressive Linh Phuoc Pagoda.

Once we’d ticked off the main sights during our two days in Dalat, we were looking for something a little different to do. We’re both big fans of old-fashioned train rides, so when we found out about the Dalat Railway tourist train, we had to give it a go!

While the views may not rival many of the world’s most scenic train rides, it’s a charming way to experience old-fashioned rail travel in Vietnam. From the train carriage windows, you’ll get a peek into everyday life in the Dalat region, past mountainside farms and through suburban back streets.

If you’re planning a visit to Dalat Railway Station and want to take a ride on the Dalat tourist train, this guide covers everything you need to know!

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History of Dalat Railway Station

Dalat Railway Station opened in 1938, connecting Dalat with the city of Phan Rang-Tháp Chàm. The station was designed by French architects Moncet and Reveron, in the French art deco style with a three-pyramid roof and bright-yellow facade. The three pyramids are said to represent the three peaks of Dalat’s Langbiang Mountain.

During the Vietnam War, the railway line fell victim to repeated bombings, and was dismantled in 1975 to provide repair materials for other lines. After this, Dalat’s Railway Station was largely abandoned.

In the 1990s, a 7km section of the track to Trai Mat was re-opened for tourist train journeys. The station and train line are now popular tourist attractions in Dalat, sharing the history of the region’s rail services.

What to see at Dalat Railway Station

Aside from the well-maintained station facade, there are some interesting things to see at Dalat Railway Station.

The small museum in the main foyer documents the history of the train line, with a video presentation and original artefacts. An original steam locomotive sits at one of the platforms, as well as an old-fashioned train carriage containing a cafe and gift shop.

Opening Times: 7am – 5pm (the station is open past 5pm for train departures only)
Entrance Fee: 50,000 VND (entrance fee is included with train tickets)

How to take the tourist train ride from Dalat to Trai Mat

To take the train from Dalat to Trai Mat, you’ll need to head to Dalat Railway Station, around 15 minutes walk from Xuan Huong Lake.

I’d recommend planning your trip for the 9.55am departure to Trai Mat, which is guaranteed to run daily. This will have you back in Dalat by 11.25am. Get to the station early to purchase your tickets, and either grab breakfast at a local cafe or check out the museum while you wait (I’d allow around 20-30 minutes for this – it’s a small museum!)

Dalat Railway Station Train Schedule

While there’s a set daily train schedule, some trains at Dalat Railway Station will only run if there are enough passengers booked on that service. We honestly had no idea how this worked, and initially headed to the station for the 12 noon train, which wasn’t running that day. We were able to book tickets for the next train running at 2.05pm, so used the opportunity to get some lunch and visit the charming Still Cafe, which is nearby.

There are some trains from Dalat Railway Station that are guaranteed to run daily or on certain days:

The DL3/DL4 service is guaranteed to run every day at 9.55am.
The DL11/DL12 service runs every day on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 6.15pm.

Train Schedule from Dalat to Trai Mat

Train	Departs Dalat	Arrives Trai Mat
DL1	7.50am	8.20am
DL3*	9.55am (guaranteed)	10.25am
DL5	12noon	12.30pm
DL7	2.05pm	2.35pm
DL9	4.10pm	4.40pm
DL11^	6.15pm	6.45pm
DL13	8.20pm	8.50pm

The train changeover takes half an hour, which allows time to take a walk in Trai Mat and pay a quick visit to Linh Phuoc Pagoda.

Train Schedule from Trai Mat to Dalat

Train	Departs Trai Mat	Arrives Dalat
DL2	8.50am	9.20am
DL4*	10.55am	11.25am
DL6	1pm	1.30pm
DL8	3.05pm	3.35pm
DL10	5.10pm	5.40pm
DL12^	7.15pm	7.45pm
DL14	9.20pm	9.50pm

What are the seats like on the Dalat tourist train?

When you book your tickets, you’ll have the choice of seat style. However, some seat types may sell out quickly – when we arrived, we only had the option of VIP2 seats (which we’d probably have gone for anyway!)

The four seat types on the Dalat railway are:

• VIP1: Padded seats in 4-seat booth formation in the VIP carriage.
• VIP2: Padded seats in be along the side of the VIP carriage, with four passengers to a bench.
• Soft Seats: Padded seats in the standard carriage.
• Hard Seats: Wooden bench seats in the standard carriage.

As average-sized Westerners, we found the VIP2 seats to be comfortable and there was enough space on the bench for four people to sit within their seat space. The only downside was facing into the cabin, meaning we had to turn around in our seat for the views.

How much does the Dalat tourist train ride cost?

This is where it gets a little complicated, as different seats and different trains all have different prices, ranging from 60,000 VND for the most basic single journey to 226,000 VND in the best VIP seats on the most popular train.

Prices for the Dalat train ride also include entrance to the station museum.

When we arrived, some seats weren’t available so the clerk sold us the ‘best available’ seats in VIP 1, which cost 158,000 VND each (£4.90/$6.29).

There’s a price table at the station which we found initially a little confusing, so I’ve laid out each train service with prices for each return journey (single journey prices also available):

DL1/2

Flat rate of 120,000 VND for a return, 60,000 VND for a single.

DL3/4

Hard Seat	Soft Seat	VIP 1	VIP 2
116,000	134,000	168,000	150,000

DL5/6

Hard Seat	Soft Seat	VIP 1	VIP 2
116,000	134,000	158,000	144,000

DL 7/8

Hard Seat	Soft Seat	VIP 1	VIP 2
116,000	134,000	158,000	144,000

DL 9/10

Hard Seat	Soft Seat	VIP 1	VIP 2
116,000	134,000	158,000	144,000

DL 11/12

Hard Seat	Soft Seat	VIP 1	VIP 2
184,000	202,000	226,000	226,000

DL 13/14

Hard Seat	Soft Seat	VIP 1	VIP 2
184,000	202,000	226,000	226,000

Train Facilities on the Dalat Railway

The train carriage has no toilet facilities – these can be found at Dalat Railway Station and Trai Mat Railway Station, as well as at Linh Phuoc Pagoda.

Complimentary coffee is provided in the VIP car on most train services.

What to do in Trai Mat Village

Trai Mat is a very small village, so half an hour between trains is enough time there to visit its main visitor highlight, the Linh Phuoc Pagoda.

Built between 1949-1952, Linh Phuoc holds a number of records in Vietnam, including tallest indoor Buddha statue in Vietnam, and the pagoda with the highest number of porcelain pieces. The intricately decorated building is also adorned with a dragon’s head made from 12,000 beer bottles.

Opening Times: 8am – 5pm
Admission Fee: Free
Dress Code: Modest dress advised – covering shoulders, knees and midriff

Ensure you have at least 5 minutes to head back to the train station (crossing the road in Vietnam can take a while!) so you don’t miss your return train.

If you want to spend more time at Linh Phuoc Pagoda, you can either take a one-way train and return by taxi, or ask at the ticket desk whether the next return train has availability.

Dalat Essentials

For everything you need to know about visiting Dalat, check out my comprehensive Dalat travel guide!

Getting to Dalat

By air: Lien Khuong International Airport is 30km from Dalat, with connections to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Hue in Vietnam.

By bus: Sleeper buses run from popular Vietnam backpacker destinations such as Ho Chi Minh City (from 6hrs), Nha Trang (from 3hrs), Mui Ne (from 5hrs) and Hoi An (from 12hrs 30).

Compare travel options to Dalat using 12Go.

Where to stay in Dalat

TTR Midtown Hotel (££) – affordable hotel close to Xuan Huong Lake and downtown Dalat.
Le Macaron City Center (£££) – centrally located boutique hotel with calming, modern decor.
Ana Mandara Resort & Spa (££££) – peaceful and stylish small resort with luxurious features & outdoor pool.

Tours in Dalat