Vietnam's Da Lat eyes over 100 km of electric rail linking airport and top attractions

A consultant has proposed six electric rail lines totaling more than 100 km to link central Da Lat with Lien Khuong Airport and major tourist sites, in a draft urban plan for the highland city.

The proposal is part of the general urban plan for Da Lat's five wards to 2050, which is gathering feedback before being finalized, the Lam Dong Province People's Committee said on Nov. 4.

Under the plan, the urban rail network would total about 101.43 km and use either surface trams or monorail.

Its lines would connect the center of Da Lat with Lien Khuong Airport and popular attractions including Suoi Vang Lake, Langbiang Mountain, Tuyen Lam Lake and the Valley of Love.

The line from Da Lat Station to Lien Khuong Airport, which lies in Duc Trong Commune about 28 km from central Da Lat, is prioritized for study and implementation before 2030 to add another transport option for passengers between the airport and the city center.

The other five lines are expected to follow after 2030.

The Da Lat Station-Suoi Vang line would run 18.5 km, the An Kroet junction-Langbiang line 8.55 km and the Da Lat Station-Tuyen Lam Lake line 15.78 km.

The two remaining lines would link Da Lat Station with the Valley of Love and Tung Lam junction.

Da Lat Station in Lam Dong Province. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy

Beyond the six lines, the plan envisions upgrading three existing bus routes into tram or monorail lines by 2035: from Prenn Pass to Mai Anh Dao bus station, from Cam Ly to Darahoa, and from Prenn Pass to Lien Nghia bus station.

The plan also aims to restore the 84-km Thap Cham-Da Lat railway, with a 1,000 mm gauge, to develop tourism and strengthen links between Da Lat and the south central coast.

Built by the French between 1908 and 1932, the cog railway stopped running during the Vietnam War, and only a roughly 7-km stretch between Da Lat and Trai Mat now operates, carrying tourists.

The consultant said the new public transport network is expected to ease pressure on roads, connect tourist areas and the city's gateways, and help preserve Da Lat's landscape.

The general plan covers about 68,088 hectares across five wards: Xuan Huong-Da Lat, Cam Ly-Da Lat, Lam Vien-Da Lat, Xuan Truong-Da Lat and Lang Biang-Da Lat.

It aims to shift development from a single concentrated core to a multi-polar model, assigning each area functions suited to its characteristics.