Da Lat Vietnam - The 76-year-old Da Lat railway station, a national relic, will undergo a restoration process under a plan recently approved by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Lam Dong Province.
 
The project will earmark VN$22 billion for the restoration of the French-built iconic station in the Central Highlands city.
 
The provincial government has also backed Vietnam Railways to be the investor of the restoration project.
 
Vietnam Railways is the current operator of the railway station which was designed in 1932 by French architects Moncet and Reveron, and opened in 1938.
 
The station will have its terminal, repair facilities, and other units restored.
 
However, it is unclear when the restoration will start and finish.
 
Da Lat railway station is the first station on the Thap Cham - Da Lat route, and is considered "the station at the highest altitude of Vietnam" as it sits 1,500 metres above sea level.
 
Recognized as a national relic in 2001, Da Lat Railway Station stopped serving passenger trains for a long time.
 
But it is now an interesting tourism destination where visitors can take what could be the country's shortest rail route from Da Lat to Trai Mat, which used to be the retreat camp of Vietnam's last king, Bao Dai.
 
On the seven kilometre rail route departing from Da Lat station, tourists can enjoy a splendid view of some of Da Lat's spectacles, a worthwhile and relaxing experience.
 
At Trai Mat station, the train stops for about 30 minutes so that tourists can take a leisurely stroll around the local market or pay a visit to the nearby Linh Phuoc pagoda.
 
Author unknown.