Hanoi Train Street is a narrow train bypass in Hanoi which sees a twice-daily train pass close to buildings on either side of the tracks (the railroad tracks take up nearly the entirety of the “train street”). The track was built by the French in 1902 and is still an active rail line as of 2023.
The train passes at 3 pm and 7 pm daily, on the rail line between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in the south. The alley is so narrow that local residents must remove their personal belongings, including bicycles and children, before the train passes. Locals often sit on the tracks, drinking tea and playing checkers. The street has become a popular tourist stop in Hanoi, but was closed to tourists by local authorities in October 2019 for safety reasons, fearing a severe accident. Tourists would often stop and take pictures to post on social media along the narrow alley. In more recent times, the street was home to squatters and drug addicts amongst numerous cafes and residential buildings. The overcrowded street caused the need to reroute a local train on October 6, 2019, prompting the closure. Local cafes have sprung up to serve the bustling tourist trade along the street and owners are concerned over the loss of business the closure will bring. The VnExpress newspaper cites a train driver that has had three close calls with tourists on the tracks, once stopping only meters from the woman who was taking pictures of the train.
The train street has reopened in 2023 for tourists. The most popular spots are at the intersection at North side near P.Trãn Phú close to old quarter or South side near Ng.222 Đ.Lê Duãn. Both sides are crowded with local cafes on sides indicating the train timetable. Tourists could also request train passing by time from cafe in advance. Usually there are over 7 trains passing by from 7 am to 11 pm.
Tourists can safely watch the train from the outdoor seating areas of the local cafes; owners will typically move their stools closer to the wall and advise patrons to do so as the train approaches. Many will also post train times on chalk boards in their establishments.
