Trackside Cafes on Hanoi Train Street Close

One of the more Instagramable sites of the Vietnamese capital, the famous train street located in the Old Quarter, attracts thousand of tourists on a daily bases. The sight of a train squeezing through a narrow street flanked by local houses is much sought after. With tourist numbers galoping, the place has become overcrowded. Waiting for the moment to catch a perfect picture, tourists flock to cramped local cafes or block the tracks. The recent incident when the train had to change its route due to the exaggerated number of people on the train street forced the authorities to undertake measures. All the trackside cafes were ordered to shut down. It is expected that the access of tourists to the train street will be limited, too.

The railway track on the train street dates back to 1902. It was built by the French. This route links the city of Hanoi with Haiphong, the gateway to the amazing Halong Bay on the eastern seaside as well as the mountainous towns of Lang Son and Lao Cai, in the north of the country, located on the border with China. Every day, hundreds of passengers and cargo moving between these destinations pass this short picturesque stretch of the train street.

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