In every destination you travel to, there’s usually at least one site described as a “must-see attraction.”
“Train Street” in Hanoi , an extraordinary street located in the city center, is exactly that kind of place.
So, what makes it so unique and special?
This isn’t just another street in Hanoi. Right through its middle runs a railway track, and the train passes astonishingly close to the houses and cafés that line it.
What will you do there?
When you arrive in the area, you won’t miss it.
Café workers scattered along the tracks will immediately approach you, offering a place to sit and enjoy coffee, beer, or a smoothie while you wait for the train. At the same time, street vendors will try hard to sell you Train Street souvenirs.
A few café staff approached us too and invited us in.
We politely declined and continued walking along the tracks to explore the area and, of course, take photos.
The train passes at specific, known, times. Until it arrives, you can stroll around, take photos with the colorful paper lanterns and lively cafés as your backdrop.
We were there during the day, and the street was bright and festive. If you have time, it’s worth coming in the evening too, when it gets dark, the colorful lights stand out even more.
How do you know when the train is coming, and where to sit safely?
Police officers walk around the area, informing people when the train is near and making sure everyone is in a safe spot.
The café owners also know exactly where the “red line” is and make sure their customers don’t cross it.
After we’d explored and taken a few (or ten) photos, we chose a café that looked nice and sat down.
I ordered coconut coffee, and Saar had a coconut smoothie (you can tell we like coconut, right? 😄)
Now we’ll wait…
Meanwhile, we sipped our drinks, chatted with the people next to us, and divided up the documentation duties, because if there’s no video and photos, it’s like we weren’t there at all 😀
While we waited on one side of the street, we noticed a small commotion across the way.
It turned out an older man sitting on a chair near the tracks didn’t feel well and almost fainted.
His friends and the café staff quickly moved him to an inner seat and stood by him to prevent him from falling onto the tracks.
It was a tense moment, especially since the train was due to arrive soon.
How did we know it was on the way?
The police officers blew their whistles loudly, cleared out the last of the vendors, and ensured everyone at the café was safe.
Suddenly, everyone was seated, holding up phones or cameras.
In the background: whistles… and then, the train’s horn blared as it appeared in all its glory.
It sped by so close that I felt I could reach out and touch it.
Once the train passed, everything returned to normal.
People went on their way, the café owners came out to “hunt” for new customers, and the vendors resumed walking along the tracks… until the next train time.
🎥 I’ve attached the video I recorded, highly recommend turning up the volume:
