Hanoi Train Street

The line north out of Hanoi runs through a residential lane in the old quarter with houses a metre or so from the rails, and the daily routine - people moving stools and washing inside as the train comes through - became an attraction in the 2010s, with cafes opening on the trackside. The authorities have closed it repeatedly since 2019 on the straightforward grounds that crowds standing on an operating railway is dangerous, cafes have been shut and barriers put up, and enforcement has then relaxed and tightened again. Whether it is accessible on any given date is genuinely uncertain.

What you'll find

• A live railway through a lane - houses a metre from the rails.
• Trackside cafes - opened in the 2010s and shut repeatedly.
• Closures since 2019 - on safety grounds, enforced unevenly.
• Uncertain access - it depends on the week.

When to go

Year round, subject to whatever the current enforcement is. An hour.

What to expect

This is an operating railway. Access is restricted and may simply not be possible. Local residents live here and are photographed constantly. Train times shift.

Nearby

The old quarter and Hoan Kiem lake are minutes away.

Key facts