Hanoi's spectacular Train Street is becoming off-the-rails popular
HANOI, Vietnam - Hundreds of tourists from all over the world sit chatting on folding chairs, sipping traditional egg coffee and fresh coconut water in the heart of Hanoi.
What makes this Vietnamese street scene so special is the railway track running between narrow blocks of houses with their many colorful cafés.
The atmosphere remains relaxed - until things suddenly become hectic: waiters hurriedly remove all chairs near the tracks and urge guests to press their backs as close as possible to the walls of the houses.
The initially calm mood becomes increasingly excited, with most visitors eagerly readying their smartphone cameras.
A shrill whistle then pierces the air, and just seconds later a train thunders past at full speed, right under the noses of the onlookers.
Train Street has long become one of Hanoi's most popular yet controversial attractions, and is currently experiencing a particular boom.
Numerous tourists from around the globe have traveled to the Southeast Asian country to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War.
Once considered a hidden gem with just a handful of cafés, the picturesque street was discovered on social media in 2018, triggering a rush of selfie-hunting Instagrammers. More cafés and souvenir stalls opened, residents set up food stands, and special spots for photos were arranged.
However, due to safety concerns, authorities have repeatedly closed the tourist attraction in recent years, most recently this March. Several incidents have occurred, including one where a train had to make an emergency stop to avoid colliding with crowds of visitors.
In 2022, a tourist from South Korea was grazed by a slow-moving train. He was lucky to escape with only minor injuries.
"Such bans usually don't last long – at some point, the cafés just reopen," says a female employee of the historic Metropole Hanoi hotel.
The 600-foot-long railway track dates back to the French colonial era and was built in 1902. Trains still roar through here several times a day.
Once the spectacle is over, café owners quickly move chairs and tables back toward the tracks, as more visitors seeking the thrill of an up-close moving train are already waiting.
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