Train Street Coffee is crowded again

Despite being warned and banned many times, Hanoi's train street is still a popular attraction for domestic and international tourists.

Train Street Coffee is located on the border of Dien Bien Ward (Ba Dinh District), Cua Nam Ward, Hang Bong Ward (Hoan Kiem District). Although it has been banned since 2019, the street that was once sparsely populated is now crowded again. On November 24, hundreds, sometimes thousands of tourists flocked to the cafes on the street to check in every time a train passed by.

Train Street Coffee Street is considered by many international newspapers as a must-see destination when visiting Hanoi. Households around here take advantage of their family space to sell drinks and snacks.

In 2019, the Hanoi government requested a complete handling of the situation of businesses encroaching on the railway, causing insecurity in the area. Prohibition signs and barriers were erected in many places, but the area kept becoming crowded again.

Both sides of the street are decorated with eye-catching colors and lights to attract tourists, especially in the evening.

Most of the tourists are foreigners. Before the train passes, tourists freely go out to the tracks to take pictures.

"I learned about the train street through social networking sites, but I didn't know it was banned because it was dangerous, so I still stopped by with my friends," said Noah (left), an American tourist.

Many domestic tourists also do not want to miss the unique scenery of the train street "only in Hanoi". Although he had stopped by to see the train running in the morning, in the evening right before his flight to Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. Le Quang still lingered to see it one more time.

"Very beautiful, the feeling is very strange and interesting. My family and I will definitely come back because this is a cultural feature of Hanoi," he said.

Seats at shops are made use of from windowsills and sidewalks, many places are less than 20 cm but are packed with standing and sitting customers.

For many visitors, the experience of watching the trains just a meter from their seats is exciting and attracts them to this street. "I found out about this place on the Internet, it's a special experience, I will come back in a few years," said Milena, a German tourist.

When the train bell rang, the shop owner ran out to instruct tourists to sit away from the train. Many people used loudspeakers and blew whistles to remind tourists.

The busiest time on the train street is 11am-12pm and 3pm-7pm every day because this is when many trains appear continuously.

The arrival of the train is the most anticipated moment for tourists, many people point their phones and cameras at the tracks to get the perfect shot. The lower floors are chosen by more visitors than the upper floors, despite the crowding.

Every day, visitors can observe 7-10 trains from morning to late night, on holidays or weekends the number of trains may increase.

The railway intersects with roads where authorities have posted signs prohibiting people from entering, but many tourists still approach.

The railway section through Tran Phu - Phung Hung intersection has many barriers and no entry signs. Despite warnings, locals and tourists still enter, especially when the police force withdraws.

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/ca-phe-duong-tau-dong-khach-tro-lai-3331630.html