Are you finding a hidden place called: Hanoi Train Street? It is one of the must-see attractions in Hanoi for every tourist traveling in Hanoi and a popular photography place for both Hanoi youngsters and foreign tourists.
Visiting this street in Hanoi Old Quarter, you will have a good chance to not only gain more understanding about the local daily life of Hanoians and explore brand-new things only found in this interesting place.
Hanging out with friends and having a nice chat beside the railway is an interesting experience
[CURRENT CONDITION 2020] Hanoi train street closed?
Are you wondering whether the famous train street in Hanoi was closed or not?
Okay, let me tell you.
It is regretful but the fact is that YES, Hanoi authorities decided to close this track on October 12 because of safety reasons. If you want to know more about these reasons, you can read the article “Hanoi to shut down ‘train street’ cafes” by CNN.
However, according to some reviews about Hanoi Train Street on Tripadvisor, if you are escorted by one of the shop owners or local residents, you still have a chance to visit this special place. But be careful with the guardians there!
1. An unusual place called Hanoi Train Street!
Hanoi Train Street is a residential street in Hanoi, Vietnam that a speeding train passes straight through twice a day.
The street is so narrow that all residents must ensure their bikes and precious personal belongings, as well as their roaming children, are all safely inside the house before the train passes.
It is simply defined as “A Street Has A Train Track Through It” by Huffingtonpost. To you as Europeans, this really is a kind of urban phenomenon.
While discovering this unique place, you will:
- Be surprised by the peace, the normal attitude of locals here living next to the railways.
- Be deeply immersed yourself in the local side of busy and exciting Hanoi
- Take amazing pictures for the trip
Your experience will be more fulfilled with a Free City Tour to the train street. Also, you can check out other tours with locals!
This is Hanoi Train Street looks like
2. Thrives to learn and explore Hanoi local life while visiting Train Street Hanoi
Visiting Hanoi Train Street in Hanoi is one of the Best Things To Do In Hanoi (along with Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and St Joseph’s Cathedral for every tourist who thrives to learn and explore Hanoi local life
Rather than being a normal road with car or motorbike traffic, it has actual real railway lines running through it. Homes and businesses literally open out onto the railway lines.
For the most part, the locals who live and move through there go about their day as with any other Hanoi street. Motorbikes zoom up and down the side of the railway lines.
Local ladies cook delicious smelling foods, crouched over their seasoned cooking pots and surrounded by bundles of herbs and other fresh ingredients. Kids run around, crossing the tracks to each other’s houses. Animals snooze peacefully in the daytime sun.
How “life on the line” going on everyday?
However, at certain times of the day, everything gets cleared away from the tracks and all the locals disappear indoors or stand pressed back from the track.
The train from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh will zoom through at high speed, and then everything goes back to normal as if nothing had happened.
If you’re planning to travel in Hanoi for a few weeks, need help or information to discover the local experience and culture in Hanoi? Visit AZ Local Trip to get helpful information and tips!
3. Hard to find but definitely worth it!
Train Street Hanoi is called “the hidden street” for a reason. You may hardly find this place without a guide from locals. But don’t worry, we will show you!
Hanoi Train Street location
Hanoi Train Street, as we like to call it, is located between Le Duan and Kham Thien street in Hanoi Old Quarter.
You can find it on Google Maps or simply look at the maps I have made below. It shows where the tiny residential street is, and how to get there from either the Old Quarter or from the Train Station.
And on the way searching for Train Street, you may find some hidden spots of Hanoi that will make you fall even deeper in love with this city!
Local spots offers great photos!
4. Visit Hanoi Train Street in time to witness the terrifying passing train
The detail Hanoi Train Street schedule (may change sometimes!)
Hanoi Train Street Time Schedule
It is really important for all of us both local travelers or foreigners to get the right time here to see the train passing by. The train will only pass through this tiny street these times per day.
- Mon – Friday
7 pm; 7.45 pm; 8.30 pm; 10 pm - Weekend
6 am; 9 am ; 11.20 am; 3.20 pm; 5.30 pm; 6 pm; 7 pm; 7.45 pm; 8.30 pm; 9 pm ; 11 pm
The schedule is not fixed and a 15-minute delay is usually expected. So you better arrive at least 30 minutes before the expected schedule to get a good viewing spot.
Wandering the street, enjoy the peaceful moment of Hanoi and take the most beautiful picture to keep your Hanoi memory. Maybe get a cup of coffee while waiting!
But how it feels when the train passing by?
“Suddenly we heard the train tooting its horn and coming flying in our direction…. we literally had to jump off the tracks and stand almost pinned against a wall.
Even the locals were making crazy hand movements, telling us to get back further which was a little scary. The train literally passed by within a few inches of us, as you can see from the angle of the video I took below!!” – shared by a tourist in Hanoi
SAFETY
Hopefully, it goes without saying that these are legit trains, and not to be messed with. They will not and CANNOT stop if you overstay your time on the tracks. It’s never going to be worth the photo, so don’t be stupid.
Find a spot at the side of the track and let it pass by without putting anyone in danger (don’t do like some silly tourists we saw and stand in the middle of the track for as long as possible).
