Hanoi Train Street
Phố cà phê đường tàu
A century-old railway running through residential streets, with cafés built along the tracks, where a passing train has become Hanoi's most viral experience.
Train Street refers to two sections where the Hanoi–Lào Cai/Hai Phong railway runs through the residential areas of the Old Quarter. One section lies between Trần Phú Street and Lê Duẩn Street (along Ngõ 224 Lê Duẩn and the Khâm Thiên side), and the other is on the northern part of Phùng Hưng Street, near Long Biên Bridge. The railway was built by the French in 1902, and houses on either side stand just 1-2 meters from the tracks. Residents have turned their doorways into cafés, where tourists sit on small stools beside the track to drink coffee. When a train passes, shop owners blow a whistle in advance so everyone presses against the wall. For safety reasons, the city government closed the area several times in 2019 and 2022 and banned tourists from entering. Police now guard the track entrances, so visitors usually need to be led in by a shop owner and must make a purchase inside (a drink costs about 30,000-60,000 dong). The policy can change at any time, so check the latest situation before you go. The approximate train times on the Lê Duẩn section are around 15:30, 17:00, 18:30, 19:10 and 19:40. The Phùng Hưng section mostly runs morning and evening trains. Actual times are best confirmed with shop staff on site, and it is advisable to arrive 30 minutes early. Getting there: The Lê Duẩn section is a 10-minute walk from Hanoi Railway Station and about 1.5 km from Hoan Kiem Lake. Note: When a train passes, take in all your belongings and press against the wall. Do not stop to take photos on the tracks, do not cross the police cordon or argue with officers, and respect residents' daily lives by keeping noise down.
Opening hours
About 08:00–22:00 (depends on shop hours and train schedules; may close temporarily)
Nearby sights
- Hỏa Lò Prison
- St. Joseph's Cathedral
- Vietnamese Women's Museum
- Temple of Literature
- Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum
- Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long
- Hoan Kiem Lake
- Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre