Authorities in Hanoi are preparing to drastically reduce, and in some cases halt, passenger and freight train traffic on the railway line that runs through the city’s famous area where tourists drink coffee just a few steps from the tracks—one of the most well-known attractions in Vietnam’s capital.
The area, which has gained international fame, has for years attracted thousands of tourists who sit in cafes located just a few dozen centimeters from the tracks to watch trains pass between buildings with extremely narrow clearance.
For authorities, however, the site’s tourist success has become increasingly difficult to reconcile with railway safety regulations.
Trains are set to be rerouted away from the city center
The plan originated from a proposal made in January by the Hanoi People’s Committee, which asked the Ministry of Construction to reorganize rail traffic through the city. Under the new scheme, trains coming from the south would terminate at Hanoi Station, and those from the north at Gia Lam Station.
The stated goal is twofold: on the one hand, reducing the risk of accidents on the section made famous by the cafes built right next to the tracks, and on the other hand, capitalizing on the historical and tourist value of the area’s railway infrastructure, including the Long Bien Bridge and the 131 stone arches located on the section between Hanoi Station and Long Bien Station.
For the new arrangement to work, local authorities will need to set up a passenger transfer point and introduce free connections between the stations affected by the reorganization. At the same time, the bypass railway infrastructure for freight trains will need to be modernized so that diverted traffic can be handled without disrupting the national network.
Additionally, the national railway company will collaborate with the municipality to build a freight terminal at Ha Dong Station and a transfer point near Gia Lam Station. The Ministry has requested that all these works be completed by July 2026.
A tourist attraction born from an urban anomaly
The so-called café zone near the railway in Hanoi stretches along the line that crosses Le Duan, Kham Thien, Tran Phu, and Phung Hung streets, near the central station and the city’s old town.
Originally a residential area inhabited mainly by railway employees, the place gained international fame after 2014, when foreign media began sharing spectacular images of trains passing just a few steps away from houses, tables, and chairs.
Its popularity then exploded on social media, and by 2018, the term “Hanoi Train Street” had already become one of the most sought-after tourist experiences in Vietnam.
As the number of tourists grew, so did safety concerns. In October 2019, Hanoi authorities banned commercial activities along this street. The ban did not last long, however: within just a few months, tourists began jumping the fences again, and the cafes resumed operations.
In September 2022, restrictions were tightened, including the threat of revoking business licenses. This measure did not solve the problem either. In 2023, the Hanoi Department of Tourism asked travel agencies to stop including the area in visitor itineraries, and in 2025, authorities continued to warn tour operators not to bring tourists here.
Nevertheless, the flow of visitors did not decrease, and the spot remained one of the most sought-after tourist experiences in Hanoi.
Between spectacle and railway risk
For the city administration, this street has become a balancing act between railway safety regulations and an urban attraction that has taken on a life of its own.
The paradox is clear: precisely what makes the spot so popular—trains passing just inches from café tables—is also what makes it dangerous and incompatible with normal railway operations.
On February 27, 2026, the Ministry of Construction and the authorities in Hanoi agreed to reduce the frequency of passenger trains and to suspend freight train traffic on the section crossing this area and the Long Bien Bridge.
The decision is seen as a solution to limit the risk of accidents, but at the same time raises a key question: if trains no longer run as frequently or stop running altogether, will the place remain just as attractive to tourists?
An official café did not solve the problem
In an attempt to create a controlled alternative, the city opened the Hoa Xa café in 2023 inside Long Bien Station, billed as “the only official railway café in Hanoi”. Unlike the informal spots on this street, it is located at a regulated distance from the tracks, and visitors must follow clear safety rules.
However, a single official location has failed to replace the charm and thrill of the area that became famous online. So far, Hanoi has failed to develop an alternative space that is both safe and attractive enough to replace the original experience.
Ban or controlled management?
The idea has also emerged in the public debate that a simple ban does not work and that the city should shift to a model of strict management, not total elimination.
The vice president of the Hanoi Tourism Association, Nguyen Tien Dat, pointed out that, from a safety perspective, current activities in the area are incompatible with railway regulations. However, if repeated bans fail to yield results, one solution could be to transform the area into an officially recognized tourist attraction with very strict rules.
As an example, he cited the model in Shifen, Taiwan, where tourists gather on an active track to release sky lanterns, but the experience is managed through fixed schedules, controlled access intervals, authorized vendors, dedicated staff, and clear track-clearing procedures before trains pass.
In a similar scenario for Hanoi, local businesses could contribute financially to the installation of warning lights, bilingual audio systems, and the hiring of trained staff to guide tourists to safe areas when trains are approaching.
A symbol of Hanoi that may lose its essence
For many visitors, this street has come to symbolize a certain type of urban identity associated with Hanoi: a mix of chaos, intimacy, risk, and community life. It is precisely this combination that has brought it global notoriety.
The new reorganization of rail traffic may reduce immediate risks, but it may also strip the area of the very element that made it famous. That is why the stakes are not just about traffic or safety, but also about urban tourism, heritage, and local identity.
After seven years of bans, comebacks, and controversies, this famous area of Hanoi remains a striking example of how difficult it is for a city to simultaneously manage rail safety, tourist pressure, and the symbolic value of a place that has become iconic.
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