What do Western tourists say about Hanoi's railway street: Why does it attract more visitors the more it's banned?

(Dan Tri) - At 11:30 in Hanoi, the train whistle sounded. Chairs were hastily folded. Milk coffee cups were lifted off the edge of the tracks and tourists stood close to the wall, phones in hand to record.

The train sped forward, so close that it felt as if one could touch its hull if they stretched out their hand to try. Its whistle echoed through the crowded cafes in the alleyway, which was only slightly wider than the train's front.

Tourists don't miss the moment the train passes by (Photo: Scott Campbell).

For 30 seconds, the entire street transformed into a wind tunnel filled with heat. Then, just as suddenly as it had arrived, the train vanished.

That's a familiar sight in Hanoi's famous railway street. One section is near the Phung Hung - Tran Phu area, and the other is in the Le Duan area. These once ordinary alleyways have suddenly become one of the city's most troublesome tourist attractions.

These are the impressions of Scott Campbell, a travel columnist for CN Traveller (USA), as he shares his perspective on the railroad street.

A destination that captivates international visitors.

For American traveler Kathryn Frazer, the train street is a place that "shouldn't exist, but is fascinating because of it."

The American girl traveled across Vietnam for 6 weeks, from the Mekong Delta to the rocky mountains of Ha Giang (Tuyen Quang province), but when she arrived in Hanoi, what she was most looking forward to was experiencing the railway street.

Arriving here at a time when authorities were clearing out closed shops, the American visitor made her way to the railway section on Le Duan Street. She arrived early, ordered bun cha (Vietnamese noodle dish) and coffee, sat next to the cats, and chatted with the owner. The atmosphere changed instantly when the owner suddenly shouted, "The train's coming!"

Tourists walk along the tracks (Photo: Scott Campel).

“She spun the tables and chairs incredibly fast, as if she’d done it hundreds of times. When the train sped past, just about a meter from my knees, it felt like a storm was brewing. I was screaming with excitement. It was a case of controlled danger,” Frazer said.

Similarly, tourist Jackie Rezk also visited the train street because he wanted to experience the thrill. He believes that nowhere else in the world offers this kind of experience.

In fact, in the early 2000s, the railway street was still an unknown area on Vietnam's tourism map for international visitors.

The change began when some foreign visitors discovered an unbelievable moment: a speeding train whizzing through the gap between two rows of buildings. The video, shared on YouTube, immediately went viral.

Ms. Drung, the owner of the café, born in 1982, was one of the first to see the business opportunity on the railway street. Living not far from the tracks, the woman said the area used to be very poor, but then tourists started coming.

A street vendor sits right on the railway tracks (Photo: Scott Campbell).

"As one of the first people to open the restaurant, at that time no one expected this place to attract so many foreign customers," the owner said.

To date, the Phung Hung - Tran Phu section alone has more than 30 shops "crowding together" to offer customers the best vantage point for watching the ships.

The paradox of the unexpected influx of customers.

In March, the Hanoi Department of Tourism also issued a document requesting tour companies not to bring tourists to the railway street. However, the author of the article, Scott Campbell, argues that after each inspection, the number of tourists flocking to the railway street increases even more.

Safety messages aren't always followed by locals and tourists. Back in June, a tourist filmed a train too close to the tracks and nearly got swept away. Just three months later, another video, also filmed on the street near the train tracks, showed a train knocking over tables and chairs. Each incident sparked controversy and caused public anxiety, yet the number of visitors didn't decrease.

After each demolition by the authorities, the entire street seems to fall silent, waiting. Once the barriers are removed, the shop owners breathe a sigh of relief. Business resumes, bustling with customers coming and going as if nothing had ever happened.

The railway-side coffee street is located along the railway line in the area bordering three wards: Dien Bien Ward, Cua Nam Ward, and Hoan Kiem Ward (Hanoi City).

This area is often crowded with foreign tourists who come to drink coffee and take photos of the train passing by at fixed times of the day.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/khach-tay-noi-gi-ve-pho-duong-tau-ha-noi-vi-sao-cang-cam-cang-hut-khach-20251210121221323.htm