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How to Visit Train Street in Hanoi, Vietnam-The Ultimate Guide for 2026
If you're planning a trip to Hanoi, Vietnam, there's one attraction that's likely popped up again and again on your Instagram and travel search results: Train Street. Train Street is a narrow residential street where an active rail line runs so close to homes, cafes, and shops that when the train passes, you can literally feel it rush past within inches of your table. It's an unforgettable experience and uniquely Hanoi. But since its rise to global fame, Train Street has also seen closures, safety crackdowns, and new rules for visitors, so it's important to understand how to visit safely, legally and with respect to the locals.
How to Visit Train Street in Hanoi, Vietnam-The Ultimate Guide
Train Street {locally Pho Duong Tau} refers to the stretch of narrow alleyway with railway tracks running directly through it, located in Hanoi's Old Quarter and near Le Duan Street, south of Hanoi Railway Station. The line itself was built in 1902 during French colonial rule and continues to be an active track connecting trains heading north and south.
Unlike a staged tourist attraction, this is a real neighborhood with homes, residents, cats, scooters and daily life all co-existing with the trains. For years, cafes and bars operated literally on the tracks, offering visitors front-row seats as trains thundered past. That made it a social media sensation and also a safety nightmare.
Can You Still Visit Train Street in 2026?
Yes...but with restrictions.
Due to ongoing concerns about safety, overcrowding, and illegal encroachment on the railway safety corridor, Vietnamese authorities have implemented stricter rules about public access. You can still experience the train passing, but the era of freely wandering along the rails is over.
Here's how it works today:
Restricted Access Controlled by Cafes
There are still people trying to make their livelihood by opening tiny {and I mean tiny!} cafes along the rails. These cafes are being required to help enforce the government regulations and the shop owners will be VERY stern.
Pro tip: Cafes are small and seating is limited, so plan ahead if you want to visit, especially during a time when the train is scheduled to go through.
When the train is scheduled, the shop owners will likely push your table back as close as they can to the building walls to make sure you are moved out of the way. If you aren't sitting, they will likely make you sit. It's dangerous to be standing because the force of the train CAN knock you down. Because of the language barrier, this interaction may feel rushed and maybe even a little harsh, it's not meant to be mean, it's meant to keep you safe and allows the small business owners to continue to stay in business.
Come Early!
You may be turned away if the barricades are down, which happens minutes before the train is scheduled to roll through. There are often people the cafe hires to draw you in to their cafe and they will welcome you in, almost like an escort to the "show". They'll be standing at the barricades looking for clueless tourists! In my experience, ignore these people. I watched the train many many times, and the time we were escorted after the barricades went down to a cafe table, was our most stressful and overwhelming encounter. It was also the most expensive cafe at more than double the others!
Pro tip: I can't say it enough...come early to the street, find a cafe and take a seat. Don't be that person. Order something from the cafe. You can usually pick up delicious coffees, teas, and juices for just a few US dollars. In true Vietnamese culture, they won't rush you if you order something.
Where is Train Street and How to Get There
If you are booking a hotel in the area, I stayed at the Sky Charm Hanoi Hotel. I found that it was perfectly located and easy to walk to Train Street {heck, the first time I went there, I stumbled on it!} and access everything else Hanoi had to offer! The rooms were updated, clean, and quiet, despite the close proximity to the train. It also had a delicious morning breakfast that was included and easy street vendors {lots of coffee shops!} nearby. You can easily get a room for around $60 a night.
Train Street is located in central Hanoi
The Old Quarter section runs between narrow alleyways near Phung Hung Street and Tran Phu Street, close to Hoan Kiem and the bustling tourist heart of Hanoi.
Le Duan section {south} is near Hanoi Railway Station and generally quieter, with a slightly more local feel.
Pro tip: Download Google maps offline before you travel. That way, you can access any of the maps without WIFI or a sim card.
Getting There
Walking
If you stay nearby, it's an easy walk! The hotel I recommended is about a 4 minute walk from the hotel. From Hoan Kiem Lake or the Old Quarter, Train Street is easily reachable on foot in about 10-20 minutes depending on where you start.
By Grab
A Grab motorbike or car is quick and cheap. Get the full experience by requesting a scooter. It's scary the first time, and then you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner!
Pro tip: Download the Grab app before you travel!
Don't miss this post: Everything You Need to Know Before Your First Trip to Vietnam
Ask the locals
If you ask your tour operator or hotel host, they may not tell you the information that you need. Many tour operators can lose their license if they are seen taking tourists to Train Street. It's just one of the ways the government is trying to crack down on the over tourism the area is seeing.
But the locals will give you the run down and will likely have the updated train schedule. They might even give you their favorite cafe spot to watch from if you ask!
There is no official entrance fee! If someone is charging you to go to Train Street, or wants money to take you to a seat or cafe on Train Street, keep moving on! You will however, need to buy a drink or a snack at the cafe to stay in the train observation area, which is just basically private sidewalks outside of residential homes that have been converted to small cafes.
Train Schedules: What to Expect
One of the first questions travelers ask is: When does the train come through? Train Street trains run on real schedules that vary slightly day-to-day, month-to-month. Here's the most common pattern:
Typical Train Times
These times are approximate. Always double check with a cafe owner or on the website {Vietnam Railways}. Many cafe owners will post the train times on a chalkboard.
Morning trains: 6:10-6:20 AMAfternoon trains: 3:20-3:30 PMEvening Trains: 7:10-7:30 PM
Old Quarter section: Multiple potential passes from early evening into the 9-10 PM range on the weekends.
Pro tip: Depending on North to South or South to North, the train will be coming in different directions, so make sure you're looking the right way!
Because the schedules shift and trains can run early or late, arrive at least 30 minutes early for the best seats and experience!
There is a safety bell that will ring to let you know that a train is on the way. It rings multiple times and that lets the area residents know to start cleaning up and moving people off of and away from the tracks.
Listen to the locals! Your vacation photo isn't worth them losing their small business, or you getting hurt. The government will shut this area down if they are in non-compliance, and that's generally not their fault. It's usually because a tourist isn't listening to one of the small shop owners.
Best Time to Visit Train Street
Weekdays are often quieter, especially in the morning and early afternoon. This is a good time to visit if you want a more relaxed experience.
Weekends have more trains and a livelier atmosphere, but also more crowds! People will often stick around for multiple trains so seats are hard to come by!
Late afternoon to early evening is a sweet spot for atmosphere, people watching, and catching the train coming through.
I went at all different times, and it was magical every single time! I would say, visiting at night on the weekend offered a much more rowdy experience. Everyone cheered and clapped and it felt like a fun community of people coming together to experience something together.
Pro tip: You can still visit Train Street even without the trains! I stopped multiple times on my trip for coffee and it was a lovely experience. It will give you a different glimpse into the life that happens on Train Street and the people who live and work there. I even had a school girl approach me to practice her English.
Safety First!
This is an active railway and safety is paramount. Over the years, guards and authorities have tightened control due to dangerous behavior, like tourists standing too close to the tracks to take photos.
Here are the key safety points to remember:
Stay in the Designated Areas
Remain inside cafe seating or behind safety lines.Be aware of your surroundings at all times and know that trains can come at unscheduled times!
Listen to Warnings
Train horns blow well before arrival, and locals and cafe staff will warn you verbally. If someone yells at you to step back, step back! They know!
Keep Your Distance
Train cars are wider than the tracks. Stay at least a couple of feet off the rails when a train is coming. And for God's sake don't try to touch the train as it goes by!
Children and Pets
Keep kids and pets close when you are near the tracks!
Respect the Locals
Train Street isn't just a tourist phenomenon, it's a lived-in neighborhood. Locals wash their laundry, play games, park their scooters, and live their life here. Be respectful!
Keep noise reasonableDon't block entrancesLearn a few common Vietnamese greetings and use them!Support local businesses by buying drinks or snacks
A little kindness goes a long way and will make your experience that much more enjoyable.
Nearby Attractions to Pair with Your Visit
Train Street is centrally located, making it easy to combine with other Hanoi highlights!
Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple: classic Hanoi spots for a good strollOld Quarter markets and street food alleys: delicious pho, bun cha, egg coffee, and more!St. Joseph's Cathedral & French Quarter architectureRailway museum or Long Bien BridgeA Food Tour
This is where I stayed, and where I'd stay if I were to visit again.
Is Train Street Worth It?
Yes! I continue to hear reports of days long closures during crackdowns in tourism, however, the area continues to reopen. I am so glad I got to experience it, and honestly, what an experience. Seeing that train barrel just mere inches from everyday life is one of the most unique perspectives about how people around the world live differently and how you can be part of it, even briefly.
It will likely be one of the most memorable experiences of your Hanoi trip! I don't think you'll want to miss it!
disclaimer: this post may have affiliate links. By clicking on them and purchasing through them, I may receive a small commission. These small purchases help me to continue to keep writing content and creating at Rachel Teodoro. Thank you!
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