Another truly remarkable Hanoi tourist attraction is the length of the railway track that runs through several neighborhoods commonly referred to as train street. This passage is narrow, so narrow that in spots the houses are mere inches away from passing trains. Many of the buildings, originally built as railway worker housing, have now become coffee shops extending tables and chairs out onto the tracks between scheduled train runs. In recent years these streets have become so popular with selfie and Instagram crazed tourists that authorities have closed these streets citing public safety.
Despite this general closure, we were able to find one section near the station which was still operating. While we waited for the 15:30 train from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City (also known as the Reunification Express), we grabbed a stool and a beer and watched a small crowd begin to gather. With the sound of the train horn, tables and chairs were quickly removed from the tracks as people prepared for the fast moving train to pass. What can I say, other than it was just plain fun!
A short clip of our Train Street Experience:
Now for 2 well produced video presentations on Train Street:
This 4 min Train Street video is from the Chris Tarrant BBC Television series Extreme Railway Journeys:
This 3 min video by Roger B Stillz, captures the spirit of Life along Train Street:
So dangerous! How fast does it go!?
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