Hanoi’s Train Street in Vietnam: The Wildest Cafe Ride

Hanoi’s Train Street has become one of the most unique and electrifying travel experiences in the world, where tourists sip coffee and snap photos just inches from a colonial-era train as it roars past lantern-adorned cafes.

Once a dangerous slum plagued by drugs and crime, the narrow strip of track has been transformed into a vibrant hub of tourism and culture, drawing visitors from across the globe thanks to its fame on social media.

Built in the early 1900s by French colonial rulers to connect Indochina, the railway has survived wartime bombings, decades of underdevelopment, and repeated government efforts to shut it down over safety concerns.

Today, while Vietnam plans a $67 billion high-speed rail project to modernize its infrastructure, this historic and chaotic stretch of track continues to steal the spotlight, symbolizing both resilience and reinvention.

For locals, it’s not just about coffee and selfies — it’s about reclaiming and revitalizing a once-forgotten corner of the city, turning it into one of Hanoi’s most iconic landmarks.