Train Street Hanoi Guide 2024

December 13, 2023 Food Inbox

Thinking about going to Train Street in Hanoi on your travels to Vietnam? Here is everything you need to know about visiting the famous tourist attraction!

Contents
What is Train Street?
Where is Train Street?
Is Train Street open?
What is the Hanoi Train Street Schedule?
Are tourists allowed to visit Train Street?
Do you need to buy drinks from cafes on Train Street?

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What is Train Street?

Train Street in Hanoi is an area where houses have been built RIGHT up against the train tracks of a working train line. When a train goes past, there’s only inches on each side as it passes through!

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Where is Train Street?

There is a small area on the outskirts of Hanoi Old Quarter which is known as the offical Train Street location for visitors. This is the address listed on Google Maps: 3 P. Trần Phú, Hàng Bông, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội 100000, Vietnam.

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Is Train Street open?

Train street was CLOSED for safety reason for a few years, however in 2023 it was OPENED again to the public - but with strict conditions. Read more on these below!

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What is the Hanoi Train Street Schedule?

Here is the current Train Street timetable.

Weekdays:

7pm, 7.45pm, 8.30pm, 10pm

Weekends:

6am, 9am, 11.20am, 3.20pm, 5.30pm, 6pm, 7pm, 7.45pm, 8.30pm, 9pm, 11pm

Please be aware that while this is the generally accepted timetable, things tend to vary - for example, we went at 9am on the weekend, but another train went through at 9:20am as well which wasn’t listed on the train street schedule. So just be aware that these times are not set in stone! We recommend arriving around 15 mins prior to the expected time for the train to arrive, and be prepared for the train to be a little late as delays to happen frequently.

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Are tourists allowed to visit Train Street?

THIS IS IMPORTANT - You aren’t able to visit train street by just walking onto the tracks yourself. The area is technically closed for tourists and police guard the entrances and give out fines for people who try and barge onto the train tracks.

So to get around this you’ll need to be “invited” by one of the cafes to visit Train Street.

How do you get invited? Well, go to this spot on the map listed above (or just find ‘Hanoi Train Street’ on Google Maps) and ask around for coffee. One of the cafe owners will usher you through to their ‘back entrance’ onto the train tracks, skipping past the guarded barrier. It’s all very secretive but trust me, it’s the only way to do it!

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Do you need to buy drinks from cafes on Train Street?

While there are no formal rules about purchasing food and drinks from cafes on Train Street, it is expected that in return for giving you safe passage onto the railway tracks you will buy food or drinks from their cafe. While the prices can be a little higher than regular cafes, treat your food or drink purchases as your entry ticket to watching the train go past.

We have seen instances where people try to skip out on cafe owners once they make it onto the tracks and not only is it a bit disrespectful, there’s nothing stopping the cafe staff from calling the police over and causing issues for you.

Once you have finished at your cafe, you can take the opportunity to walk along the tracks and take photos on your way out of the area!