If Thailand has Mae Klong railway market that attracts tourists to see the trading scene along the railway tracks, then Vietnam has Hanoi railway coffee street that makes curious tourists curious.
Train Street Cafe starts to get crowded in early summer. The row of coffee shops along the railway section from Tran Phu to Phung Hung (Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi) is always a curious destination. The experience of coffee shops along the railway attracts hundreds of visitors on weekends. Foreign tourists in particular make up the majority. The shops are decorated very eye-catchingly, with tables and chairs close together on both sides. When there are no trains passing by, tourists can walk around and take photos freely on the tracks.It is easy to see that the customers sitting and drinking coffee are mainly foreigners. The train street coffee street is considered by many tourism experts and representatives of travel agencies to be a creative and unique tourism product of Hanoi. On weekends, the number of visitors to the train street coffee street is very large. Many Western tourists wait 3-4 hours just to watch the train pass by.Despite many regulations and restrictions on opening coffee shops in railway areas, tourists still “persist” in coming to this place. Sitting and drinking coffee right next to the railway, waiting for the moment the train rushes past is a “thrilling feeling” that many foreigners enjoy. Photo: Khuong MinhPreviously, in 2022, the authorities set up barriers and blocked both ends of the entrance to the railway coffee alley on Tran Phu and Phung Hung streets (Hoan Kiem district). But currently, the railway section on Phung Hung street has coffee shops that are still operating. Tourists enjoy every time a train passes by. This image reminds many people of the Maeklong railway market in Thailand. Photo: Khuong MinhEvery day, at Mae Klong Market in Thailand, there are 8 trains passing through the market. When the train passes, the vendors and tourists quickly leave their goods and huddle to one side. Before the train passes, the vendors and tourists are notified to move so as not to affect the safety of the train. Photo: Photo: Tourism Authority of ThailandYoung visitors check in at Mae Klong train station, Mueng district, near Mae Klong railway market in Samut Songkhram province (Thailand). This market is also known as Siang Tai (meaning adventurous life in Thai). The train passing through this market runs at 30km/h. People around this area hold a market right next to the railway tracks despite the potential danger. Photo: Ha Le
