Train Street was traditionally the poor part of the Old Quarter of Hanoi - a tiny winding street surrounded by tall, narrow houses. The houses back onto the single train track and are just 1 meter away from the rails. In 2017 a lady opened up a coffee shop and it became so successful many others followed suit. It then became one of Hanoi’s most visited places. Now, having been closed for a while following a near accident', the main entrances are guarded and limited people are allowed in. Many of the coffee shops have closed due to the Government’s clamp down as well as the lack of tourists. We were not allowed onto the tracks at a couple of guarded sections so we quickly hopped onto another section just in time.
The train was due at 9.00AM. It was bizarre to see how quickly and efficiently everything gets cleared and packed away within minutes each time a train is due.
The train is huge as it rumbles past you - only 20cms away.
And then it’s gone and life goes back to normal.
We wandered along the tracks to look at the cafes and homes.
Our second attempt to explore life on the track was over the other side of town - Le Duan - an unguarded section where the track goes over a very wide and busy road.
It’s the weekend and not much was happening along the track, nor were there many people around. It actually looked like quite a few of the buildings are empty. Nevertheless, it was really interesting to see the area and get another small glimpse of life on the the tracks.
This lady and her family run a cafe and have been living on the track for 4 years.
The train runs along the roadside from here on in.
So far, I have to say Hanoi has an attractive blend of big city and old world. It has character, charm, and some of the most photography friendly people you’ll ever meet.