What is it like to live just steps away from train tracks?
This question can be answered on Train Street in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Train Street is a unique street in the Old Quarter of Hanoi, famous for the trains that pass through the residential buildings daily. The tracks were laid during the French colonial period and have been in use for nearly a century, serving as one of Vietnam’s important transportation hubs. The residents along Train Street treat the tracks as their public space; they have grown accustomed to the roaring trains and coexist harmoniously with them. The street features various fruit shops, barber shops, restaurants, and cafés, attracting many domestic and international tourists to experience its unique charm.
As you step into Train Street, which is full of a lively atmosphere, you’ll see colorful storefronts lining the tracks, with tables and chairs set up outside where you can enjoy a drink while waiting for a train to pass by.
The narrow street closely hugs the tracks, and when a train arrives, it feels like a time tunnel, emerging from nearly a century of hidden history, with the wind carrying the traces and stories of the past.
