The once-forgotten Hanoi Train Street has transformed into a vibrant, albeit chaotic, tourist hotspot, a testament to the undeniable power of social media. What was once considered a dangerous, gang-ridden area by locals is now a bustling thoroughfare, teeming with cafes, bars, and eager visitors armed with smartphones, all vying for the perfect shot as a train hurtles past.
A Decade of Transformation
Ten years ago, during a previous visit, this narrow stretch of active railway was virtually unknown to tourists. Now, it’s a global phenomenon. My guide, Tom, explains the dramatic shift: “No one came here back then. Local people considered it dangerous, a place for gangs – you wouldn’t come down here alone. But social media changed all that, maybe about eight years ago.” The allure of experiencing life perilously close to a moving train, documented and shared online, has drawn an international crowd curious about the unique coexistence of residents and the railway.
Built by the French in 1902, the track between Hanoi Railway Station and Long Bien Station has always skirted residential and commercial areas. However, the “adrenaline rush” of sipping a Vietnamese coffee mere inches from a passing train, captured and amplified by platforms like Instagram, has turned this once-ordinary street into Hanoi’s most captivating attraction. Despite recurring safety concerns and occasional temporary closures due to authorities cracking down on risky behaviour, the magnetic pull of Train Street, with its colourful array of flags, lanterns, and fairy lights that pulse with activity according to the train schedule, remains undeniable.
A New Perspective: The Hanoi Five City Gates Tourist Train
While securing a trackside seat is the ultimate prize for many, I recently experienced Train Street from a decidedly safer, and arguably more culturally immersive, vantage point. This was aboard Hanoi’s newest cultural attraction, the Hanoi Five City Gates Tourist Train, which commenced operations in September 2025.
Billed as a “moving cultural space,” this 40-minute journey offers a unique perspective on the city. It winds its way from Hanoi Station, navigating the bustling Train Street and its intersections choked with traffic, before crossing the historic Red River via the iconic Long Bien bridge. The destination is Tu Son station in neighbouring Bac Ninh province, where passengers disembark for a bus transfer to Do Temple, a site of immense cultural significance in Vietnam.
A Journey Through History and Culture
The train itself is a meticulously crafted experience, with each luxuriously appointed carriage named after five historic gates of the Red River Delta: Cau Den, Quan Chuong, Cau Giay, Cho Dua, and Dong Mac. The interiors are a nostalgic nod to the Indochine era, adorned with vintage items such as an old rickshaw piled high with cushions, vibrantly coloured conical hats suspended from the ceiling, and heritage photographs. A variety of seating options are available, including bench seats strategically placed to offer panoramic views through expansive windows.
For the most exhilarating views of Train Street, seats on the lower floor are paramount. Here, you are literally eye-to-eye with tourists waving and snapping photos as the train glides past. It’s a surreal and amusing experience, akin to being an exhibit in a zoo, but it powerfully illustrates the razor-thin margin between the train and protruding limbs, cameras, and even cafe furniture.
Beyond the visual spectacle, the journey is enriched with cultural touches. Guests are treated to traditional Vietnamese snacks, such as sticky rice, and fragrant jasmine-scented lotus tea. Intimate performances by musicians playing traditional Vietnamese instruments add to the ambiance. The opportunity for photo-taking is abundant, with train staff dressed in traditional attire encouraging passengers to pose for pictures before disembarking. Many of the predominantly Vietnamese guests have embraced the occasion by donning colourful traditional Ao Dai dresses, further enhancing the festive atmosphere.
Cultural Insights and Future Potential
While the commentary provided throughout the journey is currently exclusively in Vietnamese, and the excursion to the 11th-century Do Temple seemed primarily geared towards local visitors with limited interpretation for Westerners, the experience offered a fascinating glimpse into how Vietnamese tourists engage with their heritage. Observing local families and school groups, their unbridled enthusiasm and excitement, provided a unique cultural insight. The sight of children on school excursions waving energetically at the foreign passengers, or the devout offering incense at the temple dedicated to the eight kings of the Ly Dynasty, painted a vivid picture of cultural appreciation. The distant strains of folk songs, amplified and somewhat distorted, added to the lively, almost carnival-like, atmosphere as dragon boats navigated a nearby lake.
As the train made its return journey to Hanoi around lunchtime, Train Street was at peak capacity. We flashed past, unwitting participants in countless Instagram live feeds. It’s a symbiotic relationship, a form of mutual fascination, and I suspect my own photograph, a dizzying close-up of faces and phones through the train window, might just capture the quintessential essence of this remarkable phenomenon.
Essential Information
- Tour: The Hanoi Five Gates Tourist Train offers daily departures from Hanoi Station.
- Pricing: Tickets start from VDN550,000 (approximately $31 AUD). Children under six travel free.
- Booking: The tour can be booked as an add-on for Vietnam tours through Best Price Travel.
- Website: For bookings and more information, visit bestpricetravel.com.
The writer was a guest of BestPrice Travel for this experience.
