Hanoi Train Street

The Hanoi’s Train Street or Doorway Railway is a railway line which passes twice a day through narrow residential and commercial area of Hanoi in Vietnam. Located between Lê Duẩn and Khâm Thin street in Hanoi’s old quarter, the Doorway Railway has become one of the must-see attractions in Hanoi.

For the locals who live in the residential street, they have become accustomed to the train’s normal routine as it passes just inches away from their doorsteps. But, for foreign visitors, it is amazing to witness the terrifying scene as motorbike traffic, homes and businesses literally opening out onto the railway lines. The Hanoi train street has become a favorite photo-taking spot for locals and international tourists who are looking for exciting inspiration.

The railway dangerous proximity to houses and shops is a result of the illegally railway constructions throughout Vietnam. However, the residents are quite familiar with the train schedule, and they ensure their bikes, goods, personal belongings, and their roaming children, are safely out of the way, before the train passes. A sudden rush takes over everyone and the bustling street turns dead silent in a matter of seconds. The silence is broken only by the screeching heavy metal minutes later.

If you suddenly hear the train tooting its horn, you literally had to – jump off the tracks, stand aside or pinned yourself tightly against a wall or duck into a nearby cafe, to escape being killed by a moving train.