In recent days, the police have erected barricades to prevent access to visitors who, since 2017, have invaded this section of the railway attracted thanks to social networks (or because of them). With the reopening to tourism, houses converted into shops and small bars managed by locals without authorization also returned. Local authorities insist that there are too many accidents.
Hanoi ( / Agencies) – Vendors working on Hanoi’s “train street” have asked the government not to block access to tourists again. On September 20, shop and bar owners sent a letter to the Ministry of Transport in the hope that they will be able to continue their business activities now that the country has reopened to tourism.
Train Street is a very narrow street in Hanoi’s Old Quarter: several times a day a train passes by, brushing against the sides of the buildings, which date back to the French colonial era.
In 2017, thanks to social networks, and especially Instagram, the train street became a popular tourist destination. The people who live near the tracks have transformed their houses into small shops and bars – without authorization – where visitors stop to wait for the train to pass. Accidents have also increased drastically: some train drivers say that several times they had to use the emergency brake to avoid running over people who were taking a selfie in the middle of the tracks.
In 2019, the street was closed for security reasons. The issue did not escalate because the pandemic prevented the arrival of tourists. With the reopening of the borders in mid-March and the return of visitors, bars and souvenir shops have finally reopened as well. Some locals commented that they were happy because they would no longer have to go to sell fruits and vegetables, and now they could work “from home”.
However, early last week, the state railway company asked the authorities to close the train road again. On September 15, police erected barricades to keep people off the roads and ordered cafes to close because at least 30 businesses were operating without permits and breaking safety regulations.
In the days that followed, reports circulated that a South Korean tourist jumped over barricades and was hit by a train. The journalist Michael Tatarski doubts the veracity of the news: “I am not entirely convinced that this happened for several reasons: I only saw the news in English and the details were very vague. Also, it comes a few days after the The railway company asked to close the street, it’s strange, now it’s unclear how long the ban will last, local vendors hope the government will find a solution to ensure both the safety of tourists and the continuity of business.
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