Hanoi Train Street 2026: The “Secret” Quiet Side vs. The Tourist Trap

We’ve stood on the tracks of Hanoi Train Street three times now. The first two times, we’ve questioned if it was worth the hype. But the third was the right one. When we realised that there are multiple sections, and we’ve always seen the train passing by only from the popular one, well, where everyone goes.

In fact, if you go to the popular “North Section” (Tran Phu/Phung Hung), you aren’t visiting a neighbourhood; It was one of the worst experiences we had in Hanoi. Shoulder to shoulder, and crushed into the walls when the train passes.

Everyone wants their photos and doesn’t care about you walking by. Even the guards are more aggressive in the North Sections. They blow the whistle and push everyone to the side (for safety); otherwise, dumb people will be crushed under the train, creating the famous closure.

Anyway, we were lucky to skip all of that on our third visit and are here to offer you the best guide to Train Street in Hanoi. That’s a secret that many dare to share. The “Le Duan Section” is a quieter side that the Instagram crowds—and most outdated blogs—ignore. This is where the real Hanoi lives, and it’s only a 15-minute walk away.

Why The Quiet Side Wins

We always look for hidden gems and places that are less hyped, often raw, but legendary. On our third trip, exploring the Hanoi train tracks, we were overwhelmed by the barricades and the “themepark” touristy vibe of the Old Quarter.

So we walked away. We headed South, towards the Le Duan and Kham Thien area, about 25 minutes from the main tourist hub. We almost turned back because the streets looked too normal, but then I saw the tracks.

The contrast with the North section was violent.

• North Side: Shoulders rubbing, guards yelling, and a desperate struggle to get a photo without a stranger’s head in it.
• South Side: Silence. We saw local kids playing on the track, and grandma cooking in their kitchen with a prime view over the track. Locals were playing chess, cards, and making regular street noises. The street had another smell, not train smoke; it was home-cooked meals.

There were no souvenir shops, coffee places, and small restaurants where locals, not looking like covers of magazines. It wasn’t a “set”; it was a Tuesday afternoon in a real neighbourhood.

We found a spot in Hanoi in the 1990s, a small cafe where the owner didn’t just shove a menu in our faces but actually helped us find a safe spot.

The Train Arrival

When the train comes here, it’s different. Without 500 people screaming, the sensory experience is raw. You hear the distant horn first, then the ground starts to vibrate beneath your Birkenstock.

Because it was quiet, we weren’t just filming the train and watching it on our screens. It was real. We weren’t there for the shot anymore, but for the feeling.

You are pressing your back against the rough plaster of a wall, feeling the wind rush past your face as a massive steel machine passes inches from your nose.​

The Comparison: North Section vs Le Duan Section (Our authentic experience)

Is Train street Hanoi open in 2026?

Yes, Train Street Hanoi is open. After a long closure, the business was too thriving to close it down for good. It was shut down in 2019 and again in 2025 after several tourists got injured by the train passing by. Read more here.

Authorities were also concerned by the delay trains were accumulating, having to slow down on the sections where cafes and bars were popping out like mushrooms.

However, since then, safety measures have been in place. This avoids a lot of problems and transfers customers’ responsibility to shop owners.

How to find the quiet side

Forget the pinned location on every other blog. You want to head South of the main Hanoi Railway Station, towards Le Duan Street (LINK). It’s slightly further from Hanoi’s Old Quarter, which is exactly why the tour buses don’t go there.​

You’ll find a less policed area than the North, but it requires more respect. You don’t just barge in and stand on the tracks. You need to find a local cafe owner—our favourite coffee places remain Hanoi 1990s or 65 Railway Coffee—make eye contact, and ask for a seat. Once you are a customer, you are under their “safeguard,” and the police generally leave you alone.​ Check our authentic guide to the best cafes in Hanoi, tested one by one!

Train schedule

Timing is everything when visiting Train Street. The train passes many times during the day, often changes schedule and most of it is always delayed.

However, the two main sections – Le Duan and Tran Phu – have different timings.

North Section (Tran Phu – Closer to the Old town)

This is the overall daily and weekly schedule:

• Overall trains pass at 9.15 am to 10.00 pm
• Morning Trains: 8.39 am, 9.15 am, 11.45 am.
• Afternoon trains: 3.15 pm, 3.50 pm, 5.45 pm, 7.30 pm, 9.05 pm, 9.20, 10.00 pm.
• Weekend: Some of the above + 10.00 am, 5.30 pm, 9.30 pm.

We found that the train schedule is variable (like many things in Vietnam). The cafes along the street typically display the train schedule on chalkboards.

Also, consider messaging your chosen cafe on WhatsApp before heading there; they will provide the most accurate train schedule.

READ ALSO | Hanoi 3 days itinerary

Hanoi Train Street South Section – Le Duan

We experienced at first the south section of Hanoi train street. This is the quietest, as said. If you, like us, give value to the experience more than the popularity of the place this is the section for you.

Prices across the cafes are very similar, but we found owners at the Le Duan section much more lovely. We had our coffee at Hanoi 1990s, an institution on Train Street.

Northern Section of Hanoi train street

The busiest section of Hanoi train street is the north one. It is the closest part of the track to the old town. We literally passed by this section every day when we stayed our first time in Hanoi; it is the closest to the touristy area – the Old Quarter.

The section definitely has more cafes and crazy tourists than the southern part. As popularity increases, business is thriving, but with it the risks for the guests.

There are two new subsections of the Northern one. Not far from each other, mitigate the tourists and avoid the incidents that caused the closure of train street Hanoi in 2019 for safety concerns.

As the track was too crowded, we opted for a cafe with a terrace, and saw the train passing by from a different perspective.

Can’t hide, but the atmosphere is nicer than the southern section. But too crowded to make you squeeze.

Our Experience at Hanoi Train Street

We couldn’t leave Hanoi without experiencing an egg coffee along train street. It is iconic, isn’t it, it’s one of these experiences that you don’t do every day. We sat quietly in the southern section of Hanoi train street.

The track was much more empty than we expected. We were at the right time of the day, after lunchtime. We chose to visit the Le Duan section and made our way to the Hanoi 1990s cafe.

The owner was incredibly welcoming and helped us find the perfect spot to watch the train pass. While waiting, we ordered egg coffee (a Vietnamese speciality).

The adrenaline was pumping in. The anticipation built as the scheduled time approached. Suddenly, we heard a distant horn and the cafe staff quickly rushed everyone to move back from the tracks.

The train appeared. Fast, but not that much to scare you. As it rumbled past just inches away, the ground vibrated beneath our feet, and the wind rushed past our faces. We did right; it was unforgettable.

Get your souvenir from Train Street Hanoi

That was my surprise, you can get a unique souvenir from Vietnam. For free!

Get a beer, or ask for a cap. Place it on the train track (they say it’s safe), and take it back after it passes on top. It is a popular thing to do in Hanoi.

How has the popularity of Train Street Hanoi impacted the local community?

While travelling is beautiful, I am always on the lookout, or better say within my thoughts on how popular places, and the tourism boom impact on the local population.

Every single person has their own impact. Traditions and cultural aspects can be wiped in a few months, as a TikTok or a reel on Instagram goes viral.

Is that the case for train streets in Hanoi? Well, why can you be against or pro, that’s two sides of the coin that will always be in conflict about.

I chose to believe that not all tourism is bad. After all, we are talking about a country that has a very reduced PIL. Some families have to find a way to survive. So, most of them relocated and converted their usual accommodation into thriving coffee shops for tourists.

They had money because of the business. Who wants to live next to a train track? Dirty, miserable and dark as defined by Fabienne Fong Yan for Lonely Planet, who first visited the place in 2017.

Right before the Instagram boom. Families in the area had to relocate, maybe to a better place, because now they have money to sustain the family.

Specifically on Train Street, I’ve seen locals trying to preserve their cultural heritage. All this without compromising their integrity, but creating sustainable economic opportunities.

Where there was nothing more than a train track running through miserable buildings, now is a tourist attraction. Everything is regulated, and businesses have licences.

Best Cafes on Train Street

Based on our experience and research, these are some of the best cafes to enjoy the Train Street experience:

At Le Duan Section:

• Hanoi 1990s – Our personal favourite! The owner was incredibly kind and took photos for us on the track. I tried their cold egg coffee and it was delicious.
• 65 Railway Coffee – Another great coffee place in the south section. Again, shop owners around here are kind, generous and have the time to give you the best experience. The coffee is great, the price is in line, and the setting is so cute. 

At the Northern Section (Old Quarter Section):

• RAILWAY TUAN CAFE – The first coffee shop to open on Train Street. It’s cute and nice, with many Instagrammable corners. Ideal to visit even when the train isn’t passing. We waited for the carriages to pass by on the terrace.
• A99 – It is in the secret part of the north section. It’s much more secluded and safe. You don’t actually have the stools on the track.
• 84 Coffee Bends –  It is on the part of the track that bends. Nice place to watch, sitting on the table. They do serve food and it’s one of the busiest.

How much does It cost?

Train Street is free to enter. Technically, you must be accompanied by a local shop owner, who takes you under their safeguard. Authorities often monitor the track to avoid incidents.

We found prices at the cafe in line with any other touristy place in Hanoi. So typically around 20/30% higher compared to more local areas. To be honest, it’s reasonable.

Here’s what we paid for some common items:

• Cold Egg Coffee: 45,000 VND (~$1.70 | £1.35 | €1.60)
• Local beer: 45,000 VND (~$1.80)

When budgeting for Vietnam, these small premiums won’t break the bank, especially considering the unique experience you’re getting in return.

Our Rules for the best experience:

Is Hanoi train street worth the hype?

If you are wondering if Hanoi train street is worth visiting, yes It is! We loved that, that’s why we explored more than once and different sections of the track. If you are willing to walk the extra 15 minutes to the Le Duan section, you find the soul of the city, not just a photo op. Skip the chaos, buy a 45,000 VND egg coffee from a local auntie, and watch the train rumble past in peace.​

Check out our Vietnam Itinerary for budget travellers for more spots that haven’t been ruined yet, or read our guide to Giang Egg Coffee for the best in town, not in Train street.