Authorities in the Vietnamese capital are facing a persistent challenge in regulating “Train Street”, a 400-metre stretch of railway that has transitioned from a dilapidated alleyway into a global social media sensation.
Despite official closure orders in 2019 and 2022, the site, known locally as Phố Đường Tàu, was the subject of renewed investigations and police intervention in 2025. The latest crackdown followed a near-fatal incident in which a tourist, attempting to take a selfie, was almost pulled under a moving locomotive.
From colonial infrastructure to social media hub
The tracks are part of the North-South Railway, established by French colonial forces in 1902 to link Hanoi with Ho Chi Minh City. While the General Department of Railway built housing for its staff along the tracks in 1956, the area was largely viewed as a slum by the 1970s, characterized by “quaking houses”.
The area’s metamorphosis into a “must-see” destination began in early 2013, when Colm Pierce and Alex Sheal, founders of Vietnam in Focus, initiated photography tours. Its popularity surged in 2017 after a resident began selling refreshments, sparking a rapid proliferation of cafes decorated with lanterns. Today, the location is a staple of digital tourism, with over 100,000 posts tagged on Instagram.
The psychology of risk
The appeal of the street often lies in its perceived danger. Charlotte Russell, founder of The Travel Psychologist, noted that the “risk element” provides a novel thrill, particularly for visitors from countries such as the UK, where safety is strictly regulated by barriers and warnings.
During a visit in February 2026, Julia Husum, a Norwegian student, described the experience as “loved,” recounting how tourists even place beer caps on the rails for the trains to flatten into souvenirs. However, long-term residents like Minh Anh expressed surprise at the viral fame, recalling a time when it was merely an “ordinary street”.
Economic growth vs cultural integrity
The commercialisation of the tracks has created a divide among locals. While tour guide Phuong Loan Ngo acknowledged the “undeniable” financial benefits for resident families, she warned that the “spotlight” of social media often causes the area’s historical heritage to be overlooked.
Nhi Nguyn, a guide for A Taste of Hanoi, echoed these concerns, stating that the “authentic feel” of the neighborhood, where residents once lived and cooked openly, has been lost to the influx of cafes.
With the government currently debating a permanent halt to passenger trains in the area, some tour operators have already moved on. Alex Sheal confirmed that Vietnam in Focus has relocated its photography tours to a suburban railway market to provide visitors with a view of track-side life that remains “less trammelled”.
