Skip to main content

Hanoi Train Street

 Hanoi - After our Pho Cuon lunch, we took a grab taxi to Hanoi most dangerous street - Hanoi’s Train Street is Vietnam’s surprisingly most famous street.  It’s a tiny narrow street hidden in one of the back streets of Hanoi and surrounded by high narrow houses packed closely together. These families’ backyards are the railways where the train passes a few times per day. 

the railway tracks


A photo on the infamous train track

The reason I wanted to come and see how close the train was when it passes us and it was literally a meter away from the houses. The safety line (marked with yellow color) is only about 20 centimeters away from the homes, and that’s the line you shouldn’t cross when the train is coming.

Before the train arrives, tourist was walking up and down the tracks - taking photos. But all of sudden, a loud airhorn sounded and a man shouting in Vietnamese to get all tourists off the tracks.   The tourist went scrambling back to their chairs to get a good view of the passing train.


The cafes are nicely decorated and colourful to attract the tourist.  They are so vibrant, full of flowers, art, paintings, and all kinds of decorations. You can sit down just a meter away from the tracks, or even choose a spot upstairs where you get a higher perspective of the passing train.

Willy cheers to the passing train

Our drinks 

In October 2019, visiting it as a tourist was presumably banned because of the railway operators’ previous problems. What caused the final ban was when the train had to make an emergency stop to avoid hitting tourists.   But the covid pandemic changed everything, businesses and cafes were allowed to operate once again.   I was to say very fortunate to be here to see this train passing.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Calesa around Intramuros

Manila - Together with Albert, we took a calesa (horse drawn carriage used in Philippines) around Intramuros. Albert and Lesley Albert and I Intramuros is the oldest district and historic core of Manila.  The walled part of Manila was called intramuros, which is Latin for "within the walls"; districts beyond the walls are known as extramuros meaning outside the walls.  Construction of the defensive walls was started by the Spaniards in the late 16th century to protect the city from foreign invasions.   Guarding the old city is Fortaiago wich is located at the mouth of the river. Gallery of Philippines past and present presidents General MacArthur Battle HQ Entrance of General MacArthur HQ Manila Hotel Manila Hotel in the distance Manila hotel is the oldest hotel in the Philippines and the most well known icon. Baluarte De San Andres Cannons lined in a semi-circle Colegio de San Juan de Letran was founded in...

Cheong Guk Jang - fermented bean soup

Seoul - Lunch with Youngjin was at a traditional soup restaurant and it was crowded.   Youngjin asked me many times Cheonggukjang "ok", I said ok not knowing what to expect.  I have tried many weird and smelly good in Seoul, so I was very prepared.   My first time tasting Cheonggukjang and I like it. CheongGukJang 청국장 is fermented soybean soup aka Stinky soup.  Actually, I like fermented food and the smell does not put me off.   I like fermented food because of the many health benefits and also we have them here in Singapore - tempe, belachan, fermented bean curd (which I love with my porridge), chincaluk, etc.. very hot Cheonggukjang  I always buy danjang paste and bring home to make soup.  I understand that they are the same but the difference is Cheonggukjang beans are uncrushed and are fermented for a longer period of time.

Temple Street Night Market

Kowloon - This flea market is full of quirky, Hong Kong souvenirs and t-shirts to take home. The actual market on Temple Street is in the Yau Ma Tei and Jordan sections of Temple Street. The flea market starts in the late afternoon every day and continues throughout the evening. You can find fake’designer' handbags, sunglasses, clothes, and electronic gadgets.  The atmosphere was filled with many tourist of different nationalities.  Along the sides were many seafood restaurants, mostly crowded.    You will also find fortuner teller stalls plying their trade.