Train Street is one of the most photographed and visited stretches of train track in Southeast Asia, squeezing through a tiny sliver of central Hanoi. Vietnam Railways trains heading to or from Hanoi’s railway station on their regular journeys use the track, which runs between rows of houses, so close that cafes put their stools beside the line and visitors sit and wait for a train to pass. Don’t expect much in the way of health and safety guidelines; the trains crawl past tourists with only a few inches to spare, making this an exhilarating and awe-inspiring experience.
Two places use the name Train Street, so make sure you choose the one that suits you before setting off, although both are in close proximity to Hanoi station. The busier one is the stretch of line between Phung Hung and Tran Phu streets, a little north-east of the station, which the trains for Hai Phong, Lao Cai and the north pass through. The quieter one is the alley off Le Duan street, to the south, which the North–South trains pass through as they leave and arrive in Hanoi.
Below you can see when each train is expected, how long until the next one, and what to know before you go. The times are worked out from the timetable, so treat them as a guide.
Phung Hung side: trains today
Times are approximate: see the notes below.
| Time | Train | Direction |
|---|
Le Duan side: trains today
Times are approximate: see the notes below.
| Time | Train | Direction |
|---|
When to visit
Trains don’t pass evenly throughout the day, so choose your arrival time carefully.
Phung Hung side
Busiest from around 17:40 to 19:30, when three trains pass (on some days there are four). Later in the evening, three trains also run between 21:15 and 22:05.
Quietest The longest gap between trains is from 11:50 to 15:20.
Le Duan side
Busiest from around 19:10 to 19:50, when three trains pass within about 40 minutes. Later in the evening, two trains also run between 21:50 and 22:20.
Quietest The longest gap between trains is from 13:05 to 16:20.
These are expected times, and trains arriving in Hanoi can run late, so treat them as a guide. We’ve excluded trains that pass through before 6.00am and after 10.30pm.
The cafes and how it works
The line runs through a residential area where enterprising locals have set up cafes and restaurants to serve tourists while they wait for the trains to pass through. A few minutes before a train appears, staff usually close off the entrance and move the stools back against the wall, and you will normally hear a warning siren or bell before the train comes through. Although some tourists try to find free viewing areas, it’s easier to use one of the cafes and buy a drink, otherwise you’ll be politely asked to move away from the line.
The Phung Hung stretch has many more cafes and is the busier and more commercial of the two (it’s also where most of the larger tour groups visit). If you’re looking for a quieter experience, head to Le Duan alley that has far fewer cafes and crowds. Opening hours and rules differ by cafe and can change, so ask the staff when you sit down: they also know when the next train is due.
Getting there
The Phung Hung stretch is a short walk or Grab ride from the Old Quarter, on the line running north from Hanoi station. The Le Duan alley is off Le Duan, about 700 metres south of the station, so it is a short walk or a cheap Grab ride from the station, and a short Grab ride from the Old Quarter. The two are on opposite sides of the station, so choose the one you want before you set off.
FAQs
About 15 trains a day pass the Phung Hung side, from around 05:13 to around 22:43, and about 14 pass the Le Duan side, from around 03:38 to around 22:18. The tables above give each one. These are expected times from the timetable, so allow a few minutes either way, and more for trains coming into Hanoi, which can run late.
It depends what you want. Most trains pass in the evening: the busiest spell on the Phung Hung side is from around 17:40 to 19:30, and on the Le Duan side from around 19:10 to 19:50, so that is when you are most likely to see more than one train. The longest gaps between trains are from 11:50 to 15:20 on the Phung Hung side and from 13:05 to 16:20 on the Le Duan side, so avoid arriving in the middle of those if you want to see a train. These are expected times, and trains arriving in Hanoi can run late.
Right here: the tables show the trains in Hanoi time and the box at the top shows the next one on each side. The cafe staff also know when the next train is due, so ask when you sit down.
Access has been restricted several times, and the authorities have discouraged tour groups from coming. A plan to cut passenger services through the area has also been reported. Cafes may be closed to visitors on the day, so check locally before you go.
There is no ticket. The cafes expect you to buy a drink if you sit near the line, and prices vary by cafe.
Aim to arrive about 30 minutes before the train you want, to find a seat. An hour is usually enough for one train and a drink.
The trains pass very close, and one can come early or late, so never rely on the times alone. Follow the cafe staff, stay behind their line, keep children close and never stand on or cross the track.
The Phung Hung side is the better known, with many more cafes, more visitors and the trains for Hai Phong, Lao Cai and the north. The Le Duan side is quieter, with far fewer cafes and a clearer view, and has the North–South trains. If you want the busier scene, go to Phung Hung; if you would rather have a calmer seat, try Le Duan.
Usually not, but some cafes may take reservations, so ask ahead if you want a particular seat.
How these times are worked out
Both stretches are a short distance from Hanoi station. A train that has just left is still pulling away, so we add about 3 minutes to its departure time. A train about to arrive is slowing down, so we take about 2 minutes off its arrival time. Trains leaving Hanoi tend to start on time; trains arriving can be late, sometimes by hours. Treat every time as a guess to within a few minutes at best.
Expected times are worked out from the timetable data collected 29th October 2026, not from live tracking. Times may vary.
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