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EN
Recently, the name "Hanoi train track cafe" has once again become a hot topic on Vietnamese social media, but this time not only because of its uniqueness or romantic charm, but also because of a near-dangerous incident that occurred while the train was in motion.
This incident has once again reignited the ongoing debate about safety at one of the capital's "must-see spots" for international tourists, a location praised extensively by many travel bloggers. While its irresistible appeal is undeniable, concerns about risks remain a persistent issue, raising serious questions about the balance between tourism development and public safety.
Despite being very popular with international tourists, Hanoi's railway-side cafes have been repeatedly warned against by foreign media.
In fact, the story of Hanoi's railway-side cafes is no longer unfamiliar in international newspapers, but it's not always purely praise. Besides acknowledging the uniqueness and impressiveness of this location, many foreign writers have not hesitated to point out the potential risks, even deadly dangers, lurking for tourists.
For example, in September 2022, when news of the temporary closure of the train track cafes spread, Thomas Bywater of the New Zealand Herald wrote a detailed article about the location.
Many travel bloggers consider Hanoi a "must-see destination" when visiting, but it's undeniable that safety concerns remain a contentious issue.
The author vividly describes: "The cafes, stretching about 100 meters along the railway line, have become one of Hanoi's top tourist attractions. Here, visitors can enjoy delicious cups of coffee, just meters from the tracks where trains pass daily." However, Thomas immediately follows up by stating that this is a "risky dining area," raising a warning about safety.
Similarly, the prestigious news agency CNN (USA) once called this area one of Hanoi's most distinctive and famous tourist destinations – a place where tourists from all over the world flock to take photos and experience the thrill of trains running close to them. However, CNN also frankly emphasized that this location harbors many dangers. Despite the fact that the train tracks are still in operation, tourists still casually sit, lie down, or pose directly on the tracks to take pictures, turning each "Instagrammable" moment into a significant risk to safety, even life.
Many foreign news agencies have described this as a "risky dining area".
In late 2022, CNN went even further, listing Hanoi's train track cafes as one of the "no longer exist" destinations that tourists should remove from their itineraries to avoid wasting time and facing danger. The newspaper stated: "The street has long been controversial, despite being world-famous for the sight of trains running on the tracks between two rows of cafes spaced just inches apart."
CNN also emphasized that this location harbors many dangers.
This location attracts tourists seeking the thrill of posing for photos in the middle of the railway tracks. However, overcrowding on the railway-side cafe street has made it unsafe, even forcing trains to stop for minutes to avoid people. This warning from CNN clearly reflects the deep concern of the international community about a tourist destination where human lives seem to be at risk.
The repeated warnings from the international press serve not only as a reminder for tourists but also as a wake-up call for urban managers. Balancing the preservation of a unique tourist attraction with ensuring absolute safety for residents and visitors remains a difficult challenge, requiring decisive action and coordinated solutions from relevant authorities to prevent unfortunate accidents that could occur at any time on this "street of trains".
