Brian Jeffrey
Even with regulations in place, Hanoi’s Train Street in the Phung Hung area continues to attract numerous visitors eager to take distinctive photos. In light of this, the Dien Bien Ward leadership has suggested moving the railway away from the city center.
This Train Street, which lies at the intersection of Dien Bien Ward (Ba Dinh District) and Cua Nam and Hang Bong Wards (Hoan Kiem District), faces several management challenges. Some café operators exploit the overlapping jurisdictions to keep their businesses open, thereby defying the ban.
According to a representative from the Dien Bien Ward Police, “Visitors often ignore safety alerts, particularly after the authorities have lifted checkpoints temporarily.”
An examination of dwellings near the railway at No. 5 Tran Phu and No. 10A Dien Bien Phu uncovered unauthorized businesses selling drinks to tourists, who use the area for photo opportunities. Some locals even work with cafés from adjacent wards, allowing guests to take pictures right in front of their homes.
In the Hang Bong Ward, eight homes operate coffee and beverage services near the tracks, while one is based in Cua Nam Ward. Some residents have started letting tourists enter through private entrances, like those at No. 3 Tran Phu (Hang Bong Ward) and No. 8 Dien Bien Phu (Cua Nam Ward), which diminishes the impact of the two checkpoints situated at either end of the railway line.
In light of these infractions, local police have advised the Department of Tourism to caution international visitors against going to Train Street or taking photographs there due to safety risks.
Nguyen Xuan Minh, the Deputy Chairman of the Dien Bien Ward People’s Committee, mentioned that the ward has continually approached higher authorities for a comprehensive solution. He supports the idea of relocating the railway outside the downtown area.
Minh stated, “If relocating the railway proves impractical, homes situated within 5.4 meters of the tracks should be cleared for safety. At present, families are living as close as 2.5 to 3 meters to the tracks, with their main pathways running adjacent to them, creating unsafe conditions.”
The Dien Bien Ward Police have further called upon Vietnam Railways Corporation to fulfill its responsibilities regarding railway infrastructure and traffic safety, in line with Decrees 56/2018, 14/2015, and 120/1963.
In late 2023, the Hanoi Railway Operations Branch of Vietnam Railways Corporation officially requested the People’s Committees of Hoan Kiem and Ba Dinh Districts to implement extensive measures for ensuring railway safety and preventing the use of railway corridors by tourists and residents.
