Despite a ban, the popular Train Street in Hanoi's Phung Hung area is once again bustling with visitors seeking unique "check-in" photos. In response, the leadership of Dien Bien Ward (Ba Dinh District) has proposed relocating the railway out of the city center.

The Train Street, straddling the boundaries of Dien Bien Ward (Ba Dinh District) and Cua Nam and Hang Bong Wards (Hoan Kiem District), presents complex management issues. Taking advantage of these jurisdictional overlaps, café owners along the tracks continue to invite customers despite the prohibition.

“Residents and tourists often disregard safety warnings, especially after authorities have temporarily withdrawn checkpoints,” said a representative from the Dien Bien Ward Police.

An investigation of households near the railway (No. 5 Tran Phu and No. 10A Dien Bien Phu) revealed unregistered businesses selling beverages to tourists, who then use the area for photos. Some even collaborate with cafés in neighboring wards, like Cua Nam and Hang Bong, allowing visitors to sit in front of their homes to capture pictures.

In Hang Bong Ward, eight households run coffee and beverage businesses along the tracks, while one operates in Cua Nam Ward. Some residents grant tourists access through private entryways, such as those at No. 3 Tran Phu (Hang Bong Ward) and No. 8 Dien Bien Phu (Cua Nam Ward), undermining the effectiveness of the two checkpoints at either end of the railway.

Considering these violations, local police have recommended that the Department of Tourism discourage international visitors from visiting or taking photos at Train Street due to safety concerns.

Nguyen Xuan Minh, Deputy Chairman of the Dien Bien Ward People’s Committee, shared that the ward has repeatedly requested higher authorities to address the issue comprehensively. He advocates relocating the railway outside the city.

“If relocating the railway is not feasible, homes within 5.4 meters of the tracks must be cleared to ensure safety. Currently, residents live as close as 2.5–3 meters to the tracks, with their main pathways adjacent to the railway, which is inherently unsafe,” Minh emphasized.

The Dien Bien Ward Police have also urged Vietnam Railways Corporation to uphold its responsibility for railway infrastructure and traffic safety, as stipulated in Decrees 56/2018, 14/2015, and 120/1963.

In late 2023, the Hanoi Railway Operations Branch of Vietnam Railways Corporation issued a formal request to the People’s Committees of Hoan Kiem and Ba Dinh Districts, seeking comprehensive measures to ensure railway safety and prevent tourists and residents from using railway corridors.

N. Huyen