Authorities in Vietnam are cracking down on Hanoi's Train Street. Photo: Getty
Vietnam’s authorities are fighting a losing battle against tourists on Hanoi’s Train Street.
The narrow street always draws a crowd, as tourists line up to see a train pass through the street twice a day while businesses clear the way for the train to pass.
Along the street are cafes and eateries, begging for people to watch the trains pass just centimetres away from them.
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However, in 2022, citing safety concerns, authorities shut down the street, with eateries ordered to close.
The spot became particularly popular thanks to social media, with several people showcasing the spectacle on various social media platforms.
The vice-chairman of Hoan Kiem District People’s Committee, Nguyen Anh Quan, told Vietnam News: “Tourism revenue makes up a considerable amount of our budget, but we do not trade revenue for the safety of the people.”
It was closed in 2019, but when Vietnam welcomed back post-COVID tourists in 2022, visitors kept returning to be close to the action.
Barricades were put up to prevent tourists from lining this particular stretch of the railway and the decision was backed by the Vietnam Railway Corporation.
However, according to TIME, some tourists and businesses went to another part of the tracks where there are no barricades, and some shop owners have guided tourists onto the track by using small lanes to bypass the barricades that block the main entrances of Train Street.
Restrictions were brought in due to safety concerns.
Trinh Hoang Tung, vice-chairman of the People’s Committee of Hoan Kiem District told VietNamNet newspaper recently that the district had requested stronger action against businesses that ignore the ban.
According to Vietnam Insider, in addition to requesting strengthened action against violations, the district also wants neighbourhoods to conduct awareness campaigns and encourage people living in the railway-safety corridor to adhere to local laws.
Hoan Kiem District has reportedly also requested that neighbourhoods organise checkpoint forces to “enforce the suspension of all businesses violating regulations in accordance with the law and to intensify inspections and strict actions against violations of business activities”.
While the harsher restrictions might harm tourism in the area, some local tour guides support them.
Tour guide and director of Hanoi Train Street Tour, Kieu Cong Anh told TIME he supported the restrictions as he has witnessed tourists inch close to disaster on the street, which puts the burden on shop owners to keep an eye on tourists.
“Sometimes they don’t know the distance to stand for safety. Many coffee shop owners, they see tourists taking photos, they will have to shout at them to come inside,” he said.
However, when the ban came in last year business owners were feeling left out of the conversation.
“My family has four people and we mainly depend on this cafe to earn a living. We borrowed money to invest in the cafe,” cafe owner Phung Anh Tuan said.
“My family now waits for new policies from Hanoi authorities that allows resumption of business activities along Train Street.”