Introduction:Hanoi’s railway cafes, renowned for their unique location nestled between train tracks and residential homes, have long been a popular photo spot for travelers. However, safety concerns eventually led authorities to shut them down. This article delves into the rise and fall of this viral attraction, explores how railways and coffee culture intersect in Vietnam, and offers practical travel tips along with insights into local coffee flavors—giving you a deeper understanding of Vietnam’s multifaceted coffee scene.
As the world’s second-largest coffee producer, Vietnam has a coffee culture that is deeply woven into daily life. Whether at family gatherings or casual meetups with friends, coffee is always a central part of the experience. In Hanoi’s Old Quarter in northern Vietnam, a section of railway that runs right through residential areas has captured the imagination of countless visitors.
This railway line, located in Hanoi’s ancient streets district, is flanked by residential houses on both sides. Some residents have even taken advantage of this one-of-a-kind setting to open cafes. Visitors can sit back with a cup of Vietnamese coffee, calmly waiting as trains roar past just inches away from the tracks. This rare combination of visual thrill and rich flavor has quickly made it a top Instagrammable destination.
However, this extraordinary spectacle comes with significant safety risks. The tracks run so close to homes that in some sections the distance is less than a meter, with trains passing within arm’s reach. Many cafe owners, aiming to offer the best views, place chairs right next to the tracks, often scrambling to clear them only when a train is about to arrive—posing serious dangers to customers.
Despite clear warning signs advising the public not to stop or walk on the tracks, many tourists ignore the warnings, taking photos or lingering on the rails until the last moment before a train approaches. This forces train drivers to frequently slow down or even make emergency stops—not only reducing transport efficiency but also increasing the risk of accidents.
Faced with a series of safety incidents and public complaints, Vietnam’s Ministry of Transport finally stepped in. Recently, citing the need to ensure transportation safety, the ministry ordered local authorities in Hanoi to take action by forcibly shutting down the cafes located alongside the tracks and urging travelers to avoid lingering or standing on the railway when trains are passing.
With these distinctive cafes now closed, the once bustling viral attraction has gradually returned to a quieter state, and visitor numbers have significantly dropped. For many travelers who once experienced this unique activity, the sight of trains passing through neighborhoods filled with the aroma of coffee has become an unforgettable memory.
The incident has also sparked broader discussions on balancing urban planning with tourism development. How to preserve local character while ensuring public safety is a topic that relevant departments will need to continually address. For coffee enthusiasts, although they can no longer personally experience the unique atmosphere of railway-side cafes, they can still enjoy the bold richness of Vietnamese coffee by trying locally grown Robusta beans.
Vietnam’s coffee-growing environment is highly diverse, with the tropical climate in the south being particularly well-suited for growing Robusta. These beans are known for their strong flavors, often featuring unique notes of nuts and chocolate—making them ideal for those who prefer a bolder taste. If you’d like to recreate the flavors of Vietnamese street coffee at home, try using a medium-coarse grind for pour over brewing with water heated to around 90°C to 93°C, and aim for an extraction time of about 2 minutes to better highlight the deep, robust profile of Vietnamese coffee.
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
