Discover the updated 2025 Hanoi Train Street schedule, safety tips, and the best cafés to watch the train pass inches away. Plan your visit with Tour Guide Vietnam’s expert insights.
Introduction
Looking for one of the most exhilarating experiences in Hanoi?
Welcome to Hanoi Train Street—a narrow residential alley where a working railway line runs right through the heart of the Old Quarter. Just inches from the doorways and cafés, this is a bucket-list moment for travelers to Vietnam.
In this 2025 guide, Tour Guide Vietnam covers everything you need to know: train times, safety updates, best photo spots, and how to get in.
📍 Where is Hanoi Train Street?
Located in Hanoi’s Old Quarter, Train Street runs between Lê Duẩn Street and Phùng Hưng Street. The most popular entrance is:
🗺️ Ngõ 224 Lê Duẩn, Hoàn Kiếm District
Google Maps will show multiple points. Look for one of the many cafés with staff waiting to escort you in.
🕒 Hanoi Train Street Timetable (2025 Updated)
To see the train in action, you’ll need to time your visit perfectly. Here’s the latest train schedule for 2025:
✅ Weekday Train Times (Monday–Friday)
Evening only:
7:00 PM
· 7:45 PM
· 8:45 PM
· 9:30 PM
· 10:00 PM
✅ Weekend Train Times (Saturday–Sunday)
All day:
8:30 AM
· 9:30 AM
· 11:30 AM 3:20 PM
· 4:30 PM
· 5:30 PM 6:00 PM
· 7:20 PM
· 7:45 PM
· 8:45 PM
· 9:15 PM
✅ Pro tip: Arrive 30–45 minutes early to grab a front-row seat at a café and enjoy the build-up.
🚫 Is Hanoi Train Street Open in 2025?
The short answer is: Yes, but with restrictions.
In past years, the local government closed Train Street due to safety concerns. As of 2025:
Access is limited to guests of cafés and shops along the tracks.
Police may turn away tourists without a reservation or escort.
Many cafés have reopened and are operating safely with proper permissions.
✅ Tour Guide Vietnam Tip: Book a coffee stop or go with a local guide who knows which entrances are open.
🍵 Best Cafés to Watch the Train Pass
These cafés are known for safe, comfortable views and great drinks:
Café Name
Features
1990s Café
Rooftop view, great Vietnamese coffee
The Railway Café
Close proximity, Instagram-worthy
Café Ga Đông Dương
Professional train-watch setup
Choo Choo Café
Family-friendly, chill vibe
Most cafés post train schedules and escort visitors past police checkpoints. Ordering a drink is required.
📸 What It’s Like When the Train Comes
Moments before the train arrives, you’ll hear a horn and see café owners spring into action:
Tables are moved.
Visitors are guided to safety.
Then—woosh! A massive train rushes through, just inches away.
It’s loud. It’s fast. And it’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen.
🛡️ Train Street Safety Tips (2025)
✅ Only enter with a café escort or guide.
✅ Stay behind marked safety lines when the train approaches.
❌ Do not walk or sit on the tracks for photos.
✅ Respect local residents and property.
⚠️ Important: This is a real working railway, not just a tourist attraction.
🎒 How to Get There
🚶 On Foot: From Hoàn Kiếm Lake, walk about 10–15 minutes.
🚗 By Grab: Set destination to “Train Street Café, Lê Duẩn” or “Ngõ 224 Lê Duẩn.”
🧭 With Tour Guide: Book a Train Street walking tour with Tour Guide Vietnam for safe, guaranteed access.
✍️ Final Thoughts
Whether you’re a thrill-seeker or a street photography lover, Hanoi Train Street is a must-see.
Tour Guide Vietnam recommends:
Going early
Booking with a local café or guide
Respecting safety rules and local life
👉 Ready to experience the most thrilling alley in Hanoi?
📩 Contact Tour Guide Vietnam for a personalized Train Street visit, or check out our Hanoi day tours that include exclusive access.
