Is Hanoi Train Street Overhyped?
What to Expect
Hanoi Train Street is one of those places that looks almost unreal online. A train slicing through a narrow residential alley, guests lined up inches from the tracks as it rolls by, cameras everywhere. But the actual experience is more complicated than the photos suggest.
These are some of my personal recommendations and tips to get the most out of your experience, and to avoid some tourist traps and subtle scams.
What You Don’t Know About Hanoi Train Street
1. It’s Bigger and Busier Than You Think
What many visitors don’t realize is how massive Hanoi Train Street has become. What began as a short stretch of track has expanded into three separate sections totaling roughly 1,000 yards. Two sections sit near the Old Quarter, while a third is closer to Hanoi Train Station and feels noticeably different.
Each section has its own atmosphere, but the original Old Quarter stretch remains the most visited and most crowded. This expansion has turned Train Street from a quick stop into a much larger, more time-consuming experience than most people expect. Every week a new drink shops pop up along the tracks, hoping to benefit from its current popularity.
2. Getting In and Waiting Is Part of the Experience
Access to Hanoi Train Street is controlled and often confusing for first-time visitors. You cannot simply walk onto the tracks at any time. Officials and guards close controlled access points shortly before the train arrives, and once that happens, no one is allowed in.
To be inside the track area safely, you generally need to arrive at least 10 minutes before the train is due. If you arrive too close to the scheduled time, you may be turned away, even if you can already see people seated inside.
The safest approach would be to arrive around 10-15 minutes before a scheduled train. Even then, be prepared to wait, as trains frequently run late and the experience often involves more sitting and waiting than expected.
3. Two Sections Are Easy to Walk to, One Is Not
Two of the three Train Street sections are easy to reach on foot from the Old Quarter, usually about a 15-minute walk. Walking is often faster and more enjoyable than taking a car, given the traffic and narrow streets, and the route itself is lively and interesting.
The third section is close to Hanoi's main train station and is my favorite section of tracks. It is less hectic and, for some visitors, more enjoyable, but it typically requires a car or motorbike unless you plan on walking 35 to 40 minutes.
4. It’s Always Free and Always Worth a Visit, Even Without the Train
You do not need to see the train for Train Street to be worth a visit. The area is always open and free to walk through, and simply strolling along the tracks can be interesting on its own.
Between trains it feels a bit like an outdoor market. People are always selling something, drinks, snacks, souvenirs, which can be mildly annoying at times but also part of the atmosphere. There is no standout food, but there are plenty of drinks available, including coffee, fresh juices, and alcohol.
Visiting without the pressure of train timing lets you explore more casually. It can also be a smart way to scope out where you might want to sit later if you plan to come back for the full Train Street experience when the train does pass through.
Tourist Traps to Be Aware of on Hanoi Train Street
1. Be Aware of the Hustle
When you arrive at Train Street, it is very common to be approached by someone offering to guide you inside. This is often a young man or older local who appears confident and may seem official, but they are not. Their role is informal, and they are typically paid by nearby coffee shops to bring visitors to specific seats.
Their goal is not to help you choose the best spot for yourself, but to take you to a cafe that has an arrangement with them. Once you follow them, you may feel pressure to sit where they suggest, even if it is not where you actually want to be.
You are under no obligation to follow these guides or give them money. They are compensated by the cafes, not by visitors. The simplest approach is to politely say “no thank you” and continue walking. This is normal and generally respected.
This kind of hustle is common in tourist-heavy areas and is more about attracting business than doing anything wrong. Knowing how it works ahead of time helps you stay relaxed, confident, and in control of where you sit and what you order.
2. You’re Paying for the Seat, Not the Drink
One important thing to understand is that Train Street cafes discourage loitering. Seating is limited, and tables are meant for customers who are actively ordering. If you sit without buying, or linger too long after finishing a drink, you will likely be asked to move so the seat can be given to someone else.
This is not personal and it is not unusual. The entire business model is based on managing very small spaces and rotating customers around train times. Vendors rely on a steady flow of people ordering drinks, and keeping seats occupied without sales works against that.
The best way to approach Train Street is to respect this system. Order a drink, enjoy the experience, and move on when you’re done. Treat it as a short stop rather than a place to settle in, and the interaction is usually smooth and friendly. If you choose to make an afternoon or evening out of it, you should understand that you will be expected to continue purchasing drinks.
3. This Is Not a Place for Great Food
Cafes along Hanoi Train Street were never designed to be kitchens. They are small, narrow spaces built around seating and track access, not food preparation. As a result, there is rarely enough room for proper cooking equipment or a real kitchen. In most cases, you will only find simple snacks, if any food is offered at all.
The business model also discourages full meals. Vendors rely on quick turnover, getting people seated, selling drinks, and freeing up space for the next group. Long meals work against that flow, so food is intentionally limited.
Train Street operates like an airport. Location dictates the business model and pricing. As long as food and drinks are passable, there is little incentive to do more. If eating well is important to you, there are far better places nearby.
Red Flags and Scams to Watch Out For on Hanoi Train Street
1. Being Told You Must Sit or Pay to Enter
One common tactic is being told that you must sit down, order a drink, or pay in order to enter or remain on Train Street. This can come from cafe staff, informal guides, or people who appear to be acting in an official role.
While seating areas are private and require an order, simply walking along the tracks is generally free and open when access is allowed. You are not required to sit or buy a drink just to be there.
This confusion often works in favor of nearby cafes, especially during busy periods. If someone is guarding the entrance points and offering to let you in ONLY if you sit at their cafe, then you are being scammed.
If you feel pressured, it is okay to politely decline and continue walking. Clear, calm refusal is usually enough.
2. Train Schedules Are Unreliable, Expect to Wait
One consistent pattern on Hanoi Train Street is that trains often run later than their posted times. A train scheduled for 7:00 p.m. may arrive 15 to 30 minutes late, and sometimes even later. While trains can arrive on time, delays are common enough that waiting should be expected.
It is difficult to know exactly why this happens. It may be related to broader rail scheduling, crowd control, or safety concerns. It may also help vendors manage crowds more smoothly by spreading arrivals out and avoiding last-minute congestion near the tracks.
Regardless of the reason, the result is the same for visitors. You will likely spend more time sitting and waiting than you planned, often ordering another drink while you wait. Whether intentional or not, this dynamic benefits cafes and adds to the overall cost of the experience.
The best approach is to treat train times as estimates rather than fixed schedules. Arrive early if you want to be inside the track area, expect delays, and decide ahead of time how long you are comfortable waiting.
3. Food Tours That Include Train Street Are a Red Flag
Unreliable train times is one of the main reasons Train Street does not work well as a food tour stop. Waiting for a delayed train quickly eats up time that could be spent actually better eating elsewhere.
Train Street is not a food destination. The cafes along the tracks were never designed to be proper kitchens, and food offerings are limited, basic, and secondary to selling drinks.
When food tours include Train Street, the stop usually serves as filler built around spectacle rather than food quality. In practice, this benefits the tour operator more than the guest.
If your goal is to eat well and experience Hanoi’s food culture, a tour that prioritizes Train Street is likely not optimizing for food, value, or time.
4. Pressure to Order More While You Wait
While waiting for the train, it is common to be encouraged to order additional drinks. This usually happens subtly, through repeated check-ins or reminders that seating is for paying customers only.
This pressure increases the longer the train is delayed. What starts as one drink can easily turn into two or three, simply because you are waiting and do not want to lose your seat.
The easiest way to manage this is to decide in advance how long you are willing to wait and how much you are willing to spend, then stick to that plan.
5. Overpriced Souvenirs and Tourist Items
Because Train Street attracts a captive tourist audience, you will often see vendors selling small souvenirs and tourist items alongside food and drinks. While some items are interesting, prices are frequently higher than what you would find elsewhere in the Old Quarter or other parts of Vietnam.
A general rule of thumb applies here. If something feels overpriced or makes you uncomfortable, it probably is. You are rarely seeing anything unique to Train Street, and the same items can usually be found at better prices nearby.
The best approach is to browse casually and move on if you are unsure. There is no obligation to buy, and polite refusal is normal. Most people are simply trying to make a living in a high-tourism environment where visitors often do not know local prices.
Yes, I believe that Hanoi Train Street in its current form, is overhyped. What was once a quirky, secondary attraction has become one of the most heavily marketed experiences in the Old Quarter. Social media exposure has inflated expectations far beyond what the experience can realistically deliver.
That does not mean it is pointless or skippable. The train passing through such a narrow residential corridor is still visually striking, and for many visitors, seeing it once is enough to satisfy their curiosity. The problem arises when Train Street is treated as a must-do highlight or a food destination, rather than a short, situational experience.
The key is how you approach it. Go briefly, expect crowds, plan for waiting, and do not build meals or tours around it. If you treat Train Street as a quick stop rather than a centerpiece of your Hanoi itinerary, it can still be interesting without becoming frustrating.
In short, Train Street is not the best thing to do in Hanoi, but it is also not something you need to avoid entirely. It is overhyped, yes, but manageable and even enjoyable if you know exactly what you are walking into.