Hanoi Train Street
It is amazing how historical quirks can become tourist attractions.
One of the positive effects of French colonial rule in Vietnam is its national rail system. Trains may be the most efficient way to move around this long, skinny S-shaped country. I recently travelled by train from Saigon to Hanoi.
The French creators of Vietnam’s train system managed in 1902 to wend a train between what looks like a street of buildings. Please see photos.
How did this happen? It seems that there were initially some houses along this track. And when the train line was built people built even more houses by the side of the train line.
Several times daily, a train takes this line and passes so close to buildings on either side of the tracks that residents could easily touch passengers. This morning I was lucky enough to witness the passage of a train.
As enchanting as this may seem, there have been accidents in recent years because of careless tourists and the government has had at times to close access to the train street.
Today Hanoi train street is basically a tourist trap, being lined with cafes and shops keen to sell their overpriced wares at exorbitant prices.
Former US President Barack Obama allegedly once said, “every country has its quirks and quarks”. Hanoi’s train street could indeed be one example in Vietnam.
So do yourself a favour and visit.