Vietnam: Hanoi – Train Street
Running through the heart of the Old Quarter in Hanoi is a train line that also serves as a narrow street when the trains are not running. The street is officially known as Ngõ 224 Lê Duẩn, but everybody calls it Train Street and it’s a major attraction in Hanoi. Twice a day, a train passes really close to the building while tourists and local sit and sip on the sweet Vietnamese coffee or crisp beers. Officially, the access to the street is restricted for security reasons to prevent accidents from speeding trains, but unofficially, it’s just an opportunity to milk tourists of an additional fee or an obligation to buy drinks or souvenirs.
