Vietnam's Viral Railway Coffee Street Just Reopened! Now Forced to Shut Down Again?!

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Hanoi's "Railway Coffee Street" Ordered to Shut Down Shortly After Reopening

Recently, Hanoi's "Railway Coffee Street," which had just reopened a few days ago, was ordered to cease operations by authorities!

According to a written request sent by Vietnam Railways to the Hanoi People's Committee, they demanded "comprehensive handling of cafes operating in violation of railway safety regulations near the north of Hanoi Railway Station."

The Hoan Kiem District People's Committee of Hanoi stated that from the afternoon of September 14th, relevant departments will forcibly shut down all businesses along Railway Street, revoking their business licenses within a maximum of three days.

The Hoan Kiem District authorities have already set up railway safety passages in areas where multiple cafes are located, urging citizens and tourists not to visit for photography to avoid chaos and traffic safety issues.

After being closed for over two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and violations of railway safety regulations, when Vietnam's Railway Street reopened to tourists, the number of visitors gradually increased. However, significant traffic accident risks still exist, so the Vietnam Ministry of Transport's decision is to suspend the operations of these cafes and shops.

Hoan Kiem District authorities in Hanoi have set up roadblocks at various entrances to Railway Street, prohibiting tourists from entering the Phung Hung, Dien Bien Phu, and Tran Phu railway sections. Many unaware tourists who came to visit Railway Street found the roads blocked by police and had to leave reluctantly. Some unable to enter Railway Street stood outside taking commemorative photos - after all, they couldn't let their trip go completely to waste.

Beginning in 2018, foreign tourists started visiting, filming, and taking photos on the railway tracks north of Hanoi Station, especially when trains passed through, due to the high foot traffic. Subsequently, residential buildings on both sides opened coffee shops, restaurants, and stores to attract visitors, and Railway Street gradually became a popular local "internet-famous check-in spot."

The Safety Concerns of Railway Street

This railway track is like a narrow alley, with only about one meter of distance from the residential buildings on both sides. Many shop owners place tables and chairs next to the railway tracks during business hours for customers to use, only clearing them away when a train approaches. Such behavior poses significant safety hazards to visitors.

There are warning signs along the railway track reminding tourists not to walk or linger on the tracks, but many tourists still linger and take photos on the railway, only moving away when a train approaches.

Although no accidents have been reported on Railway Street, according to local media reports, while tourists enjoy drinking coffee on both sides of the railway, train drivers have expressed numerous complaints. Every time they pass through this area, they must drive below the regulated speed, making drivers very nervous. There have been multiple instances of sudden braking, which is extremely dangerous.

Near Misses and Driver Concerns

According to media reports, a Hanoi train driver, Master Nam, still remembers his terrifying moment. At that time, the train was traveling from Hanoi Station to Haiphong City. When the train reached Phan Dinh Phung Street, he saw an Asian female tourist suddenly step onto the tracks and turn to take a selfie with the approaching train.

By reflex, he immediately sounded the long horn, but the tourist didn't move. Master Nam was forced to apply emergency braking. Fortunately, the train stopped about 3 meters away from the female tourist. Afterwards, the woman walked off the tracks as if nothing had happened.

Such terrifying moments have occurred three times this month alone. Therefore, "the driver's pressure is enormous. Tourists often stand very close to the tracks, only 30-40 centimeters from passing trains. Any slight collision would have unimaginable consequences."

Government Response and Future Solutions

In response to these issues, local government and railway companies have conducted multiple rectification campaigns in the past to address railway safety violations in the area, achieving positive results before being closed for over two years due to the pandemic.

Now that the pandemic situation has improved, Railway Coffee Street has become lively again. However, safety hazards still exist with the reopening, and tourist traffic continues to increase, posing significant traffic accident risks. Suspending business operations and blocking access is currently the better choice; otherwise, there would be major safety hazards for tourists!

With tourists not allowed to enter, business owners are surely helpless and sad, as this essentially cuts off their income. Nowadays, cafes on both sides of Railway Street have closed one by one, and Railway Street has become empty once again.

The closure of the "Railway Street" attraction has sparked heated discussions among netizens. Many netizens commented that this tourism service, which provides a novel experience, should be preserved. However, others pointed out that Railway Street is too narrow, and while many people enjoy sipping coffee while watching trains pass through, safety should always be the top priority regardless of the circumstances.

Nguyen Anh Quan, Deputy Chairman of Hoan Kiem District in Hanoi, stated that he has received numerous complaint messages and will cooperate with relevant authorities to develop the most appropriate solution according to the train schedule, in response to public needs and tourist opinions. He hopes the area can become a safe tourist attraction!

Image source: Internet

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