You Can Sip Coffee Inches From a Moving Train in Hanoi, Vietnam

Ingesting caffeine always releases adrenaline, but there’s one coffee shop in Vietnam that gives its patrons an extra rush. The name of the cafe is Hanoi 1990s, and it’s located in the Vietnamese capital city on a street called Ngõ 224 Lê Duẩn, or “Train Street.”

Train Street is a popular attraction in Hanoi. More of a narrow alley than a proper street, Ngõ 224 Lê Duẩn delivers exactly what its name promises with a railroad track running straight down the middle — multiple times per day, trains rush down the street en route between Hanoi in northern Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City down south.

If you’re looking for a simple exhilarating outing, Hanoi 1990s gives visitors the chance to sit, sip, and snap selfies mere inches from the train track.

@matadornetwork One of the most popular places in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, to pose for social media is a narrow street lined with homes and cafes. This is no ordinary street: This is the place where the famous Hanoi street train passes through the city. Add this cafe to your Vietnam bucket list! @iamsiennachristine Hanoi 1990s Cafe #foodieguide #foodtok #vietnamfood #vietnamtravel #travelbucketlist ♬ original sound – Matador Network

The Ngõ 224 Lê Duẩn train track was originally built by the French around the turn of the 20th century. It’s still in operation today, but there have been instances and threats of closure in recent years due to the potential danger of close-quarters train-spotting. Train Street closed in October 2019 after crowding resulted in a rerouted train, and in September 2022, CNN reported that the local government ordered the cafes lining the street to close, although TripAdvisor reviews suggest Hanoi 1990s is still operating.

How to get to Train Street and Hanoi 1990s

Train Street is located in Hanoi’s Old Quarter, in between must-see Hanoi attractions like Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, the Temple of Literature, and Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre. Hanoi 1990s is located on the southern end of the street, south of the Old Quarter, slightly north of the Công Viên Thống Nhất park and the lake that it contains.

Where: Ngõ 222 Đ. Lê Duẩn, Khâm Thiên, Đống Đa, Hà Nội, Vietnam

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