Hanoi's famous railway cafes have finally reached the end of the line, according to city officials.
Following an order from the Ministry of Transport, Hanoi officials will soon shut down coffee shops along certain sections of the railway, with the government expecting the task to be finished before October 12, Tuoi Tre reports.
The closure of tourist cafes and subsequent removal of crowds from beside the railway is intended to increase safety, especially amid Vietnam's rise in railroad accidents.
The 'railway street,' having been featured as a must-see spot in many international newspapers and social media platforms, has grown into a popular tourist destination in Hanoi. In response to burgeoning tourist numbers, local residents opened more services along the railroad, such as food and water stalls, coffee shops, or photography spots. Some store owners even arranged dining tables and seats on top of the tracks, posing a dangerous risk to both locals and tourists.
According to Dan Tri, one train had to make an emergency stop this past weekend to avoid colliding with tourists crowded beside the railway. The number of tourists visiting the area has increased dramatically over the last year or so, making the spectacle increasingly unsafe.
In a press conference on October 8, representatives of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism claimed they always encourage creative ways to develop tourism, yet since tourist services along this stretch of the railway tracks were unregistered, and that they violated many regulations and did not guarantee safety, authorities had to intervene and stop these activities.
