Hundreds of tourists were asked to leave the train street cafe.

Hanoi city authorities conducted a surprise inspection and invited hundreds of customers at the train street coffee shop to leave the area to ensure safety on the morning of March 24.

The inspection force, including the Hanoi Traffic Police Department, coordinated with the police of the wards to conduct surprise inspections and handle violations of railway traffic safety in the railway coffee street area. The authorities discovered many shops violating railway safety regulations. Many shop owners, upon seeing the police appear, hastily packed up their tables and chairs and closed their shops. Hundreds of customers present at the railway coffee street at that time were invited outside.

The commander of Traffic Police Team No. 1 said that in the past, the authorities had handled and warned, but violations of railway traffic safety corridors still occurred. In the coming time, the Traffic Police will continue to coordinate with the police of wards where railways pass through to remind and strictly handle violations, to avoid traffic accidents, especially on the railway coffee street from Phung Hung to Le Duan.

Authorities suddenly inspected the train street coffee area on the morning of March 24. Photo: Anh Chinh

Nguyen Anh Tuan, a tour guide specializing in international tourists in Hanoi, said that international tourists know that visiting and taking photos on the train street is prohibited because it is dangerous. However, they still come because they like "thrills". Besides, Mr. Tuan pointed out that because the shops on both sides of the railway tracks at the coffee street on the train street are still open, there are still customers visiting. "When the authorities come, the shops will close and the customers will disperse. When the authorities leave, everything will be back to normal," Mr. Tuan said.

Previously, on March 7, the Hanoi Department of Tourism sent a dispatch to businesses providing travel services and transporting tourists, not to introduce or organize tours to bring tourists to the train street area. These businesses were also required to propagate and raise awareness among employees about the risk of traffic accidents that may occur when tourists come to the above-mentioned area.

View of the Hanoi railway cafe area when the authorities came to check. Photo: Anh Chinh

Authorities invited customers to leave the coffee street area on Hanoi's railway on the morning of March 24. Photo: Anh Chinh

Customers stand on both sides of the railway tracks at the railway cafe street on the morning of March 24. Photo: Anh Chinh

Two international tourists took photos checking in in front of the coffee street area on Hanoi's railway on the morning of March 24. Photo: Anh Chinh

Enterprises are required to proactively coordinate with functional units to promptly detect, prevent and handle violations.

Train Street Coffee Street is located in three wards: Cua Nam, Hang Bong and Cua Dong, Hoan Kiem District. The area is considered by many international newspapers as a must-see destination when visiting Hanoi. Households around here use their family space to sell drinks and snacks.

In 2019, the Hanoi government requested a complete solution to the problem of businesses encroaching on the railway tracks, causing insecurity in the area. Prohibition signs and barriers were erected in many places, but the area gradually became deserted and then crowded again.

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