The Rails and Resilience of Hanoi's Train Street, Vietnam

Hanoi's Train Street, Vietnam

Hanoi, the bustling capital of Vietnam, is known for its vibrant culture, rich history, and delicious street food. But hidden amidst the chaos of this bustling metropolis lies a unique and captivating attraction that has been gaining international attention, Hanoi's Train Street. This narrow alley, sandwiched between houses and shops, has become a must-visit destination for travellers seeking an authentic experience in the heart of the city.

My first visit to Hanoi's Train Street was discovered by accident when I was walking from my hotel to Hanoi Railway Station (Ga Hà Nội) in 2012. I remember that time I was going to catch a train to Sapa, a picturesque town of Lào Cai Province in the Northwest region of Vietnam. Love at first sight, I'm in love with the atmosphere of the train street where I could catch a glimpse of the local life. That time, only a few or close to no tourists, not many cafes or businesses, and no tables and chairs lining along the train track. In 2014, I visited Hanoi again, and I took every opportunities to walk along the railway track whenever I could. Today, Instagram has changed the street into one of the most Instagrammable spots in Hanoi.

In this blog post, let's delve into the fascinating history, allure, and the controversy surrounding Hanoi's Train Street.

A Journey on the Yangon Circular Railway, Myanmar

If you are going to visit Yangon for the first time and want a quick introduction of the city without any tour or local guides, you could simply hop on the Yangon Circular Train for a nostalgic journey around the city, where you can get a close up on the daily life of the Myanmar people and also capture some beautiful images of the changing landscapes.

The Yangon Circular Railway was built by the British during the colonial times back in 1954. The railway track loop consists of 39 stations and it covers a distance of 45.9km; the slow moving train that runs through urban, suburban and rural areas takes about 3 hours to complete a single circuit journey. Today, the railway has about 200 coaches, and it runs 20 times a day with up to 150,000 tickets sold daily. The circular railway is the cheapest way to travel around Yangon and it is mainly used by the lower income passengers to get from one place to another along the course. In recent years, taking a train ride on the Yangon Circular Railway has become one of the top things to do in Yangon.

The Alishan Forest Railway, Taiwan

The train is my favourite mode of transportation, and taking a train ride in Alishan is always one of the things I want to do since the day I started to love traveling. I have been thinking, dreaming and waiting for it to happen; in this summer, I finally took this amazing train ride through the mountain forest of Alishan.

The Alishan Forest Railway (阿里山森林鐵道) is the highest railway in Taiwan and also one of the popular mountain railways in the world. The unique features of the Alishan Forest Railway are the spiral railway, zigzag switchbacks, 180 degrees horseshoe turns and of course the high mountain scenery; these are all the special things that you will experience when you take the Alishan Forest Railway.

The Train Journey from Ella to Kandy, Sri Lanka

Train travel is something that I always fascinated with. When I am traveling, I will look for any opportunity to take a train ride even knowing that the journey will be longer and slower. I really enjoy getting from places to places in a more nostalgic way, also it allows me to meet the local people and admire the landscape scenery as the train runs across the country.

So far the most beautiful and scenic train journey that I have came across was the journey running through the hill country of Sri Lanka from Ella to Kandy. The train ride took around 7 hours long but I felt like only 2 to 3 hours short; most probably because of the spectacular views along the way and also the comfort seats that I got in the observation deck.