Authorities crack down on safety violations on Hanoi’s trackside café street
Wednesday, November 27, 2024, 18:04 GMT+7
Local police conducted surprise inspections along Hanoi’s trackside café street on Monday, penalizing businesses for railway safety violations and removing tourists from the area.
The café-lined railway stretch between Tran Phu and Phung Hung Streets in Hoan Kiem District has been a popular destination for citizens and international visitors.
Despite its charm, safety concerns persist as many establishments are located less than one meter from the tracks, far below the three-meter minimum safety distance required by railway regulations.
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| Foreign tourists are asked to leave the area as authorities addressed safety infractions along the trackside café street in Hanoi, November 25, 2024. Photo: D.Tien |
Railroad tracks traverse crowded neighborhoods across four districts in Hanoi, including Hoan Kiem, Ba Dinh, Dong Da, and Hai Ba Trung.
Although the Hanoi Department of Tourism issued a directive in April 2023 prohibiting access to trackside venues, independent tourists continue to frequent the area.
Monday’s inspections, carried out by the Ministry of Public Security’s Traffic Police Department, Hanoi Traffic Police, and Hoan Kiem District Police, took place before scheduled train operations.
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| A trackside café owner in Hanoi receives a violation notice and signs a pledge not to repeat the offense. Photo: D.Tien |
Authorities discovered multiple violations, fined business owners, and required them to sign pledges not to repeat their infractions.
The dangers of the area grabbed the headlines in September 2022, when a South Korean tourist was struck by a Hanoi-bound train while taking photos on the tracks.
Despite staff warnings and barriers, the tourist bypassed safety measures and sustained minor injuries due to the train’s slow speed.
The incident caused train delays and traffic congestion on nearby streets.
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| Decorative and retail items improperly placed near railway tracks in Hanoi’s café area are ordered to be removed. Photo: D.Tien |
Major Nguyen Manh Hung, deputy head of Traffic Patrol Police Unit No. 1, said that despite ongoing enforcement, violations of railway safety regulations persist, particularly in crowded urban areas.
In October 2024, Hanoi’s traffic police addressed 47 railway safety violations, imposing fines totaling VND17 million (US$670), confiscating documents, and temporarily seizing one vehicle.
Authorities plan to increase patrols and coordinate with local police to enhance safety along railway routes through the end of the year, particularly during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday.
Efforts will focus on the stretch between Phung Hung Street in Ba Dinh District and Le Duan Street in Hoan Kiem District.
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| Barricades with English-language warnings are installed to alert visitors to risks along Hanoi’s trackside café street. Photo: D.Tien |
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| Railway safety instructions and warnings are distributed to residents and tourists in Hanoi’s trackside café area. Photo: D.Tien |
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