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Vietnam shut down its infamous ‘train street’ in the Old Quarter of Hanoi in 2019 because it was overrun with selfie-taking tourists like this one. The tourist hotspot in Hanoi is known for its single-track railway that runs dangerously close to local homes and cafes. The railway was built during French colonial rule in 1902.

Until the street closure, the twice-daily train was a unique attraction where tourists could experience a “death-defying” moment when the train passed as close as 0.4 m away.

Safety in the street had been a cause for concern for local authorities for some time, but the final closure notice was given for dozens of cafés to shut down after the emergency brakes on a train were applied when the street became overcrowded with tourists.

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As of the beginning of 2021, during a Covid pandemic, cafes and businesses were allowed to reopen. However, owing to the small number of tourists, only a few businesses reopened their doors. What the future holds for ‘train street” when Vietnam reopens, nobody knows.

If you would like to send in a ‘selfie’ of yourself with your trains or layout, then send a comment via the COMMENTS link below and we will be in touch giving details of how to upload your photo.