Cafes along the Tran Phu-Dien Bien Phu section were again busy on November 29, largely with foreign tourists lining both sides of the railway.
A sign banning gatherings in the danger zone was placed at the entrance, but foot traffic continued largely unchecked.
Across a 300-metre stretch from Tran Phu to Phung Hung, cafes set tables and chairs just a metre from the tracks, far short of the required three-metre railway safety corridor.
Although authorities had ordered businesses to remove seating and stop serving customers, many resumed operations and put their tables back out.
Some seats sit less than a metre from passing trains.
Tourists continued chatting and taking photos on the tracks, a scene that has persisted for years despite repeated crackdowns.
Delivery workers carrying bulky crates also weaved through the narrow walkway, adding to the hazards.
Around 10 am, after the 9.40 am train had passed, one cafe owner casually placed tables back beside the tracks and told customers no more trains would arrive until afternoon. Many visitors stayed to drink coffee and take photos.
The café strip runs along the railway line bordering three wards Dien Bien Phu, Cua Nam and Hoa Kiem. Despite multiple enforcement measures, the dense crowds and continued café operations have repeatedly encroached on the railway safety corridor, posing ongoing risks to tourists and residents.
