On Monday morning, authorities of Van Mieu Ward inspected the railway coffee street area and ordered cafés operating along the tracks to close temporarily, citing violations of railway safety regulations.
The action followed a January 26 video showing a female tourist sitting about 50 centimetres from the tracks to film a passing train, prompting public outrage despite no collision.
Before scheduled train movements, hundreds of foreign tourists and local residents were seen crowding both sides of the railway corridor, standing or sitting close to the tracks to take photos and videos of passing trains.
Lieutenant Colonel Tu Ngoc Minh of the city’s Road Traffic Police Unit 4 said such behaviour posed serious safety risks to visitors who gather dangerously close to the tracks.
At around 9 am, about 15 officers ordered cafés to remove tables and chairs and escorted tourists out to stop people walking or taking photos on the live railway line.
Following the order, café operators asked customers to settle their bills and leave. Authorities also removed wooden platforms placed between the rails, which some café owners said had been installed to help visitors stand and avoid slipping.
Minh said traffic police regularly coordinate with local police to maintain order and enforce safety rules in the area.
Since December 15, 2025, police has fined 14 railway-related violations, including stopping vehicles within railway safety zones and standing or walking on tracks, with total penalties exceeding VND 7 million (USD 266.15).
