Train Street in Ho Chi Minh? Real Talk on City Tour Options

Train Culture in Train street Ho Chi Minh: A Quick Look

In Ho Chi Minh City, the rail system began to branch out in the late 19th century and reached northward from the central station in District 3. And it was still very much alive when I was young, with dozens of trains passing every day, all of them announcing themselves in trumpet-like blasts and metallic heartbeat throughout the city’s arteries.

But here is where things become riveting: unlike so many other cities that have tracks walled off or out of reach, Train Street Ho Chi Minh is part of the city’s daily rhythm. Locals stand here and sip iced coffee just feet from the tracks, dangle their laundry next to wild banana trees, run their dogs as a locomotive buzzes by, and it is all done with a level of joy and nonchalance that I now associate with this place.

There is only one way to see Train Street Ho Chi Minh, and that is to feel the ground move beneath your feet. And perhaps more important, you need to see how a railway can be a garden, a sidewalk, and a home, all at the same time.

Where Is “Train Street” in Ho Chi Minh?

This isn’t a straight line. It’s a dance of alleyways, cross-streets, and little detours where magic likes to hide. These are the essential zones where every traveler and urban photographer should drop a pin:

Le Van Sy Railway Zone – District 3 to Phu Nhuan

This is train street Ho Chi Minh, the heartland. Stroll alongside narrow cafés, over which trains thunder with just meters of clearance. Small bridges, street vendors, walls decorated with murals, it’s all there, waiting to be discovered.

Nguyen Van Troi Graffiti Alley

Nestled behind temples and shrines, the kaleidoscopic path weaves street art with spiritual silence. One side boasts the Quang Minh Buddhist Temple, the other teems with tags, stencils, and quiet nooks for reflection or a late-afternoon photoshoot.

Nguyen Van Troi Graffiti Alley (Source: viethiphop)

Quang Minh Temple Corridor

Follow the route north and the temples bulge to the side of the rail. Which is how you get banana groves and incense smoke, and monks who move serenely past chicken coops and papaya trees. It’s a dreamy, quiet respite on your rail-bound sojourn.

Quang Minh Temple Corridor (Source: theochanphat)

Go Vap Station Sidings

A more obscure one, Go Vap’s station is quiet but picturesque, often with retired cars sitting silently. All around it, families hawk chè, students bike past, and photographers converge at golden hour.

To get the most out of your visit, we recommend using Google Maps satellite view to plot your course from Ga Sai Gon (Saigon Train Station) to Binh Loi Bridge, while ensuring that you can see both the lanes closest to the track and the cafes built next to them.

Go Vap Station Sidings (Source: wikiwand)

Highlights Along the Tracks: Top Spots to Visit Train Street Ho Chi Minh

Nho Cafe – Vintage Vibes Beside the Train

Address: 115/30 Le Van Sy Street, Ward 13, Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City

Enter a time machine masquerading as a coffee shop. Nho Cafe is stocked with cassette decks, rotary phones, paraffin lamps, and sewing machines from decades ago. It’s a picture book of a room, with trains rocketing by just feet from your table. This is Train Street Ho Chi Minh at its most basic: nostalgic, raw, and wonderfully loud.

Nho Cafe (Source: kenh14)

Den Da Xe Lua – Rooftop Shots with a Twist

Address: 110 Le Van Sy Street, Ward 11, Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City

You may have heard of Den Da, but not many people know its “trainside” location right next to the railway tracks and with an open-air rooftop that offers you panoramic views of the trains. Have a sip of flan milk tea toast, take a photo with the incoming train – a couple more of the Ho Chi Minh photography spots to have on the list.

Den Da Xe Lua (Source: wordpress)

WEdori Kafé – Cozy, Playful, and Full of K-Style Charm

Address: 115/188 Le Van Sy Street, Ward 13, Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City

Hidden away in a narrow alley beside the tracks, Wedori is a casual setting where board games and bibimbap intersect. A hit with students and backpackers, simple, quiet, and great for groups traveling to Train Street Ho Chi Minh on a budget. The soundtrack? Train whistles and matcha froth.

WEdori Kafé (Source: WEdoriKafé)

Ga Public – Wall of Leaves and Urban Serenity

Address: 115/118A Le Van Sy Street, Ward 13, Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City

Ga Public is a lot more than a café; it’s also a photo-op waiting to happen. Think sun-drenched yellow walls crawling with vines, just off the track. The local crowd treats it like a neighborhood hangout (one where train selfies are more prolific than a high-rise balcony or a standout iced coffee with condensed milk). 

Ga Public (Source: gapublic)

Quang Minh Temple & Graffiti Alley – Spirit Meets Street

Address: 276/43 Phan Dinh Phung Street, Ward 1, Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City

This is the point at which Train Street Ho Chi Minh changes gear from buzzy to contemplative. One side is drenched in eye-popping graffiti, the other is blessed by the serene Quang Minh Temple. Nearby food stands offer sizzling crispy rice paper salad and savory grilled beef wrapped in betel leaf, a union of street food and sacred air. Stop at a must-visit for culture-craving people/street style edge that didn’t come off the list of our insider tips Saigon.

Graffiti Alley (Source: expedia)

What’s It Like Exploring Saigon’s Railway Lanes with Train Street Ho Chi Minh?

Visiting the train street Ho Chi Minh is like a hidden portal into daily life. There, the lanes are narrow, but they are full of stories. You will pass locals who are watering their plants, kids who are biking to their schools, the elderly who are walking their dogs, all in time with the rhythm of the southbound Vietnamese locomotives.

Best to explore on foot or by motorbike, particularly in the early morning or at dusk when the light is soft and golden. This is when the alleys of Saigon really show their charm. Trains come through every 30-40 minutes at wehoooooooo! Loud and booming levels. Always be aware and give way to the true rock stars of the aisle. The trains themselves.

This is urban exploration with personality, and for fans of photography, off-the-cuff adventure, and storytelling, Train Street Ho Chi Minh is a place where the moments you can’t plan for on organized trips occur regularly. Be sure to also take a look at our guide to insider tipps saigon for more low-key exploration.

Hanoi Train Street vs. Train Street Ho Chi Minh

Wondering how Saigon’s edition compares to its better-known northern counterpart? Let’s compare. Spoiler: Train Street Ho Chi Minh takes the cake in the raw edge and authenticity department.

So, for those who prefer the road less travelled with real interaction, there’s no beating train street Ho Chi Minh is a far more authentic and personal experience of Vietnamese city life.

Do not leave the city without making sure this is one of your best things to do in ho chi minh, and there is no better way to spend a night in ho chi minh or than riding pillion on a motorbike eating the best street food – this is the the best of ho chi minh nightlife.

Train Street Ho Chi Minh (Source: vietnamcoracle)

Tips for Travelers & Photographers when visit Train Street Ho Chi Minh

Visiting train street Ho Chi Minh is an adventure, though a little bit of planning is handy. Here’s what experienced adventurers and photographers pack:

What to Pack

• A wide-angle camera or smartphone with ultra-wide mode will give you nice, tight alley shots.
• A neutral density (ND) filter if you want motion blur of moving trains
• Water, offline maps, bug spray, and Google Translate downloaded for use without the web communiqué

Useful Vietnamese Phrases

• “Tau den luc may gio?” – What time does the train come?
• “Toi co the chup hinh o day khong?” – May I take photos here?
• “Cam on rat nhieu!” – Thank you very much!

Photography Ethics

Remember, some locals live here. Don’t step onto the tracks for the shot. Please refrain from taking pictures of people without their approval. This is no mere backdrop, train street Ho Chi Minh is the everyday revealed to the mundane and the sulky.

Want more inspiration? See our Ho chi minh photography spots guide for more composition tips and alternative angles.

Conclusion: So, Is Train Street Ho Chi Minh Real?

Yes – Train Street Ho Chi Minh is a thing. And it is not at all contrived. It’s the sound of steel against track, the smell of street food grilling, the sight of murals flickering in trainlight shadows. It’s not a tourist spot gussied up for the camera. It’s a continuing story, one where diners in cafes sip iced coffee while the earth below them shakes, and locals rinse laundry next to blooming banana trees.

So don’t just read about it. Walk it. Photograph it. Share coffee with it. Train Street Ho Chi Minh is waiting to be your next travel story.

FAQs – Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting

Is there a train street in Ho Chi Minh?

Yes! It’s there, but hidden in alleys across Phu Nhuan and Go Vap, and District 3. It is not one street but rather a patchwork of local life alongside working train tracks.

What is the famous party street in Ho Chi Minh City?

That would be Bui Vien Street, the pulsing heart of bars, live music, and night-long energy. It is a haven for nightlife enthusiasts. For more recommendations, check out our complete guide to Saigon Walking Street. 

Why is Train Street famous?

Train streets provide a unique balance of the quotidian and the adrenalized trains flying by cafes, food stalls just a few steps away from the rails, and photographers behind the scenes of Saigon’s natural charisma.