The famous/infamous "Train Street" of Hanoi

What trends on social media, and its influence, is interesting. A short time ago somebody posted a selfie on Instragram of them posing by the tracks where a train cuts through a densely populated neighourhood of Hanoi. It was colourful. A few more tourists went to catch similar selfie images. Some locals spotted an opportunity. Next thing you knew a dozen or more home owners set up tiny cafes beside the tracks to attract more tourists. A cottage industry exploded. Soon the place was over run with idiots posing in front of moving trains. The government recently cracked down for fear of injury or death. Not good of a tourist dies and it's caught on video. Now most of the cafes are gone and security staff clear the area before trains go through. Still, it is a draw for photographers and is especially interesting in the early wee hours before most tourists are up and about.

This was shot at 5:30 am and the train was going fast. Shot a couple of quick frames then jumped back to hug the wall as the train went by a meter away.

With 8.3 million people living in Hanoi, density means now space is wasted.

Motorbikes do provide interesting leisure opportunities.

The part of train street that was most focused on tourists is now largely shuttered but remains a bustling local neighbourhood. A very few cafes remain open with track-side seating and great Vietnamese coffee.