Top 3 Instagrammable Photo Spots in Hanoi: Train Street, Street Murals, Incense Village
Experience the vibrant present alive in the historic landscapes of the city, Hanoi. Here are the top 3 Instagrammable photo spots that will make the charm of Hanoi even more memorable.
1. Hanoi Train Street: Cafe Street, Long Bien Station & Bridge
Cafe Street
For a unique experience in Hanoi, you must visit the Train Street Cafe area—twice! Here, an actual train runs between narrow buildings along a single-track railway. The ground floors are lined with cafes, while people live upstairs.
From a cafe seat, you can watch the train pass by so closely it feels like it might brush your shoulder. The train whistle’s sound as it navigates the narrow cityscape, combined with the cheers of onlookers, creates a thrilling and magical moment.
- Address: Hanoi Train Street (3 P. Trần Phú, Hàng Bông, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội)
- Train passing times: Weekdays at 11:40, 15:15, 16:05, 19:30-20:30, 21:15-22:00; Weekends at 11:40, 15:15, 16:05, 17:30, 18:15, 21:15, 22:00 *Note that times often change, even the cafe owners might not always know the exact schedule.
Long Bien Station & Bridge
Northeast of Cafe Street is Long Bien Station, located along the Long Bien Bridge, which crosses the Red River around downtown Hanoi. Designed and built by the French from 1898 to 1902, this bridge is a prime example of French architecture in Hanoi. Its beautiful lattice structure, similar to the Eiffel Tower (built 1887-1889), often leads to the misconception that Eiffel designed it.
To preserve this over-100-year-old bridge, vehicle access is restricted to trains, motorcycles, and pedestrians. Crossing the vibrating bridge on the side pedestrian paths, like a suspension bridge, might require some courage. Take a memorable shot in front of the vintage backdrop near Long Bien Station and the bridge.
2. Hanoi Phung Hung Mural Street
Along a 220-meter stone wall of the elevated railway from Long Bien Bridge to Hanoi Station, there is a mural street themed “Memories of Hanoi.” This public art street was created in 2017 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Vietnam, with participation from both Vietnamese and Korean artists.
You can enjoy images that coexist with Vietnam’s past and present, such as the old look of Trang Tien Department Store and Hang Ma Street, women wearing ao dai and non la, bicycle taxis (cyclos), and women carrying flowers with Quang Ganh (shoulder poles). It’s also a fun place to take life shots with the murals as a backdrop.
- Address: Phung Hung Mural Street (27 P. Phùng Hưng, Hàng Mã, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội)
3. Hanoi Quang Phu Cau Incense Village
Located about 40km south of downtown Hanoi, Quang Phu Cau Incense Village has been making traditional incense for over 100 years. The sight of women drying colorful incense sticks creates a picturesque scene. When the incense, lined up to dry in the sun, enters the camera frame, a mystical and fantastic view unfolds.
In Vietnam, altars with incense sticks are common in homes and shops. As incense is used to honor ancestors, it is made with great care, mostly by hand. Thinly cut bamboo sticks are coated with a mixture of schisandra, cinnamon, and cloves, dried, dipped in dye for color, and then sun-dried. This process attracts photographers and tourists from around the world.
Once a hidden spot, this village gained worldwide fame when a photo of a woman drying incense was selected as one of CNN’s Top 100 Travel Photos in 2019. If you are passionate about photography, don’t miss this place!
- Address: Làng làm hương đỏ (Đ. 429, Quảng Phú Cầu, Ứng Hòa, Hà Nội)
- Entrance Fee: 50K VND per person (approx. 2 USD)
- How to Get There: 1) Join a half-day tour from Hanoi (35-40 USD) or 2) Take a bus from downtown Hanoi (Bus 02 → Bus 91, round-trip fare 30K VND = approx. 1.5 USD).
I hope this post inspires your future travel plan.
