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The incident took place at noon on Feb. 10 and was filmed by Tran Ngoc, a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City.
Ngoc said she was upset after witnessing the altercation and recorded the scene before sharing it on social media.
In the video, which quickly went viral, the tourists can be seen standing in front of the café at the entrance of an alley, waiting for the train. After being shoved away by the shop owner, three of them left to find another spot while the other two continued to be harassed.
Ngoc said several customers at nearby tables suggested that the two tourists should sit with them, but the shop owner refused.
"The incident lasted only 10 minutes, but it was enough to damage Hanoi’s tourism image in the eyes of foreigners," she said, adding that despite the train's whistle signaling its approach, the shop owner continued to push the tourists, angering many onlookers.
A video shows a coffee shop owner (holding paper) yells at two foreigners for standing around her facility without ordering drinks on Hanoi Train Street in February 2025. Video by Tran Ngoc
On Feb. 14 local authorities summoned Nguyen Thi Nguyet, the owner of the café, for questioning.
She admitted to inappropriate behavior and pledged not to repeat the offense. She was fined for violating railroad safety regulations, though officials did not disclose the amount.
Train Street, lined with makeshift coffee shops just feet from the tracks in the Old Quarter, was officially closed in September 2022 due to safety concerns.
Despite barricades and checkpoints at both ends of Tran Phu and Phung Hung streets, several cafes continue to operate, drawing large crowds of mostly foreign tourists, especially on weekends.
Thousands flock to the place to photograph passing trains, prompting tourism industry insiders to urge the government to consider turning it into a tourist attraction rather than banning it.
