Railway-themed café draws crowds near Hue Station

Situated on Bui Thi Xuan street, Thuan Hoa ward, the café has quickly become a popular destination since opening on March 23, thanks to its nostalgic ambiance tied to the 120-year-old railway station.

The café is part of Vietnam Railways’ strategy of turning “each station into a destination.” Similar models have already been introduced at several major stations across the national railway network, including Long Bien, Hai Duong, and Dieu Tri.

According to Operations Director Nguyen Tuan Vu, the concept aims to diversify experiences for visitors to Hue by offering a railway-themed café space.

With a capacity of more than 400 guests, the venue is divided into indoor and outdoor areas, featuring green spaces and two facades overlooking both the main road and the station platform.

It took more than six months to complete the project, with the collection of railway artifacts, such as locomotives and sleepers, and the arrangement of decorative elements being the most time-consuming aspects.

A highlight of the café is a restored 50-year-old locomotive displayed at its center.

The D11H-356 locomotive, manufactured in 1979 in Romania, is a diesel engine with a capacity of approximately 1,100 horsepower. It once operated along Vietnam’s North–South railway, transporting passengers and goods for decades and contributing to regional connectivity and economic development. 

Visitors are allowed to explore and take photos inside the locomotive.

One section of the café is located right next to Hue Station, allowing guests to watch trains pass by at close range while ensuring safety. A glass barrier separates the seating area from the railway, with security staff present at all times.

Nhu Quynh, a resident of Hue, says that although she has traveled by train many times, but this was her first time enjoying coffee while watching trains from such proximity, describing the feeling as thrilling.

Another visitor, Dan Huy (right) from Da Nang, said he discovered the café through social media and was impressed by its spacious setting and unique railway view, adding that he plans to return regularly.

The café offers more than 50 items, including coffee, tea, juices, and pastries, priced between VND 30,000 and 60,000. Customers place orders at the counter and are served afterward. Popular choices include salted coffee and peanut coffee. On peak days, the café can sell several hundred drinks.

Open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., the café welcomed over 1,500 visitors per day during its first week, with peak hours in the morning and evening. In addition to beverages, it also serves traditional Vietnamese dishes under a clay pot rice restaurant model, featuring specialties such as braised fish, boiled pork with shrimp paste, and seasonal vegetables.

Source: Vnexpress

Translated by Chung Anh