Hanoi To Lao Cai: Transport & Ticket Guide
Located near the Northern border of Vietnam, Lao Cai is well-known for its pristine beauty of the Northern mountains. In addition to the stunning landscapes, this place is also home to many historical attractions and unique cuisine with the cultural characteristics of many ethnic groups.
Lao Cai is 296 km from Hanoi by rail and 265 km by road, and visitors usually travel to Lao Cai by train and bus.
This article is a complete transportation guide from Hanoi to Lao Cai by train and bus, including departure schedule, ticket fee, and guides to buying online bus tickets.
Hanoi to Lao Cai Train
- Duration: 8 hours
- Cost: starts at $30
The train to get from Hanoi to Lao Cai is similar to that from Hanoi to Sapa because Lao Cai station is the final destination.
Vietnam Railways offers daily trains to Lao Cai from the capital, and the journey takes approximately 8 hours.
Seat selection for Vietnam Railways
- Sleeper 4-berth: 750,000 VND
Read more: Check my Vietnam train travel guide for more tips.
Private trains
If you’re looking for a more comfortable journey, you can choose private cabins offered by Livitrans, Violette, King Express, Fanxipan Express, Sapaly Express, and Victoria Express.
For private trains, the ticket price starts at 1,400,000 VND, which is around $61. Each cabin has two beds, and you can select your bed while booking a ticket online.
Train stations:
- Hanoi Railway station: 120 Le Duan, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
- Lao Cai Railway station: Khanh Lien, Pho Moi, Lao Cai
Hanoi to Lao Cai Bus
- Duration: 6 hours
- Cost: $8
If you’d like to visit Lao Cai, you can take a direct bus from Hanoi to Lao Cai with several buses are running for this route.
The journey takes 6 hours, and it costs $8 for a bus sleeper and $14 for a Limousine van seat.
-> Book bus ticket from Hanoi to Lao Cai
How to buy bus and train tickets to Lao Cai from Hanoi
You can easily search and book online tickets to Lao Cai with Baolau, a recommended travel company connecting transport providers with users.
You can see the available options by choosing the date, including the departure schedule and travel time, along with the ticket fee.
When you finish your booking, you will receive a confirmation by email. Please read the ticket notice below for more information.
Ticket notice
- For bookings with Vietnam Railways and private railway companies New Livitrans Express and Violette Train, you will receive your e-ticket by email, ready to print and present when boarding the train.
- For bookings with private railway companies such as Victoria Express, Fanxipan Express, King Express, Orient Express, Sapaly Express, and Chapa Express, you will receive a voucher by email to collect the physical ticket at the station before boarding the train.
