Transportation to and within Lao Cai Province

1 – From Hanoi to Lao Cai:
* By road: It is 335 Km by road. From Hanoi, first follow national road 2 via Viet Tri City to Doan Hung Junction. Turn left and follow national road 70 via Yen Bai. This road is goo now..

* By Train: The French started to build the rail road to Lao Cai from early 20th Century and nowadays this portion has been developing very fast to satisfied great demand especially for tourists to go to Lao Cai. Every day there are many trains depart from Hanoi to Lao Cai and v.v. However the only day train, departing at 06.00Am from Hanoi & 09:15Am from Lao cai, is a slow one which stops at every station and poorly equipped with hard seats only. Most of the best trains with best facilities including sleeping cabins with A/C start from Hanoi station in the evening from 20.35 to 22.00 and arrive at Lao Cai station early next morning. For details of these trains, please visit our train section.

2 – From Dien Bien Phu via Lai Chau:
It is about 280 Km by 4D National road from Dien Bien City and it is the only way to reach to Sapa and Lao Cai from Dien Bien Phu via Lai Chau and Tam Duong. This road is being upgraded and widen so it is getting better and better. However some tourists choose to flight from Hanoi to Dien Bien Phu and take tours along this rout.

3 – From Kunming City, China:
Lao Cai is about 500 Km from Kunming City, the central city of Yunnan province, China. Passengers, especially tourists choose this rout to reach to Lao Cai in stead of taking a flight to Hanoi.
• By road: The road from Kunming to Hekou with a border crossing to Lao Cai is good and it takes about 9 to 10 hours by bus. There are many bus operating along this rout day and night.

• By Train: There are 2 trains from Kunming to Hekou every day.
Once when in Hekou, Just go to the border gate for clearing immigration formalities and it takes only 5 minutes to walk crossing to Lao Cai city.

4 – Transportation within Lao Cai Province
Land transport is the only way to travel to localities within Lao Cai Province. In recent years, good road have been building and upgrading to link Lao Cai City with all district townships and big centers such as Sapa, Bac Ha, Muong Khuong…

• Lao Cai – Sapa: It is 37 Km from Lao Cai to Sapa and this portion of the national road 4D is the best road in Lao Cai province which takes about an hour to go uphill. There are many vans operating along this rout from morning till late afternoon (2.5$/person/way).

• Lao Cai – Bac Ha: The distant is about 70 Km and the road condition is good. However upgrading work is being taken at some part. It take almost 2 hours to reach to Bac Ha and there are just a few local buses operating along this route.

• Lao Cai – Muong Khuong: The distant is 45 Km and the road condition is good.

5 – Trains depart from Hanoi to Lao Cai and back

A – From Hanoi to Lao Cai

Train Code Departure Arrival Category Tourist carriage

LC5 06.00 - 16.30 Slow with seats only

LC1 Slow. 6 bed, 4 bed cabin

LC3 Fast, 6 bed, 4 bed cabin

SP1/SP3/SP7 Express, 4 bed cabin, A/C

B – From Lao Cai to Hanoi

Train Code Departure Arrival Category Tourist carriage

LC6 06.00 17.00 Slow with seats only Not advice

LC2 Slow. 6 bed, 4 bed cabin

LC4 Fast, 6 bed, 4 bed cabin

SP2/SP4/SP8 Express, 4 bed cabin, A/C

There are special carriages ranging from budget to luxury classes providing travelers with much better facilities being operated in co-operation with the railways company. Below is information about these carriages.

Name of the carriage Category & facilities Operating with train
+ Luxury class: Victoria Deluxe: serving those staying in Victoria hotel sapa only: 2 bed & 4 bed cabins

+ First Class:
Ratraco Carriage: 4 bed cabin with A/C

Tulico Carriage: 2 bed & 4 bed cabin with A/C

Livitrans Carriage: 2 bed, 4 bed, 6 bed cabins with A/C

Fansipan express : 2 bed & 4 bed cabin with A/C

+ Budget Class:


Hara Train: 4 bed 6 bed cabin with A/C

Et - Pumpkin : 4 bed cabin with A/C

TSC Carriage : 2 bed & 4 bed cabin with A/C

Royal Express: 4 bed cabin with A/C