Lao Cai to Hanoi by train, van, bus, taxi from VND 222k

Lao Cai to Hanoi Destination Reviews

Jesper A

Vera very hard madras and poor pillows

Lao Cai to Hanoi, Train Cabin 4x, Violette Trains, Mar 4, 2026

Phillip

Carriage was a bit outdated, needs a refit.

Lao Cai to Hanoi, Train #SP8 Cabin 2x, NewLivitrans Express, Mar 2, 2026

Majella B

It was nice to be able to relax in our berth.

Lao Cai to Hanoi, Train #SP8 Cabin 2x, NewLivitrans Express, Feb 25, 2026

Hicham

Very Nice, magnifique voyage inoubliable.

Lao Cai to Hanoi, Van VIP 9, Eco Sapa Limousine (Eco Sapa Limousine), Feb 14, 2026

Rita M

The train could be more cleaner.

Lao Cai to Hanoi, Train 4 beds cabin upper berth, Vietnam Rail, Feb 7, 2026

Francisco P

People smoking and talking whole night in an sleeping train, is a little bit contradictory

Lao Cai to Hanoi, Train #SP4 VIP Sleeper 4x, Laman Express, Jan 25, 2026

Sheam K

There a lady who gave us the non physical tickets through whatsapp but doesn’t seem to be the operator I chose which was Damitrans. Kindly assist to note what is the issue and let me know the rate difference as this is unprofessional and unfair to my booking. I don’t have wifi password provided either. Also the train coach conductor was rude to approach us to check for tickets and could tell he was heavily drunk. I look forward to your reply on this matter as it made my wife and I uncomfortable trip back especially when initially you mentioned it was a system error.

Lao Cai to Hanoi, Train Cabin 4x, Damitrans, Jan 8, 2026

Steffen K

Good trip! We booked a private cabin - which means that the upper bunks were simply put aside. It‘s nice though and there are some complimentary snacks and beverages (incl. Beer) in the cabin. A/C cannot be adjusted. Good and clean toilet for the wagon. It‘s thin mattresses on plain wood - the bed. is VERY hard! We actually used the mattresses of the upper bunks as well and the worked quite okay. Walking by, it looked like some other luxury cabins had no upper bunks and thicker mattresses. We even saw one cabin with a double-bed.

Lao Cai to Hanoi, Train #SP4 1st Class Sleeper, Laman Express, Dec 19, 2025

Martin S

The WiFi box was just in front of our cabin, but there was no password given anywhere. Not in the email, voucher or in the train. There were less snacks (just 1 potato chips/p) as in the Levitrans train. No "fruits" at all (as mentioned in the booking). But the cabin was more clean (also under the bed). And the bath room was ok as well. Sadly, there seems always one passenger that cannot live without smoking and do so in between wagons, causing the ventilation to suck in the smoke and blow it into your cabin. The train staff does not care, even though there are signs that prohibit smoking.

Lao Cai to Hanoi, Train VIP Cabin with twin beds, Damitrans, Dec 10, 2025

Younes S

If you don't value your life and you love the movie Fast and Furious, this trip is for you ! very, very dangerous driver

Lao Cai to Hanoi, Van VIP 9, Eco Sapa Limousine (Eco Sapa Limousine), Dec 8, 2025

4.4

357 customer reviews

45%

31%

15%

Lao Cai to Hanoi Schedule

Type	Operator	Class	Departure Time	Arrival Time	Price	Rating
Bus	Asian Bus Travel	Royal Cabin	00:00	05:00	€16.41	5.0
Bus	Phong Khanh	Limousine 34	00:20	05:20	€9.85
Bus	Sao Viet	VIP Cabin	00:40	05:20	€9.85
Bus	Futa Ha Son	Limousine 34	01:00	05:40	€9.52
Bus	Phuc Lam Limousine	Limousine 11	02:30	06:15	€13.13
Bus	Sao Viet	Sleeper	04:30	10:25	€8.21	3.5
Bus	Sao Viet	VIP Cabin	04:55	09:55	€10.83
Bus	Futa Ha Son	Limousine 24	05:15	11:25	€13.79	2.0
Bus	Sao Viet	Sleeper	05:37	09:40	€8.21
Bus	Sao Viet	VIP Cabin	05:55	10:55	€10.83
Bus	Sao Viet	VIP Cabin	06:15	11:40	€10.83
Bus	Sao Viet	Sleeper	06:37	10:40	€8.21
Bus	HK Sapa Open Tour	Lower Single Cabin	06:55	12:40	€12.15
Bus	Techbus VN JSC	VIP 22	07:15	13:00	€15.43	3.0
Bus	Sao Viet	Sleeper	07:37	11:40	€8.21
Bus	April Adventure	VIP16 Express	07:55	13:25	€17.37
Bus	Sao Viet	Sleeper	08:14	12:40	€7.22
Bus	Inter Bus Lines	Sleeper 44	08:30	14:00	€5.91
Van	Phuc Lam Limousine	Van 9pax	08:50	12:35	€13.13
Bus	Techbus VN JSC	VIP 22	09:15	15:00	€15.43	3.0

How to get from Lao Cai to Hanoi

When you want to get from Lao Cai to Hanoi, you have a few options to consider. Traveling between these destinations is possible by different means of transport:

Bus
Train
Van
Taxi

If you’re looking for a quick trip, it’s recommended that you use Bus. However, if you’d rather take your time with a slower, more affordable travel option, you can book a Train ticket.

The cost of travel will depend on the means of transport you choose for your trip. A Train ticket is the most expensive option - it will cost you about EUR 130.82. If you want to save on transportation, it’s better to take a bus as a bus ticket costs as low as EUR 7.28.

How much does it cost to get from Lao Cai to Hanoi?

The cost of the trip from Lao Cai to Hanoi varies according to what means of transport you choose for your journey. The most affordable operator is King Express Bus: travelling by bus expect to pay as low as EUR 7.28 for your ticket.

However, if you’re after more upscale travel . The most expensive variant is to opt for a Train - a one-way Train ticket can cost as much as EUR 130.82.

Here is a chart of the average ticket prices and transportation options available from Lao Cai to Hanoi:

Bus tickets - EUR 7.28 to EUR 20.22;
Bus+taxi price: EUR 8.62. From Lao Cai to Hanoi starting from 15:30 645 Dien Bien Phu until 15:30 645 Dien Bien Phu
Train tickets - EUR 11.16 to EUR 130.82;
Van price : EUR 12.64 - EUR 17.07;
Bus+Van price: EUR 17.90. From Lao Cai to Hanoi starting from 08:40 Lao Cai international border gate until 08:40 Lao Cai international border gate

You can order a taxi, too - an estimated cost of the ride is from EUR 78.54 to EUR 328.29.

How many trips per day are there between Lao Cai and Hanoi?

Depending on your choice of transportation, the number of daily trips varies.

Buses start plying the route from 00:00 - you can also take a bus as late as 23:30. There are 127 available bus trips every day.
Trains always run on a set schedule - there are 68 trains per day.
2 by Bus+Van from Lao Cai to Hanoi starting from 08:40 Lao Cai international border gate until 08:40 Lao Cai international border gate

Which means of transport is the best for the route?

Buses

Taking a bus from Lao Cai to Hanoi is cheaper than flying. Quite often, a long-distance bus is the cheapest transportation option. Buses normally make bathroom and/or lunch stops along the way.

Things to remember before opting for a bus ride:

If possible, make sure to choose higher-class buses for a more comfortable travel experience. Such buses often have an air conditioning system, soft reclining seats, Wi-Fi, bathrooms, etc.
As with plane tickets, buses are better booked in advance so that you can secure a good seat.
While booking a bus, keep in mind that delays are possible. Yet it still pays to get to the bus station at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled departure.

Taxi

Catching a cab is the easiest way to get from Lao Cai to Hanoi. It allows you to tailor-make your trip, plan all the detours and see all the places you want. You can choose the type and the size of your car as well to be as comfortable as you'd like to.

Depending on the route, it might cost as much as EUR 78.54.

Things to remember: It's a good idea to follow the route on Google Maps or any other GPS navigator.

Trains

Things to remember while choosing a train ticket:
Consider everything carefully while choosing the class of your train travel. In most cases, the second class is comfortable enough – it features 2 or 4 berths in each compartment and is often air-conditioned.

If you’re in for a premium experience, consider getting a first class ticket. The price of first class tickets may include Wifi, and a choice of snacks and drinks.

Vans

A shared van is another means of transport for traveling from Lao Cai to Hanoi. As far as travel time is concerned, it’s basically equal to a taxi ride, while price-wise it’s way more affordable. The majority of tourists book a van online in advance.

Sometimes, when trains or buses aren’t available, a van is your only way to get from Lao Cai to Hanoi.

Things to remember: while traveling by van, you might not have as much space for luggage as you would on a train or a plane. It’s a good idea to pack only the most useful things for a van trip and put them in a backpack that will be easy to carry around..

The most popular transport from Lao Cai to Hanoi

How to choose the most convenient way of travel from Lao Cai to Hanoi? In order to make your choice of transportation easier, we asked 1000 users to range their preferences for this route. Here are the results of the poll:

92% users enjoyed a train ride.
5% opted for a van.
3% decided to go for a bus.

Transportation from Lao Cai to Hanoi

Facts about the transport from Lao Cai to Hanoi

Cheapest Transport	€8
Fastest Transport	3h 45m
Earliest Departure	12:00 AM
Latest Departure	11:30 PM
Departures per day	197
Distance	188 kilometers
Transport Companies	Asian Bus Travel, Chapa Express, Cuong Phat Limousine, Daily Limousine, Damitrans, Dichung, Eco Sapa Limousine, ET Pumpkin, Family Express, Fanxipan Express, Futa Ha Son, GreenLion Bus, Grouptour, Ha Son Ha Tinh Sapa, Halong Transportation, Hanoi VIP Transfer, Inter Bus Lines, King Express Bus, King Sapa Train, Linh Chau Transport, Mui Ne Private Car, NewLivitrans Express, OUROS Travel, President Limousine by HK Buslines, Saigon DMC, Sao Vang, Sapa Dragon Express, Sapa Ethnic Travel, Sapaking Limousine, Sapaly Express Train, Taxigo vn, Tiim Group, Truly Hagiang, Trung Kien, Vicsapa Train, Viet Technologies Travel, Vietnam Rail, Vietnam Transportation Service, Violette Trains

Popular Routes

Lao Cai to Hanoi