Lao Cai to Hanoi

Lao Cai to Hanoi

Lao Cai
Hanoi
Sat, May 23
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Lao Cai to Hanoi Destination Reviews

SM
Santosh M
The cabin was vintage styled and beds were comfortable. Only bad part was the wash basin in the bathroom was leaking. Otherwise the experience was good
Lao Cai to Hanoi, Train #SP4 VIP Sleeper 4x, Laman Express, May 14, 2026
SI
Sonia I
Someone offered us the option to pay an extra $60 for a private cabin. I thought it would be a great idea to get a good night’s sleep, so I paid for it. What a mistake!!! Yes, the cabin was very nice, but it was absolutely impossible to sleep, not even for 10 minutes. The train was creaking as if it were going to break apart, and it was shaking like an 8-degree Richter scale earthquake. On the train to Sapa, even though we had a shared cabin, we slept very well. I don’t know why this trip was so awful. So, I do not recommend paying extra for a private cabin.
Lao Cai to Hanoi, Train #SP4 Deluxe Sleeper 4x, Chapa Express, May 11, 2026
RA
Rebecca A
The train, the cabin, and the bathroom you could access was nice & clean. However, being a luxury train (and please note, I am comparing it to another train doing the same route), it was way too noisy (which I didn’t face in the other one). During the whole ride, the noise didn’t stop. The ear buds provided dont help. And you really can’t sleep.
Lao Cai to Hanoi, Train #SP4 Indigo Berth 4x, Chapa Express, May 11, 2026
MR
Martinus R
Comfortable and good experience
Lao Cai to Hanoi, Train 4 beds cabin lower berth, Vietnam Rail, May 1, 2026
AS
Anna S
The bus made me very nauseous — not really the bus’s fault but it did make the experience unpleasant. WiFi did not work despite the bus having signs saying there was wifi. Finally the bus operator gave me a hard time about switching seats with someone so she could sit next to her husband.
Lao Cai to Hanoi, Train #SP4 VIP Sleeper 4x, Vicsapa Train, May 1, 2026
BD
Boris D
I forgot shoes in the bus, contacted the company next day and they're just ignoring me :c
Lao Cai to Hanoi, Bus Single Cabin, King Express Bus, Apr 27, 2026
KH
Ko H
This is very first time trying this website and really satisfying.
Lao Cai to Hanoi, Train Cabin 4x, Damitrans, Apr 27, 2026
AH
Anthony H
Very safe and helpful staff on board
Lao Cai to Hanoi, Train 4 beds cabin upper berth, Vietnam Rail, Apr 24, 2026
HD
Harshit D
The experience in the train was pretty average. There are better more luxurious coaches available.
Lao Cai to Hanoi, Train Cabin 4x, Damitrans, Apr 11, 2026
S
Samantha
Uncomfortable experience. The luxury bus was better. We paid for a VIP experience and in was small hard beds and just not worth what people have said
Lao Cai to Hanoi, Train VIP Cabin with twin beds, Damitrans, Apr 10, 2026
4.4
438 customer reviews
5
45%
4
31%
3
14%
2
10%
1
0%

Lao Cai to Hanoi Schedule

TypeOperatorClassDeparture TimeArrival TimePriceRating
Bus
Asian Bus Travel
Royal Cabin
00:00
05:00
$18.97
  5.0
Bus
Phong Khanh
Limousine 34
00:20
05:20
$11.38
Bus
Sao Viet
VIP Cabin
00:40
05:20
$11.38
Bus
Futa Ha Son
Limousine 34
01:00
05:40
$11.00
Bus
Phuc Lam Limousine
Limousine 11
02:30
06:15
$15.18
Bus
Sao Viet
Sleeper
04:30
10:25
$9.48
  3.5
Bus
Sao Viet
VIP Cabin
04:55
09:55
$12.52
Bus
Futa Ha Son
Limousine 24
05:15
11:25
$15.93
  2.0
Bus
Sao Viet
Sleeper
05:37
09:40
$9.48
Bus
Sao Viet
VIP Cabin
05:55
10:55
$12.52
Bus
Sao Viet
VIP Cabin
06:15
11:40
$12.52
Bus
Sao Viet
Sleeper
06:37
10:40
$9.48
Bus
HK Sapa Open Tour
Lower Single Cabin
06:55
12:40
$14.04
Bus
Techbus VN JSC
VIP 22
07:15
13:00
$17.83
  3.0
Bus
Sao Viet
Sleeper
07:37
11:40
$9.48
Bus
April Adventure
VIP16 Express
07:55
13:25
$20.16
Bus
Sao Viet
Sleeper
08:14
12:40
$8.35
Bus
Inter Bus Lines
Sleeper 44
08:30
14:00
$6.83
Van
Phuc Lam Limousine
Van 9pax
08:50
12:35
$15.18
Bus
Techbus VN JSC
VIP 22
09:15
15:00
$17.83
  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 Taxi. 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 USD 327.38. If you want to save on transportation, it’s better to take a train as a train ticket costs as low as USD 9.82.

How far is Lao Cai from Hanoi?

If you’re traveling by land, it’s important to know the distance from Lao Cai to Hanoi. Your trip will be a total of 122 miles (196 km). The flying distance is 122 miles (196 km).

How long does it take to get from Lao Cai to Hanoi?

The travel time from Lao Cai to Hanoi can vary depending on the mode of transportation you choose. All things considered, the whole journey should take from 4 to 9 hours.

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 Vietnam Rail: travelling by train expect to pay as low as USD 9.82 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 USD 327.38.

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

  • Train tickets - USD 9.82 to USD 327.38;
  • Bus+taxi price: USD 9.96. From Lao Cai to Hanoi starting from 15:30 645 Dien Bien Phu until 15:30 645 Dien Bien Phu
  • Bus tickets - USD 10.31 to USD 25.20;
  • Van price : USD 14.61 - USD 19.73;
  • Bus+Van price: USD 20.69. 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 USD 90.77 to USD 379.38.

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 64 available bus trips every day.
  • Trains always run on a set schedule - there are 40 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 USD 90.77.

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:

  • 56% users enjoyed a train ride.
  • 40% chosen Bus+Van
  • 2% opted for a van.
  • 1% Other

Transportation from Lao Cai to Hanoi

Facts about the transport from Lao Cai to Hanoi

Cheapest Transport$10
Fastest Transport3h 55m
Earliest Departure12:00 AM
Latest Departure11:30 PM
Departures per day106
Distance196 kilometers
Transport CompaniesAsian Bus Travel, Chapa Express, Cuong Phat Limousine, Daily Limousine, Damitrans, Dichung, Eco Sapa Limousine, Family Express, Fanxipan Express, GreenLion Bus, Grouptour, Halong Transportation, Hanoi VIP Transfer, Inter Bus Lines, King Express Bus, King Sapa Train, Laman Express, Linh Chau Transport, Mui Ne Private Car, NewLivitrans Express, OUROS Travel, Saigon DMC, Sapa Dragon Express, Sapa Ethnic Travel, Sapaking Limousine, Sapaly Express Train, Taxigo vn, Tiim Group, Truly Hagiang, Vicsapa Train, Viet Technologies Travel, Vietnam Rail, Vietnam Transportation Service, Violette Trains