Lao Cai to Hanoi by train, van, bus, taxi from VND 272k

Lao Cai to Hanoi Destination Reviews

Craig A

Great experience… we had the 2 bed cabin and was very comfortable. I’ve taken train trips in Vietnam before and this particular train did not have a dining carriage but they had a food cart. Thank you VN Railway for a memorable trip.

Lao Cai to Hanoi, Train #SP8 Cabin 2x, NewLivitrans Express, Aug 7, 2026

Teo E

Staff are friendly and helpful. Cabin is clean

Lao Cai to Hanoi, Train #SP4 1st Class Sleeper, Laman Express, Aug 1, 2026

Ezrick D

A train to the Wild West. The facility is great, the cabin the beds, refreshments, even toilets and sink. But the knocking sound coming from the train suspension will not let you sleep. Come to the train very tiered.

Lao Cai to Hanoi, Train #SP4 Deluxe Cabin 4x, Fanxipan Express, Jul 31, 2026

Reei S

We booked a deluxe room and were given a basic cabin. Nobody to talk to, no contact and nothing to do

Lao Cai to Hanoi, Train #SP4 Deluxe Cabin 4x, Fanxipan Express, Jul 28, 2026

Melissa L

Very noisy train with loud noise under carriage. It made it very difficult to sleep with this loud noisy every minute or so. The carriage is clean looking, beds very hard and blankets did not smell clean.

Lao Cai to Hanoi, Train Cabin 4x, Damitrans, Jul 22, 2026

Ronald K

Bed can be a little more comfortable, otherwise fine commute.

Lao Cai to Hanoi, Train Cabin 4x, Damitrans, Jul 19, 2026

Luke S

Perfect in every way

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

Richard

Absolute torture. Have been on many trains all over SE Asia going on 35 years. I hope all the trains between Sapa and Hanoi aren’t like this one. First 2/3 of the trip it made the most horrendous sounds I thought the train was breaking apart. The rest was a constant loud sound that prevented any kind of relaxation much less sleeping. Kids screaming at the top of their lungs. Someone was smoking near us that spread through the ventilation system into our cabin. No food car. The ac was ok and going through train street at the end was fun.

Lao Cai to Hanoi, Train Cabin 4x, Damitrans, Jul 3, 2026

Alfi Y

Is soo much noise under our carriage, the door is broken and couldn’t open properly. The train is very cold - bring jacket with you!

Lao Cai to Hanoi, Train VIP Cabin with double bed, King Sapa Train, Jul 3, 2026

Harry H

The only downside is the train is really noisy, otherwise a great experience.

Lao Cai to Hanoi, Train Cabin 4x, Damitrans, Jun 29, 2026

4.4

488 customer reviews

45%

31%

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Lao Cai to Hanoi Schedule

Type	Operator	Class	Departure Time	Arrival Time	Price	Rating
Bus	Asian Bus Travel	Royal Cabin	00:00	05:00	$19.08	5.0
Bus	Phong Khanh	Limousine 34	00:20	05:20	$11.45
Bus	Sao Viet	VIP Cabin	00:40	05:20	$11.45
Bus	Futa Ha Son	Limousine 34	01:00	05:40	$11.07
Bus	Phuc Lam Limousine	Limousine 11	02:30	06:15	$15.26
Bus	Sao Viet	Sleeper	04:30	10:25	$9.54	3.5
Bus	Sao Viet	VIP Cabin	04:55	09:55	$12.59
Bus	Futa Ha Son	Limousine 24	05:15	11:25	$16.03	2.0
Bus	Sao Viet	Sleeper	05:37	09:40	$9.54
Bus	Sao Viet	VIP Cabin	05:55	10:55	$12.59
Bus	Sao Viet	VIP Cabin	06:15	11:40	$12.59
Bus	Sao Viet	Sleeper	06:37	10:40	$9.54
Bus	HK Sapa Open Tour	Lower Single Cabin	06:55	12:40	$14.12
Bus	Techbus VN JSC	VIP 22	07:15	13:00	$17.94	3.0
Bus	Sao Viet	Sleeper	07:37	11:40	$9.54
Bus	April Adventure	VIP16 Express	07:55	13:25	$20.16
Bus	Sao Viet	Sleeper	08:14	12:40	$8.40
Bus	Inter Bus Lines	Sleeper 44	08:30	14:00	$6.87
Van	Phuc Lam Limousine	Van 9pax	08:50	12:35	$15.26
Bus	Techbus VN JSC	VIP 22	09:15	15:00	$17.94	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 465.09. If you want to save on transportation, it’s better to take a bus as a bus ticket costs as low as USD 10.37.

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 Sapa Dragon Express: travelling by bus expect to pay as low as USD 10.37 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 465.09.

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

Bus tickets - USD 10.37 to USD 23.37;
Train tickets - USD 11.07 to USD 465.09;
Van price : USD 14.69 - USD 19.84;
Bus+Van price: USD 16.68 - USD 20.81. From Lao Cai to Hanoi starting from 06:40 Lao Cai international border gate until 23:00 Lao Cai international border gate

You can order a taxi, too - an estimated cost of the ride is from USD 164.09 to USD 164.09.

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 51 available bus trips every day.
Trains always run on a set schedule - there are 43 trains per day.
18 by Bus+Van from Lao Cai to Hanoi starting from 06:40 Lao Cai international border gate until 23:00 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 164.09.

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:

44% users enjoyed a train ride.
27% chosen Bus+Van
27% decided to catch a taxi.
1% Other

Transportation from Lao Cai to Hanoi

Facts about the transport from Lao Cai to Hanoi

Cheapest Transport	$11
Fastest Transport	4h 20m
Earliest Departure	12:00 AM
Latest Departure	11:30 PM
Departures per day	112
Distance	217 kilometers
Transport Companies	Asian Bus Travel, Chapa Express, Damitrans, Eco Sapa Limousine, Family Express, Fanxipan Express, GreenLion Bus, Grouptour, Inter Bus Lines, King Sapa Train, Laman Express, NewLivitrans Express, Sapa Dragon Express, Sapa Ethnic Travel, Sapaking Limousine, Sapaly Express Train, Tonkin Heritage Express, Truly Hagiang, Vicsapa Train, Vietnam Rail, Violette Trains

Popular Routes

Lao Cai to Hanoi