Transportation to and within
Lao Cai Province
Lao Cai is a mountainous province in
the northwest region of Vietnam, bordering with Ha Giang on
the east, Yen Bai at the south, Lai Chau at the west and China’s
southern province Yunnan in the north. At the moment, there
is no airport, so Lao Cai can be reach only by road or by
railways.
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 4D via Yen Bai. Due to the mountain terrain and poor
investment, the road condition is bad and it is a long and
tiring trip.
*
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, 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 21.00 to 23.00 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 200 Km by 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
was very bad in the past but is being upgraded. 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 town.
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 4C 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.
• 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 rout.
• 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 17.00 Slow with seats only
LC1 Slow. 6 bed, 4 bed cabin
LC3 Fast, 6 bed, 4 bed cabin
SP1 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 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:
Tulico Carriage:
2 bed & 4 bed cabin with A/C
Livitrans Carriage: 2 bed, 4 bed, 6 bed cabins
with A/C
+ Budget Class:
Et - Pumpkin :
4 bed cabin with A/C
Fansipan express : 2 bed & 4 bed cabin
with A/C
TSC Carriage : 2 bed & 4 bed cabin with
A/C
Royal Express: 4 bed cabin with A/C |
