Hanoi to Lào Cai train with Vietnam Railways

Fri, Dec 19
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Vietnam Railways
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The cheapest and fastest trains from Hanoi to Lào Cai

Showing times and prices for Dec 26

Cheapest price

$35

Average price

$35

Fastest journey

8 h 42 m

Average duration

8 h 42 m

Trains per day

1

Distance

254 km

Cheap tickets

The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Hanoi to Lào Cai is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.

The average ticket from Hanoi to Lào Cai will cost around $35 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only $35.

Fast trains

Of the 1 trains that leave Hanoi for Lào Cai on Fri, Dec 26, 1 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.

On Fri, Dec 26 the direct trains cover the 254 km distance in an average of 8 h 42 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 8 h 42 m .

On Fri, Dec 26 the slowest trains will take 8 h 42 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.

SAPALY EXPRESS TRAIN
03:00PM8h42
Hanoi
11:42PMLào Cai
$351One-way
0 transfers

Travel Information

Compare train and bus for Hanoi to Lào Cai

Omio recommends booking the bus as it is the most popular option from Hanoi to Lào Cai among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the bus with prices starting from €7. For those with little time consider booking a bus which can get you there in 5h 57m. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of €7, and a train costs an average of €26.

Distance: 157 miles (254 km)

Compare train with

Train
Most popular
Bus

€27

Average price

€8

Average price

Cheapest

9h 12m

Average total duration

8h 42m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

6h 27m

Average total duration

Fastest

5h 57m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

Direct Options

Direct Options

Live departures

Hanoi to Lào Cai train times

The table below shows live departures for Hanoi to Lào Cai trains for today, Thursday, December 25. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.

Last updated at 5:09 AM
ProviderDepartsDurationArrivesTransfers
Tickets
Vietnam Railways10:23 PM Hanoi Gia Lam Station
7h32
5:55 AM Sapa Lao Cai0 transfersDirect
Vietnam Railways11:03 PM Hanoi Gia Lam Station
7h22
6:25 AM Sapa Lao Cai0 transfersDirect

This is the last train of the day.

Find all the dates and times for this journey

Compare prices and tickets Hanoi to Lào Cai by train or bus

Compare train and bus prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.

Fri
Dec 26
Sat
Dec 27
Sun
Dec 28
Mon
Dec 29
Tue
Dec 30
Wed
Dec 31
Thu
Jan 01

Why should you book Hanoi to Lào Cai trains with Omio?

Vietnam Railways operates all train services from Hanoi to Lào Cai. Omio is the only official third party seller for Vietnam Railways tickets.

Why book with Omio vs Vietnam Railways?

  • Designed for International Travelers: Omio is in your language including 24/7 customer service and offers multiple payment options, including PayPal, credit cards, and bank transfer, in your preferred currency.
  • Compare all your options: Omio allows you to compare Vietnam Railways with all available travel options, which are train and bus to ensure you get the best deal for traveling from Hanoi to Lào Cai.

Why book with Omio over Trainline and Rail Europe?

Multiple modes of transport
  • Official reseller: Vietnam Railways tickets can only be bought on Omio or Vietnam Railways's website as Omio is the only official third party seller for Vietnam Railways tickets. Trainline, RailEurope, and Rail.Ninja do not sell Vietnam Railways tickets as they are not official sellers.
  • Multiple modes of transport: Omio allows you to compare travel options including train and bus to find the ideal travel option from Hanoi to Lào Cai.

Journey information

Overview: Train from Hanoi to Lào Cai

VietnamVietnam
VietnamVietnam
Icon of train

Trains from Hanoi to Lào Cai run on average 9 times per day, taking around 8h 42m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at $32 (€26) but you can travel from only $9 (€7) by bus.

There are 9 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 09:30, the last at 23:03. The fastest train covers the 157 miles (254 km) distance in 8h 42m.

Fares are the lowest economy prices found on Omio. Early booking often means lower prices. Prices change daily and are subject to availability. Discount cards, coach trips, and booking fees are not included.
Price information
Cheapest alternative travel mode
Bus from $9 (€7)
Distance
157 miles (254 km)
Average train duration
8h 42m
Cheapest ticket price
$32 (€26)
Trains per day
9
Direct trains
9
Fastest train
8h 42m
First train
09:30
Last train
23:03
Fares are the lowest economy prices found on Omio. Early booking often means lower prices. Prices change daily and are subject to availability. Discount cards, coach trips, and booking fees are not included.
Price information
Cheapest alternative travel mode
Bus from $9 (€7)

Train companies: Vietnam Railways from Hanoi to Lào Cai trainsVietnam Railways trains will get you between Hanoi and Lào Cai from $9 (€7). With over 1000 travel companies on Omio, you can find the best train times and tickets for your trip.

Vietnam Railways

Luggage & cancellation policy
Average Duration
7h 22m
Cheapest Price
$24 (€19)
Vietnam Railways frequency
2 a day

FAQs: Trains from Hanoi to Lào Cai

Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Hanoi to Lào Cai by train. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest train, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Lào Cai, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

FAQs
To fully experience Lào Cai, including attractions like Sapa, Bac Ha Market, and the Hoang Lien Son mountain range, plan for a stay of 3 to 5 days.
Train ticket prices from Hanoi to Lào Cai can vary. The cheapest ticket starts at $32 (€26), while the average price is around $34 (€27).
A day trip from Hanoi to Lào Cai is not feasible as the travel duration is 8h 42m, covering a distance of 157 miles (254 km). The frequency is 9 per day for trains.
The train from Hanoi to Lào Cai takes 8h 42m and runs 9 per day.
The cheapest way to get from Hanoi to Lào Cai is by bus, with a cost of around $9 (€7).
The last train from Hanoi to Lào Cai leaves at 11:03 PM.
Yes, the Hanoi to Lào Cai train journey is considered scenic, offering views of lush landscapes, terraced rice fields, and distant mountains along the way.
Unfortunately, there is no night train available from Hanoi to Lào Cai.
The distance by train from Hanoi to Lào Cai is 157 miles (254 km).
The first train from Hanoi to Lào Cai leaves at 9:30 AM.
The train station in Hanoi that goes to Lào Cai is Hanoi Railway Station, which connects to Lao Cai Railway Station.
Yes, you can take the train from Hanoi to Lào Cai.
There is no high speed train available from Hanoi to Lào Cai.
Yes, there is a direct train from Hanoi to Lào Cai. This service operates 9 times per day, provided by Vietnam Railways.

Most popular train connections from Hanoi

More options for your journey from Hanoi to Lào Cai

Here are some other resources that might have the information you need

HomeTrainsHanoi to Lào Cai train

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