Buses from Hanoi to Lao Cai

Buses from Hanoi to Lao Cai

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Best Options

 
$7
 
 
$175
 
 

Other Options

Hanoi to Lao Cai Bus Schedule

Hanoi to Lao Cai Bus Schedule
Transport NameRoute TimePrice
PacknGo Standard 4pax Any timeVND 3,120k
Grouptour Upper Single Cabin 05:55 - 11:55VND 411k
Techbus VN JSC Sleeper 40 07:00 - 13:00VND 288k
Techbus VN JSC VIP 20 09:15 - 15:15VND 468k
Grouptour VIP 20 11:45 - 16:55VND 428k
Techbus VN JSC VIP 34 Sleeper 13:30 - 19:30VND 380k
Grouptour Double Cabin 15:15 - 20:15VND 863k
Daiichi Travel VIP 24 16:00 - 21:20VND 440k
Techbus VN JSC VIP 20 19:30 - 01:30VND 468k
Duc Duong Bus VIP Luxury 22 21:30 - 03:30VND 554k
Techbus VN JSC VIP 22 22:00 - 04:00VND 495k

Transportation from Hanoi to Lao Cai

Facts about the bus from Hanoi to Lao Cai

Cheapest Bus$7
Fastest Bus3h 55m
Earliest Bus12:00 AM
Latest Bus11:59 PM
Daily Bus Routes1581
Distance196 kilometers
Bus CompaniesArirang Travel, Cat Ba Panorama, Daiichi Travel, Duc Duong Bus, Duy Khanh Transport, Eco Sapa Limousine, Full Moon Party Tour, GreenLion Bus, Grouptour, Inter Bus Lines, KadBus, King Express Bus, King Sapa Train, Luxury Van Limousine, Sao Viet, Sapa Discovery Travel, Sapa Dragon Express, Sapa Ethnic Travel, Sapa Express, Techbus VN JSC, Thang Long Ha Noi Limousine, Tien Dat Trans, To Vietnam Travel, Viet Nam Travel Bus

Hanoi to Lao Cai Destination Reviews

JJ
The office girl, driver and the helper. All 3 were rude and behaving as if we are traveling for free. The bed and pod is ok. But the initial experience by these people made us feel like we are not welcomed. I booked the 10:30 pm bus and since i arrived 30 mins early, they transferred us into a bus which was about to leave. Not sure if this is a good practise.
Bus VIP 20, Techbus VN JSC (Techbus Vietnam Joint stock company), Apr 19, 2024
RS
Better than I expected for my first bus
Bus Sleeper 40, Techbus VN JSC (Techbus Vietnam Joint stock company), Dec 2, 2023
AP
45 minutes late and almost no update from the staff... The bus was old and not so clean. I'm 1m78 and couldn't stretch my legs entirely but it was no big deal. Otherwise we arrived at the right destination.
Bus Sleeper 40, Techbus VN JSC (Techbus Vietnam Joint stock company), Nov 7, 2023
IP
Staff not friendly, no meal. Seat comfortable.
Bus VIP 22, Techbus VN JSC (Techbus Vietnam Joint stock company), Nov 5, 2023
L
Driver was checking his phone while driving and changing lanes constantly. He almost had an accident because he braked too late. Also he was really tired. He dropped us at a wrong hotel. We waited 40 minutes at the pick up point.
Bus VIP 9 Express, Techbus VN JSC (Techbus Vietnam Joint stock company), Oct 6, 2023
JD
it was really late and we also ended up sitting on the bus much longer than we should have as it was further delayed
Bus VIP 22, Techbus VN JSC (Techbus Vietnam Joint stock company), Sep 23, 2023
PB
We got told to give them our food so that we wouldn’t eat during the drive because apparently that’s not aloud and we where supposed to get them back when we got to our destination but instead of getting them back they ate the food during the drive even though we where supposed to get them back since it was ours! They could have at least asked because we could share with them. The seats weren’t that great either because we couldn’t put them up so we had to lie down the whole drive and there was no button to turn off the air conditioning because the driver controls that so it was on for the whole drive and it became very cold.
Bus VIP 22, Techbus VN JSC (Techbus Vietnam Joint stock company), Sep 16, 2023
HJ
For a Dutch person of 1.80 sharing the small cabin with his girlfriend, it was definitely an experience. However, we managed and was actually comfortable. Put your backs in de back of the truck because you won't have space otherwise. We had 2 stops for food/toilet in our 6 hour drive. ( it took longer then expected). Would do it again, but if you can, reserve 2 cabins just in case.
Bus Sleeper 40, Techbus VN JSC (Techbus Vietnam Joint stock company), Sep 7, 2023
AB
We bought Two tickets and we only have one cabin for two people, we Don’t know why yet
Bus Sleeper 41 Express, Techbus VN JSC (Techbus Vietnam Joint stock company), Aug 13, 2023
DE
We had smaller seats than the rest and couldn’t stretch the legs.
Bus Sleeper 40, Techbus VN JSC (Techbus Vietnam Joint stock company), Aug 13, 2023
4.4
121 customer reviews
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How to get from Hanoi to Lao Cai by bus

Bus travel remains one of the most affordable and convenient ways to travel between many destinations. Getting from Hanoi to Lao Cai by bus may not be the fastest way of travel, yet many travellers prefer to rely on the bus on this route; with easy online booking and tickets of different classes for all tastes and budgets available, the bus from Hanoi to Lao Cai a conscious and budget-friendly option.

Check the timetable before you book your ticket and read other travellers’ reviews to choose the trip that suits you best. Note that there may be several bus terminals at your departure or arrival point – always double-check where you are leaving from and arriving to. It may prove crucial if you have connecting trips.

Here is the list of operators serving the route: .

How far is Hanoi from Lao Cai?

If travelling by bus, you will cover the distance of 196 km between Hanoi and Lao Cai.

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

Buses normally need between 3h 55m and 8h 20m hours to get to Lao Cai from Hanoi. Note that the travel time is for your reference only and can depend on different factors such as traffic and weather conditions. Heavy rainfalls almost inevitably make the trip longer due to poor visibility or floods. Road and surface repairs which happen quite often, result in detours and longer travel times. Major national holidays, long weekends, or peak season periods may cause delays both in departures and arrivals – plan accordingly to avoid disappointment, especially if you have further connections and a tight schedule.

On this route, Sao Viet (Sao Việt) offers the fastest service. Techbus VN JSC (Techbus Vietnam Joint stock company) buses usually take the longest time to complete the journey.

Remember, though, that tickets offering the shortest travel time are normally the most expensive ones. Yet it pays to spend a bit more to ensure your bus goes direct without additional stops and uses highways instead of local roads.

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

The price of your bus ticket will depend not only on the distance you need to cover but on the class of your coach. E.g. expect to shell out more for VIP or sleeper buses while ordinary buses though being the cheapest option, often are a compromise on comfort and travel time. Of course, they do their job, too, and can be the only option if you hop on/off in the middle of the route.

Anyway, travelling by bus between Hanoi and Lao Cai remains an affordable option. The cheapest ticket is offered by Inter Bus Lines (Công Ty Cổ Phần Inter Bus Lines) and costs USD 6.50. A Grouptour (Công ty du lịch quốc tế Grouptour)'s ticket will set you back USD 6.50 on average.

Travelling by bus essentials

  • If you are planning to travel during the high season, weekends, or national holidays, booking your bus tickets in advance is highly recommended. The demand is at its highest, yet very often, the number of coaches serving the route remains the same. The earlier you reserve your seat, the better. On some routes, you need to secure your ticket more than a month in advance; on others, a couple-of-days advanced booking is enough. During such periods, try to book online beforehand whenever possible, as showing up at the bus station without a ticket may result in many-hours of waiting in the queue or leave you downright stranded.
  • VIP, 1st, Gold, and similar bus tickets are the most expensive option, but they provide a higher level of comfort. Normally the price of such tickets will include wide soft reclining seats, blankets, water and snacks or lunch, and sometimes some toiletries. Upper-class buses travel faster, make fewer stops during the route, and normally provide more spacious seating to their passengers and a better travel experience.
  • Not all buses have an on-board toilet, but generally, for all trips longer than three hours, all operators schedule a bathroom and/or a lunch stop. While operators definitely do their best to keep on-board toilets clean, the smell may be an issue sometimes. For longer trips, booking a seat a bit farther from the toilet may be a good idea. Also, using bathroom stops for your toilet needs is always better than trying to find your balance in an on-board toilet on the run.
  • If you travel by an air-con bus, make sure to pack layers. A hoodie, a warm scarf, or a beanie hat may prove a good idea. Air-conditioning on buses tends to be excessive, and running nose and sore throats abound after even not the longest bus rides.
  • Always use the security belts even if your bus ride attendant or driver does not insist on it. Your safety comes first – for you, for sure. All buses normally are equipped with security belts, but they may be fixed behind your seat. Take time to find the belt and fix it appropriately.
  • To avoid being disturbed by overhead lights, switched on during stops even at night, and too loud music or sound from the on-board entertainment system, have earplugs and a sleeping mask at hand.
  • As a courtesy to other passengers, avoid using strong perfumes or smelly foods. Some foods like cheeses or durians are forbidden to take on-board – check in advance. Alcohol is also prohibited on the majority of buses.
  • Note that if the bus requires refuelling en-route, passengers will be asked to get off the bus. Operators are not allowed to refuel with passengers on board due to safety reasons. Usually, it takes from 5 to 10 minutes and is often combined with a toilet/lunch stop.
  • If not stated otherwise in your tickets, arrive at the bus station 20-30 minutes before departure. It will give you enough time to find the departure platform and check-in. For international trips, you may need more time for check-in and border formalities.