The Hanoi–Lao Cai Railway runs 300 km northwest from Hanoi to Lao Cai, only a short distance from the Chinese border. Lao Cai is the gateway to Sapa, which is around an hour away by road. Most trains run overnight, taking around eight hours and arriving early in the morning.
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Hanoi–Lao Cai Railway(Outward)(Return)
| Station | EXP SP3 HNO–LCA | EXP SP7 HNO–LCA |
|---|---|---|
| Hanoi | 22.00 | 22.40 |
| Gia Lam | 22.23 | 23.03 |
| Yen Vien | 22.36 | |
| Dong Anh | 22.58 | |
| Vinh Yen | 23.37 | |
| Viet Tri | 00.02 | |
| Phuc Yen | 23.52 | |
| Phu Tho | 00.42 | · |
| Yen Bai | 02.14 | 02.42 |
| Mau A | 02.59 | · |
| Bao Ha | 04.16 | 04.39 |
| Pho Lu | 04.57 | 05.22 |
| Lao Cai | 05.55 | 06.25 |
Timetable data collected 28th September 2026.
Scheduled times, not live tracking. Times may vary.
| Station | EXP SP8 LCA–HNO | EXP SP4 LCA–HNO |
|---|---|---|
| Lao Cai | 12.05 | 21.30 |
| Pho Lu | 13.02 | 22.26 |
| Bao Ha | 13.41 | 23.05 |
| Lang Khay | · | 23.35 |
| Trai Hut | · | 00.03 |
| Mau A | · | 00.31 |
| Yen Bai | 15.42 | 01.23 |
| Phu Tho | 16.55 | 02.48 |
| Phuc Yen | 18.14 | |
| Viet Tri | 03.29 | |
| Vinh Yen | 03.55 | |
| Dong Anh | 04.39 | |
| Yen Vien | 05.01 | |
| Gia Lam | 19.17 | 05.15 |
| Hanoi | 19.37 | 05.35 |
Timetable data collected 28th September 2026.
Scheduled times, not live tracking. Times may vary.
Other Vietnam train lines
Useful reads before you go:
Top tips for Southeast Asia train travel
Reasons why you should travel by train around Southeast Asia
The BEST train journeys in Southeast Asia
10 essentials experienced travellers always take on trains in Southeast Asia
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