Buses from Lao Cai to Hanoi

Buses from Lao Cai to Hanoi

Lao Cai
Hanoi
Wed, Sep 16
+ Add return
2 Travelers
Finding the best routes for you — almost ready!
Sort by
Recommended
Filters
Departure time
Transport type
Departure station
Arrival station
Booking Facilities
Price
Arrival time
Operators
 
 
 
 
 

Lao Cai to Hanoi Destination Reviews

BD
Boris D
I forgot shoes in the bus, contacted the company next day and they're just ignoring me :c
Lao Cai to Hanoi, Bus Single Cabin, King Express Bus, Apr 27, 2026
LV
Lotte V
Way better than I expected. I arrived an hour early and there was a nice waiting room including a free drinks & food like fruits, sweets and ricenoodles. For someone my length (1.66 m) the seats/beds were quite comfortabel. They left -and arrived- exactly on time and made enough toiletstops.
Lao Cai to Hanoi, Bus Limousine 34, Futa Ha Son (Futa Hà Sơn), Mar 25, 2026
DP
Daniel P
One hour earlier then expected at My Dinh. Smooth over night drive in a small seat-bed (3 beds left - middle - right in a row)
Lao Cai to Hanoi, Bus Limousine 34 Cabin, Futa Ha Son (Futa Hà Sơn), Mar 8, 2026
LG
Liane G
After waiting over 20 min in the rain the car finally arrived. Unfortunately the driver was really stressed and unfriendly - even rude and disrespectful. At least he dropped us up at our hotel.
Lao Cai to Hanoi, Bus VIP Limousine Front and Back, Tbus, Oct 21, 2025
NY
Norihito Y
someone occupied our seat. Driver hepled us, so he is very very good driver. Bus was a bit old.
Lao Cai to Hanoi, Bus VIP 22, Inter Bus Lines (Công Ty Cổ Phần Inter Bus Lines), Oct 21, 2025
LM
Lisa M
We booked a limousine and it was a sleeper bus. Which was very uncomfortable during the day because you couldn’t sit up. All the staff was very rude, from the check-in counter to every stop. Especially the driver was very impolite and yelled at us „no food!“ even before boarding or saying anything else. I just asked if we’ll stop anywhere during a 6h journey to eat and use the restroom but he just kept yelling. The lady at the front desk didn’t even answer when I asked her things. We ended up leaving the food in the front and then taking it during a break. During the break they just closed the door and left us inside while they cleaned the front window. We had to the bang against the door multiple times because we really had to use the bathroom after a few hours of driving.
Lao Cai to Hanoi, Bus Limousine 24, Futa Ha Son (Futa Hà Sơn), Aug 9, 2025
CR
Colin R
The bus was a dump and was smelly
Lao Cai to Hanoi, Bus Sleeper 40, Techbus VN JSC (Techbus Vietnam Joint stock company), Dec 23, 2023
A
Alexander
One day before departure they told us that we will drive one hour later and the bus was changed to Sao Viet, but that bus was very nice and we left on time, we made one longer stop where it was possible to buy some food that was good as well
Lao Cai to Hanoi, Bus VIP 22, Techbus VN JSC (Techbus Vietnam Joint stock company), Nov 26, 2023
L
Lisa
Very good. It was confortable.
Lao Cai to Hanoi, Bus Sleeper 40, Techbus VN JSC (Techbus Vietnam Joint stock company), Oct 7, 2023
JN
Jan N
Bus has arrived in time. Communication and check-in without any issues. Everything went well. Service adequate for price.
Lao Cai to Hanoi, Bus Sleeper 40, Techbus VN JSC (Techbus Vietnam Joint stock company), Sep 19, 2023
4.4
98 customer reviews
5
41%
4
32%
3
17%
2
10%
1
0%

Lao Cai to Hanoi Bus Schedule

OperatorClassDeparture TimeArrival TimePriceRating
Asian Bus Travel
Royal Cabin
00:00
05:00
$19.29
  5.0
Phong Khanh
Limousine 34
00:20
05:20
$11.57
Sao Viet
VIP Cabin
00:40
05:20
$11.57
Futa Ha Son
Limousine 34
01:00
05:40
$11.19
Phuc Lam Limousine
Limousine 11
02:30
06:15
$15.43
Sao Viet
Sleeper
04:30
10:25
$9.64
  3.5
Sao Viet
VIP Cabin
04:55
09:55
$12.73
Futa Ha Son
Limousine 24
05:15
11:25
$16.20
  2.0
Sao Viet
Sleeper
05:37
09:40
$9.64
Sao Viet
VIP Cabin
05:55
10:55
$12.73
Sao Viet
VIP Cabin
06:15
11:40
$12.73
Sao Viet
Sleeper
06:37
10:40
$9.64
HK Sapa Open Tour
Lower Single Cabin
06:55
12:40
$14.27
Techbus VN JSC
VIP 22
07:15
13:00
$18.13
  3.0
Sao Viet
Sleeper
07:37
11:40
$9.64
April Adventure
VIP16 Express
07:55
13:25
$20.16
Sao Viet
Sleeper
08:14
12:40
$8.49
Inter Bus Lines
Sleeper 44
08:30
14:00
$6.94
Sao Viet
VIP Cabin
08:55
13:55
$12.73
Techbus VN JSC
VIP 22
09:15
15:00
$18.13
  3.0

How to get from Lao Cai to Hanoi by bus

Bus travel remains one of the most affordable and convenient ways to travel between many destinations. Getting from Lao Cai to Hanoi 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 Lao Cai to Hanoi 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 Lao Cai from Hanoi?

If travelling by bus, you will cover the distance of 217 km between Lao Cai and Hanoi.

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

Buses normally need between 4h 50m and 6h hours to get to Hanoi from Lao Cai. 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, King Express Bus offers the fastest service. King Express Bus 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 Lao Cai to Hanoi 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 Lao Cai and Hanoi remains an affordable option. The cheapest ticket is offered by Inter Bus Lines (Công Ty Cổ Phần Inter Bus Lines) and costs USD 11.03. A King Express Bus's ticket will set you back USD 11.03 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.

Transportation from Lao Cai to Hanoi

Facts about the bus from Lao Cai to Hanoi

Cheapest Bus$12
Fastest Bus4h 50m
Earliest Bus12:00 AM
Latest Bus11:00 PM
Daily Bus Routes0
Distance217 kilometers
Bus CompaniesAsian Bus Travel, Grouptour, Inter Bus Lines, King Express Bus, Sapa Dragon Express, VietNam Travel Bus