CONTACT US
Ha Giang is a marvelous mountainous province in northeast Vietnam. In the past, it was so hard to get to this province but nowadays you can choose many options of transportation to reach Ha Giang. Although there is not a direct train from Hanoi to Ha Giang, you still take a train there.
How to take a train from Hanoi to Ha Giang
Because there is not a train going directly from Hanoi to Ha Giang, you have to take two routes: taking a train from Hanoi to Lao Cai then catching a local bus from Lao Cai to Ha Giang.
Taking train from Hanoi to Lao Cai
The total time of taking a train from Hanoi to Lao Cai is about 8 hours with a distance of 294 km. There are three trains to Lao Cai everyday, respectively SP11, SP1 and SP3. With three trains a day, you can choose different price, different types of seats.
This is the schedule of the Hanoi – Lao Cai train.
| Train | Departure time from Hanoi | Total time |
| SP11 | 05:40 | 6 hours 55 minutes |
| SP1 | 21:35 | 7 hours 55 minutes |
| SP3 | 22:00 | 8 hours 5 minutes |
You come to Hanoi train station to catch the train and buy the tickets also. To be more convenient, you should book tickets on the website or e-wallet apps such as MoMo, ZaloPay, etc. Especially on holidays, you had better book in advance because there are many people taking the train at that time.
Catching local bus from Lao Cai to Ha Giang
You will arrive in Lao Cai train station after 8 hours. Lao Cai is also a beautiful district, therefore you can pay a quick visit here. You can come to Sapa – “town of clouds” in the north of Vietnam, or Fansipan mountains – “the roof of Dong Duong”.
After that, you can take a local bus from Lao Cai to Ha Giang. It will take you about 4 hours to get there. There are many bus service providers to serve the tourists coming to Ha Giang. You will catch the bus from Lao Cai bus station, Sapa bus station or the destination near you and then arrive at Ha Giang bus station.
The important thing when taking a bus is choosing a reputable bus provider. You can find them by asking for bus service providers in the Ha Giang traveling groups on Facebook.
You can reference these suggested bus service providers.
| Bus service provider | Price/pax | Hotline |
| Quang Nghi bus | 300,000 VND | 0949 744 733 |
| Quang Giang bus | 250,000 VND – 500,000 VND | 0849 633 222 |
| Cuong Thinh bus | 250,000 VND – 300,000 VND | 0964 353 353 |
| Quang Tuyen | 150.000 VND – 230.000 VND | 0378 311 311 |
After arriving in Ha Giang city, you can choose to travel by motorbike. With rugged terrain like Ha Giang, motorbikes are a suitable means of transportation for sightseeing in Ha Giang.
You can go to Ha Giang motorbike rental addresses to rent motorbikes. With this service, you can be provided with motorbikes with powerful engines and necessary belongings for the trip.
The price of taking a train from Hanoi to Ha Giang
The price of the train is at the range from 164,000 VND to 855,000 VND depending on the kind of the trains and seats. Train SP3 is the most modern with up-to-date furniture of the three trains.
Here is the ticket price summary of the Lao Cai – Ha Giang train.
| Train | Type of seat | Ticket price |
| SP11 – NML | Soft sitting air-conditioner | 164,000 VND |
| SP1 – AnLT1 | Compartment 4 air conditioner T1 | 445,000 VND |
| SP1 – AnLT2 | Compartment 4 air conditioner T2 | 415,000 VND |
| SP1 – GP | Extra seat | 144,000 VND |
| SP1 – NML | Soft sitting air-conditioner | 195,000 VND |
| SP3 – AnLT1 | Compartment 4 air conditioner T1 | 445,000 VND |
| SP3 – AnLT2 | Compartment 4 air conditioner T2 | 415,000 VND |
| SP3 – AnLv2 | VIP 2 air-conditioned compartment | 855,000 VND |
| SP3 – AnLvT1 | Compartment4 air conditioner T1VIP | 565,000 VND |
A ticket price contains insurance. Besides, ticket price can vary depending on some conditions such as purchasing time, passengers type, or seat location,etc.
Helpful notices when taking train from Hanoi to Ha Giang
If this is the first time you have traveled by train from Hanoi to Ha Giang, you should follow this helpful advice to have a good trip.
You should go to the train station or bus terminal at least 30 minutes to 1 hour before the scheduled departure time. Arriving early will give you enough time to complete ticketing procedures and board the train on time. Furthermore, arriving early equates to having extra time to address any urgent matters.
You should book your tickets early to secure your seats. Especially during holidays, there will be many visitors coming here for sightseeing or people returning home from afar for the holidays.
In addition, you should bring a jacket or a small blanket if you’re sitting in an air-conditioned compartment. The air conditioning on the train can be quite cold, so you might feel chilly. The train journey takes around 8 hours, so it’s advisable to keep essential items in your backpack or handbag for easy access.
The sound when being on the train is quite noisy. Therefore, you should take on earphones to avoid the noise. Don’t forget to take great photos along the way, too.
Above is the complete information about the train from Hanoi to Ha Giang. If you have had the experience of the Ha Giang loop, please leave a comment to share information with everyone.
Tours