Train Information
The Ha Noi-Lao Cai tourist trains run nightly, departing from Ha Noi Train Station B (behind 120 Le Duan Street). The following trains from Ha Noi to Lao Cai (SP1, SP7, LC1, LC3; AM: LC5) and from Lao Cai to Ha Noi (PM: SP2, SP8, LC2, LC4; AM: LC 6) daily. The daytime trainsets offer only hard seats, whereas Travelers enjoy soft-sleepers, air-conditioned, four-berth cabins on the night trains.

Sapa Tourist Carriages view images

Victoria Orient Express Carriage
This is the best tourist carriage in term of comfort and luxury. It features superior 4 berth cabins and deluxe 2 berths. They, however, offer only this ticket with the combination of their Victoria Sapa hotel. They are launching a big summer deal with train ticket plus hotel. See details.

Tulico Carriage
Tulico train offers comfortable, air-conditioned soft sleepers. While this is not a luxurious train, it offers good alternative transportation to Sa Pa from Ha Noi. It has soft sleepers, A/C and four-berth cabins. You are provided with one bottle of water, a small snack and a napkin.

Ratraco Carriage
In the LC5 and LC6, there are Victoria Cabins, Tulico Cabins, Friendly Cabins, and Ratraco Cabins. All of these are alternatives for Travellers to Sa Pa from Ha Noi. Ratraco train is one of the best trains to Sa Pa with wooden cabins.

Friendly Carriage
Friendly train, like the Tulico train, is not a separate train, but offers soft sleepers, A/C and clean four-berth cabins in 2 carriages which go with local trains (LC5 and LC6) between Ha Noi and Lao Cai. You are provided with one bottle of water, a small snack and a napkin.

Livitrans Carriage
To serve tourist requirements, the Livitrans train is also part of a regular train with 2 carriages in SP7 and SP8 which offers A/ C, soft-sleepers and clean four-berth cabins.

TSC Carriage
The TSC Express train is wooden carriage, soft sleeper A.C cabin with soft 4 berths and two toilet at either ends. Each berth is equipped with individual reading lights, baggage storage and spacious trunk for suite case and hand luggage. The train provide also water and cold tower.

Fansipan Express Carriage
The brand new Fansipan Express train has just been introduced to operate routing Hanoi - Lao Cai - Hanoi with 4 fully decorated carriages with high standard soft sleepers with airconditioning wooden cabins. Each berth is equipped with reading lights, baggage storage, flower, mineral water and napkin.

King Express Carriage
New generation of tourist carriage runs Hanoi-Laocai-Hanoi, sister carriage with Fansipan Express. King Express train features Deluxe (4 berths).

Et Pumpkin Carriage
There are two kinds to feature on this carriage: the first called 'deluxe' wooden panelled cabins connect with SP1 and SP2 (Hanoi-Laocai-Hanoi) and the second is 'superior' croned wooden cabin. We advise you to take all the real wooden panelled cabins.

Orient Express Carriage
Another new instroduction for tourist train from Hanoi to Lao Cai and Hanoi. Donot confuse yourself with Victoria Orient Express!

Their deluxe cabin is nice and accepted with the similar standard like other tourist carriages - wooden decored, mineral water, fruit are set up on complimentary basis.

More on transfer Lao Cai station - Sapa
The Ha Noi - Lao Cai train stops at Lao Cai Station, some 40 kilometres from Sapa and stops at Sapa's main Post Office (Buu Dien). Each way cost about VND30,000-35,000.

The tourist bus back to Lao Cai leaves from outside Sapa's church, but it usually will pick you up at your hotel - inquire with the hotel staff for getting a bus ticket back to Lao Cai Station.

Train Fare (PROMO 2010)

25% off on adult's rates for children between 5 year and 12 year old for Fansipan Express Carriage only
Free of charge for children under 5 year old sharing parent's existing berths for all tourist carriages.

Special note: Since there are only two VIP cabins on Tulico and Livitrans so these cabins are often full quickly. You will be normally confirmed under either private 4 berths or private 2 berths with other two foldable and they are not real VIP. Please make sure this when you received confirmation from us to avoid confusion and frustration later.

*You may experience a last minute change without compensation from this train company for the VIP cabin - they might change you to one private 4 berth cabin claiming that cost and quality are the same but actually not as the VIP is always the nicest. We are not eager to recommend you to book this VIP cabin.

**The operation staff of King Express (especially on the way from Lao Cai to Hanoi) does change your bunk or even put the other guests into your cabin very often - this bad experience we had at least two times. We donot actively suggest you to book this carriage.

Tourist train time-table (2010)