Lao Cai, Vietnam

Lào Cai (Lao Cai) [lao kai] is a province located in the northwest region of Vietnam. It was my connecting point between Y Ty and Sapa.

As it was underdeveloped, there were not much offerings to tourists when I was there.

From Hanoi to Lào Cai

I took the Laman Express SP3 VIP 2-berth cabin from Hanoi to Lào Cai which included perks like:

• Private check-in at Mango Hotel (118 Le Duan Street) next to the Ga Hà Nội (Hanoi Station), where I relaxed in air-conditioned comfort, in an armchair while I waited for the train.
• A complimentary welcome drink, which was a small bottle of drinking water.

If your ticket is entitled to these perks, approach the hotel reception when you arrive and inform the staff your train itinerary. They would advise the time for you to return for registration, which should be about 45 minutes before your train's departure time.

If you are early and wish to roam around the area a little before your long train ride, you can request to deposit your luggage at the side of the lobby in front of the reception, at your own risk.

About 30 minutes before the train's departure time, one of the hotel staff would lead passengers through the back door of the restaurant direct to the train station, to the platform, coach and to your cabin.

The cabin had a sliding door and attempted to replicate a twin-bed hotel room, albeit a tiny one.

There was free wifi on the train and the password would be provided for access.

There was a welcome tray on the shared side table in between the 2 beds which contained bananas, chips, 3-in-1 coffee sachets and tea bags, coke, mineral water and wet wipes. There were electrical sockets to charge your mobile phones as well.

At one end of the coach, there was a toilet at one side and 2 basin bowls at the other, designed to make it feel like a hotel bathroom.

The ride from Hanoi to Lào Cai was about 8 hours. Although it took longer than the day train, the reason why I chose to take the night train was because I wanted to 'save' travelling time and on accommodation by spending the night sleeping in the train and waking up fresh and starting a brand new day, at a new location.

You can roam about in the train to the other coaches to see how the other brands/categories of coaches/cabins look like but try not to go until the staffs' cabin at the end as you may get stared at.

A train staff would come by in the morning about 30 miniutes before arrival for wake-up call and ask if you would like to have cofee or tea. They were made with 3-in-1 coffee sachets and tea bags, and chargeable at 40,000 VND each.

If you need hot water for coffee or tea in your cabin, you can use the jug kettle at the basin bowls area to boil water.

Arriving at Lào Cai

The night train from Hanoi would arrive at Ga Lào Cai (Lao Cai Station) at about 0600 hours.

As with arrival at most arrival halls, be expected to be swamped with drivers soliciting for business to take you to your next destination.

I would recommend to do your research and confirm your onward ride before arrival so that you could proceed to the waiting vehicle upon arrival and not be 'scammed' by those drivers who target tourists.

Upon arrival, I contacted the transport company, was picked up promptly and I was on my way to Y Ty.

In and Around Lào Cai

To me, Lào Cai was a quiet town and not developed for tourism yet.

There was a public bus station in front of the train station where you could take a bus to Sapa for 40,000 VND. It was the same location where the buses arrive from Sapa.

This was the border gate from Lào Cai to He Kou 河口, China. If China was open to tourists when I was there, I would have crossed over for an hour's trip and collected another stamp on my passport. 😝

Food and Beverage

When I returned to Lao Cai to apply for my permit, I had lunch, coffee and picked up a bánh pía (mung bean pastry) from random shops there.

Opposite Ga Hà Nội (Hanoi train station), there were a few shops selling food like pho (101 Lê Duẩn), banh mi and hotpot. I took a quick dinner there before my train ride to Lao Cai.

Opposite Ga Lào Cai (Lao Cai train station), there was an air-conditioned cafe named Terminus/Rock Pizza serving local fares and pizzas.

If you need a convenience store, there was a WinMart down the pavement from the side of the cafe.

There was a Hoa Hoa Bánh Mì stall on the left at about 10 o'clock from the exit of the train station.

Departing Lào Cai

After I completed my adventure in Lào Cai, Y Ty and Sapa, I took the New Livitrans Express SP4 VIP 2-berth cabin back to Hanoi.