Trains from Hanoi to Sapa
Famous for colourful hill tribe minorities, mild weather and forested mountains, Sapa is a popular place for eco-tourism that attracts hikers and backpackers. Even though the city is indeed accessed by road, many people opt for an 8-hour scenic ride along a railway.
Most travellers board an overnight train in Hanoi and get off at Lao Cai where they take a bus or a car transfer to Sapa – the distance between Lao Cai and Sapa is 40 kilometres (90 minute drive). The train, which is called ‘Tulico’ train, offers comfortable, air-conditioned soft sleepers while the LC5 and LC6 train has air-conditioned 4-berth soft class, 6-bunk hard class sleepers and several deluxe sleeping cars. The fare ranges from 21 to 50 USD depending on the class of the sleepers.
In addition, Victoria Orient Express has the most luxurious cabins with two stylish sleeping cars and its own restaurant. It is the best train in terms of comfort and services. The train is actually part of the LC5 and LC6 train. Affiliated with Victoria Hotel Group, the train fare comes in a package that usually includes accommodation at the Victoria Sapa Resort, transfer, meals between the train station and the resorts and sightseeing tours in Sapa. The all-inclusive superior class package costs about 316 USD per person while the return train ticket for superior sleeper starts from 120 to 155 USD per person, depending on the day of travel.
China (Beijing, Kunming) - Hanoi
As of 2006, travellers can take a train from Beijing in China to Hanoi. The train enters Vietnam at the border town of Dong Dang of Lang Son Province. Alternatively, some travellers take an overnight bus from Kunming to the Chinese frontier at Hekou, cross the border to Lao Cai in Vietnam and hire a taxi to Lao Cai City before taking an overnight sleeper train to Hanoi. This route is a bit rough and more popular among backpackers.
Cambodia (Phnom Penh) – Ho Chi Minh
On the southern part, you can go to Ho Chi Minh from Phnom Penh, Cambodia. There is a bus leaving from the city centre in Phnom Penh to the border town of Moc Bai to Ho Chi Minh. The road on this route is bumpy in some parts and the trip takes about 6 to 7 hours. Travellers can take this border-crossing trip in a more leisure way by taking a boat on the Mekhong River from Phnom Penh. The whole trip may take a few days but it gives you an opportunity to see a simple way of life of people in both countries.
Laos – Hue and Danang
There is a road that connects central part of Vietnam and Laos. More travellers reach Danang via Savannaket Province of Laos. The route, which is normally used by locals, now becomes more popular among travellers who travel from Mukdaharn Province in north eastern Thailand via Savannaket and cross the border at Lao Bao in Vietnam before going to Dong Ha, Hue, Danang and Hoi An.
Before you enter Vietnam via overland trips, be sure that you go to the border town that is specified in your Vietnam visa as your ‘point of entry’.
