Thanks to several border crossings (currently there are three in China, seven in Laos and seven in Cambodia), travelers now can enter Vietnam by train, bus, or car from Laos, Cambodia, and China. If getting in from Cambodia, people may opt to take a boat trip along the Mekong River with stunning scenery.
International trains are only available from China and it is recommended to take a bus when entering from Cambodia. Crossing from Laos by bus takes a long time with a lot of difficulty, so it is advisable to fly in from Laos.
Arriving by Train from China
Presently, passengers have three choices to get into Vietnam from China by train: a bi-weekly train connecting Beijing and Hanoi, a daily train going between Nanning and Hanoi, or 2 - 4 train services running daily that link Kunming and Hanoi. All train tickets need to be booked in advance and it is recommended get these via travel agents.
Usually the train arrives in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City at around 5:30am, which seems quite early. Remember that in Southeast Asia locals get up earlier than most Westerners do. Many taxis wait outside the station at this time, which is different from that in a Western city in the early morning. So there is no need to worry.
China Highlights, Asia Highlights, and Global Highlights collaborate to provide families and couples with personalized and stress-free experiences in diverse destinations.


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Vietnam & UAE FANTASTIC tour! Thank you Albee Ning!
Albee was INCREDIBLE. She arranged a 9-day private tour of both North and South Vietnam. No stone was left unturned: a private cruise up the Mekong; excellent hotel reservations; personal, caring tour guides; More
Consumer,
Jun 2020
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We traveled with Asia Highlights…
My husband and I had an absolutely wonderful 5 1/2 week trip that was organized by the exceptional Ruby Zhao. We have traveled a lot and Ruby is the VERY BEST AGENT we have ever had! More
Lurinda Smith Barton Barnwell,
Mar 2020
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We were.very satisfied with Asia…Four Great Weeks in China and Viet Nam
Asia Highlights was very efficient at advising us on what to see and the best routes to take, but they were also very flexible in integrating our own ideas in regard of travel destinations and accommodations. More
Eva and Jim,
Oct 2019
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Trip to Vietnam with Asia Highlights was well above expectations
My 12-day private trip to Vietnam was a very rewarding experience, and every day was fantastic, and well above expectations. My trip was perfectly well prepared and organized by Lissy Syoo from Asia Highlights, More
cdietp,
May 2019
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Repeat Customer
We traveled with China Highlights in 2015 and were completely satisfied, so when they emailed that they now were arranging trips to SE Asia we didn't even consider looking at other tour companies. More
Terry,
Feb 2019
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7-Day Vietnam Tour - Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hue, Danang/Hoi An
Asia Highlights did a great job planning and executing our family’s trip around Vietnam. We have two young girls and wanted to have a balance of sightseeing and activities so nobody got bored. More
Andrew,
Jan 2019
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We would like to thank Asia Highlights
We would like to thank Asia Highlights for a wonderful trip. Lissy was a joy to work with, in planning a vacation that took into account all our interests and was able to give us so much more than we expected. More
Victor Cognato,
Dec 2018
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Vietnam with Asia Highlights
Just returned from Vietnam trip arranged by Albee at Asia Highlights.She was very helpful with the arrangements even when I requested multiple changes in the itinerary. More
Tom,
Oct 2017
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Just came back from Vietnam/Cambodia…
Just came back from Vietnam/Cambodia trip via Asia Highlights and had a wonderful experience. The hotels they chosed for us were all very food. the guides were all very professional and spoke good English More
Yumin Zheng,
Feb 2017
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Trains Running Between Nanning/Beijing in China and Hanoi in Vietnam
Departure | Arrival | Duration | Interval | Cost |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nanning | Hanoi | 11 hours | Departs every day | $38 for a soft sleeper |
Beijing | Hanoi | 3 days and 2 nights | Departs every Thursday and Sunday from Beijing; departs every Tuesday and Friday from Hanoi. |
|
Asia Highlights' View |
|
Train Schedule from Beijing and Nangjing to Hanoi
Train Z5, runs daily, soft and hard sleepers and a restaurant | |||
---|---|---|---|
Beijing West | Depart | 15:45 Day 1 | Thurs. and Sun. |
Guilin | Depart | 11:36 Day 2 | Fri. and Mon. |
Nanning | Arrive | 15:40 Day 2 | Fri. and Mon. |
Train T8701/MR2, runs daily | | | ||
Nanning | Depart | 18:10 Day 2 | Fri. and Mon. |
Pingxiang, Chinese Border | Arrive | 22:01 Day 2 | Fri. and Mon. |
Pingxiang | Depart | 22:41 Day 2 | Fri. and Mon. |
Dong Dang, Vietnam Border | Arrive | 23:22 Day 2 | Fri. and Mon. |
Dong Dang | Depart | 01:00 Day 3 | Sat. and Tue. |
Hanoi Gia Lam Station | Arrive | 05:20 Day 3 | Sat. and Tue. |
Train Schedule from Hanoi to Nanning and Beijing
Train MR1/T8702, runs daily, soft sleepers only | |||
---|---|---|---|
Gia Lam Station, Hanoi | Depart | 21:40 Day 1 | Thurs and Sun. |
Dong Dang, Vietnam Border | Arrive | 01:55 Day 2 | Fri. and Mon. |
Dong Dang | Depart | 02:50 Day 2 | Fri. and Mon. |
Pingxiang, Chinese Border | Arrive | 04:31 Day 2 | Fri. and Mon. |
Pingxiang | Depart | 06:20 Day 2 | Fri. and Mon. |
Nanning | Arrive | 0:10 Day 2 | Fri. and Mon. |
Train MR1/T8702, runs daily, soft sleepers only | | | ||
Nanning | Depart | 11:00 Day 2 | Wed. and Sat. |
Guilin | Arrive | 14:22 Day 2 | Wed. and Sat. |
Beijing West | Arrive | 09:55 Day 3 | Thurs. and Sun |
Notes
- The train running between Nanning and Hanoi departs from Platform 16 at Nanning Railway Station.
- Passengers need to leave the train twice before midnight. The first time is at 22:30 Chinese time at the Pingxiang border to have the luggage scanned and get the Chinese exit stamp. It takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes to pass through customs at Pingxiang, the Chinese border. The second time to leave the train is at Dong Dang at around 23:30 Vietnamese time to get the Vietnam stamp and fill in the arrival card. It takes 45 minutes to clear the custom.
- Passengers need to wind the clock back 1 hours at the Vietnamese border.
- When arriving at Gia Lam Station in Hanoi in the early morning, lots of taxis will be waiting outside the station. Visitors can get breakfast near the station.
Trains Running Between Kunming in China and Hanoi in Vietnam
Actually this is a less popular route, which can be very time-consuming. The whole route consists of two parts: Kunming - Hekou (the Chinese border) and Lao Cai (Vietnamese border) - Hanoi.
1.Kunming - Hekou Port
A train ride from Kunming to Hekou takes around 6 - 7 hours. After passing through the border, passengers need to transfer to the night train running from Lao Cai to Hanoi, taking 8 hours.
Kunming Railway Station - Hekou North Railway Station | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Train No. | Departure | Arrival | Duration | Cost |
K9832 | 09:28 | 15:33 | 6 hours and 5 minutes |
Soft sleeper: USD $28 |
K9826 |
12:45 |
18:55 |
6 hours and 10 minutes |
|
K9822 |
15:45 |
21:35 |
5 hours and 50 minutes |
|
K9816 | 22:48 | 06:08 | 7 hours and 20 minutes |
2. Lao Cai - Hanoi Port
Hekou North Railway Station is about 2½ kilometers from Lao Cai, the Vietnamese border. Several train services operate between Lao Cai and Hanoi with a length of 350 kilometers, taking 8 hours. Taking a night train will make the journey shorter as sleep is the fastest way to kill the time. If time permits, visitors can start the Vietnam trip from Sapa to see the rice terraces and diverse tribal culture. It is only 40 kilometers from Lao Cai.
Hanoi - Lao Cai |
Lao Cai - Hanoi |
||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Every day |
LC3 | SP7 | SP1 | SP3 |
Every day |
LC4 | SP8 | SP2 | SP4 | ||
Hanoi | Depart | 06:10 | 20:17 | 21:40 | 22:00 | Lao Cai | Depart | 09:50 | 13:50 | 20:15 | 21:05 |
Lao Cai | Arrive | 16:00 | 04:35 | 05:30 | 06:10 | Hanoi | Arrive | 20:15 | 20:50 | 04:20 | 05:09 |
Some privately-run tourist sleeping-cars are added to the train SP2/SP4, making the trip much more comfortable. The one-way ticket costs around $30 for a quad room and $70 - $80 for a double room. The following online booking websites are helpful:
- www.baolau.vn
- www.vietnamimpressive.com
- www.vietnamstay.com
Other Connecting Trains
In the future more international railways will operate between Kunming and Southeast Asia. The Kunming - Yuxi - Mohan route is expected to be accessible in 2021, connecting China and Laos within 4 hours. The Kunming - Dali - Ruili route linking China and Myanmar will be available at the end of 2021, taking over 6 hours.
Arriving by Boat from Cambodia
It is a scenic option to take a boat or a luxury ship from Cambodia to the Mekong Delta along the river. The Vinh Xuong border near Chau Doc makes it easy and hassle free.
A perfect trip will be made by starting from Phnom Penh by ferry and traveling to Chau Doc in 4 hours. Then transfer to Can Tho and stay overnight there. The following day, rise early to visit the Cai Rang Floating Market and take in the view of local villages around the Mekong Delta. Head for Ho Chi Minh City and continue your Vietnam trip.
The other way is to take a luxury ship from Siem Reap or Laos and go southward along the river. Enjoy the natural scenery and various culture of the Mekong River for 5 - 7 days, getting a deeper insight of the area.
Visit Vietnam with Asia Highlights
Our trip advisors are glad to tailor made a Vietnam tour according to your special interests and requirements, or see our Vietnam tours.
10-Day Best of Vietnam with Mekong Delta
Why Travel with Asia Highlights (98.8% positive customer reviews among 10,000+)
- Unique experiences tailored to your interests: Enjoy a premium trip that goes beyond the typical tourist attractions.
- Hassle-free travel and peace of mind: Every aspect of your trip will be carefully planned and organized by your 1:1 travel consultant.
- Experienced and knowledgeable guides: Your guides will be local and love to work for travelers' smiles.
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At Asia Highlights, we create your kind of journey — your dates, your destinations, at your pace. You can have any trip tailor made for your travel.