There are 9 ways to get from Chiang Mai to Lào Cai by plane, bus, train, or car
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly to Noi Bai International Airport, bus
best- Fly from Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) to Noi Bai International Airport (HAN)plane CNX - HAN
- Take the bus from Hanoi Airport to Sapabus
9h 29m$116–252Bus, train #2
cheapest- Take the bus from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabangbus
- Take the bus from Luang Prabang Southern Station to Ha Noi Nuoc Ngam Bus Stationbus
- Take the train from Ha Noi to Sapa Lao Caitrain
2d 6h$65–213Bus, train via Kunming South
- Take the bus from Chaing Mai Arcade Bus Terminal to Nong Khaibus
- Take the train from Vientiane station to Kunming Southtrain
- Take the train from Kunming South to Honghetrain
- Take the train from Mengzi to Hekou Northtrain
28h 18m$137–249Bus
- Take the bus from Chiang Mai to Chiangkhongbus
- Take the bus from Huay Xai - Bokeo Station to Oudomxaybus
- Take the bus from Oudomxay to My Dinh bus stationbus
- Take the bus from My Dinh bus station to Sapa bus stationbus
41h 14m$70–146Drive 1,019.6 km
- Drive from Chiang Mai to Lào Caicar 1,019.6 km
15h 58m$119–171Fly to Kunming Changshui International Airport, train
- Fly from Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) to Kunming Changshui International Airport (KMG)plane CNX - KMG
- Take the train from Kunming Station to Hekou Northtrain
10h 15m$175–304Fly to Wenshan Puzhehei Airport, drive
- Fly from Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) to Wenshan Puzhehei Airport (WNH)plane CNX - WNH
- Drive from Wenshan Puzhehei Airport (WNH) to Lào Caicar
12h 28m$167–485Fly to Dien Bien Phu Airport, drive
- Fly from Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) to Dien Bien Phu Airport (DIN)plane CNX - DIN
- Drive from Dien Bien Phu Airport (DIN) to Lào Caicar
10h 38m$185–473Bus, train
- Take the bus from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabangbus
- Take the bus from Luang Prabang Naluang Terminal to Hanoibus
- Take the train from Ha Noi to Sapa Lao Caitrain
2d 5h$84–247
Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) to Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Chiang Mai to Lào Cai is to bus which costs $70 - $150 and takes 41h 14m.
The fastest way to get from Chiang Mai to Lào Cai is to fly and bus which takes 9h 29m and costs $110 - $260.
No, there is no direct bus from Chiang Mai to Lào Cai. However, there are services departing from Chiang Mai and arriving at Lao Cai via Huay Xai - Bokeo Station, Oudomxay, My Dinh bus station and Sapa. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 41h 14m.
The distance between Chiang Mai and Lào Cai is 1081 km. The road distance is 1019.6 km.
The best way to get from Chiang Mai to Lào Cai without a car is to bus and train which takes 2 days 5h and costs $80 - $250.
It takes approximately 9h 29m to get from Chiang Mai to Lào Cai, including transfers.
Chiang Mai to Lào Cai bus services, operated by Greenbus Thailand, depart from Chiang Mai station.
Chiang Mai to Lào Cai bus services, operated by Greenbus Thailand, arrive at Chiangkhong station.
Yes, the driving distance between Chiang Mai to Lào Cai is 1020 km. It takes approximately 15h 58m to drive from Chiang Mai to Lào Cai.
There are 745+ hotels available in Lào Cai.
What companies run services between Chiang Mai, Thailand and Lào Cai, Vietnam?
You can take a bus from Chiang Mai to Lao Cai via Chiangkhong, Huay Xai - Bokeo Station, Oudomxay, My Dinh bus station, Sapa bus station, and Sapa in around 41h 14m.
- Website
- vietnamairlines.com
Flights from Chiang Mai International Airport to Dien Bien Phu Airport via Noi Bai International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 45m
- When
- Monday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $150–430
Flights from Chiang Mai International Airport to Dien Bien Phu Airport via Suvarnabhumi, Noi Bai International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 37m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $190–600
Flights from Chiang Mai International Airport to Dien Bien Phu Airport via Don Muang, Noi Bai International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $200–550
Flights from Chiang Mai International Airport to Dien Bien Phu Airport via Kunming Changshui International Airport, Noi Bai International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 55m
- When
- Monday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $220–700
- Website
- en.ceair.com
Flights from Chiang Mai International Airport to Kunming Changshui International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 48m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $160–240
- Website
- chinaexpressair.com
Flights from Chiang Mai International Airport to Wenshan Puzhehei Airport via Chongqing
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 35m
- When
- Sunday
- Estimated price
- $130–600
Flights from Chiang Mai International Airport to Wenshan Puzhehei Airport via Kunming Changshui International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 18h 50m
- When
- Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $140–450
- Website
- airasia.com
Flights from Chiang Mai International Airport to Noi Bai International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 35m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $100–230
- Website
- laoairlines.com
Flights from Chiang Mai International Airport to Noi Bai International Airport via Luang Prabang
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 15m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $150–340
- Phone
- 021-891888
- Website
- facebook.com
Train from Vientiane station to Kunming South
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 34m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $65–140
- Schedules at
- baolau.com
- Book at
- booking.baolau.com
- Second Class
- $65–90
- First Class
- $85–140
Train from Kunming South to Honghe
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 8m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $12–23
- Schedules at
- chinahighlights.com
- Adult - 2nd Class
- $12–17
- Adult - 1st Class
- $16–23
Train from Mengzi to Hekou North
- Hard Seat
- $3–5
- Hard sleeper
- $7–11
- Soft sleeper
- $12–16
Train from Kunming Station to Hekou North
- Hard Seat
- $7–10
- Hard sleeper
- $14–19
- Soft sleeper
- $22–30
- Phone
- 19006469
- [email protected]
- Website
- dsvn.vn
Train from Ha Noi to Sapa Lao Cai
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 45m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $10–26
- Schedules at
- dsvn.vn
- Soft seat, air-conditioned
- $14–21
- Bed, air-conditioned
- $11–16
- soft seat, air-conditioned
- $10–15
Train from Ha Noi to Sapa Lao Cai
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 45m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $10–26
- Schedules at
- dsvn.vn
- Soft seat, air-conditioned
- $14–21
- Bed, air-conditioned
- $11–16
- soft seat, air-conditioned
- $10–15
- Phone
- 19001137
- [email protected]
- Website
- interbuslines.com
Bus from Hanoi Airport to Sapa
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 30m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $13–14
- Schedules at
- booking.baolau.com
- Book at
- baolau.com
- Phone
- 084-2626003
- Website
- easybook.com
Bus from Chaing Mai Arcade Bus Terminal to Nong Khai
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $40–55
- Book at
- 12go.asia
- Phone
- +66 5326 6480
- [email protected]
- Website
- Green Bus Thailand
Bus from Chiang Mai to Chiangkhong
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 40m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $18–26
- Book at
- 12 Go
- Website
- Green Bus Thailand
- Website
- Huay Xai Transport
Bus from Huay Xai - Bokeo Station to Oudomxay
- Ave. Duration
- 5h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $3–23
- Schedules at
- Huay Xai Transport
- Phone
- +84 91 442 57 88
- [email protected]
- Website
- vietlaobus.com
Bus from Oudomxay to My Dinh bus station
- Ave. Duration
- 21h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $23–50
- Schedules at
- vietlaobus.com
- Phone
- 19006776
- [email protected]
- Website
- bookaway.com
Bus from My Dinh bus station to Sapa bus station
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 45m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $22–28
- Book at
- 12go.asia
- Phone
- 1490
- [email protected]
- Website
- ฺBor Kor Sor
Bus from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang
- Ave. Duration
- 18h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $13–130
- Book at
- 12go.asia
- Website
- ฺBor Kor Sor
Bus from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang
- Ave. Duration
- 18h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $13–130
- Book at
- 12go.asia
- Website
- ฺBor Kor Sor
- Phone
- 856071212979
Bus from Luang Prabang Naluang Terminal to Hanoi
- Ave. Duration
- 26h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $60–100
- Book at
- 12 Go
- Website
- 12go.asia
Bus from Luang Prabang Southern Station to Ha Noi Nuoc Ngam Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 25h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $40–65
- Book at
- HTX Van Tai 277
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