There are 5 ways to get from Chiang Rai to Lào Cai by plane, bus, or train
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly, bus
best- Fly from Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport (CEI) to Noi Bai International Airport (HAN)plane CEI - HAN
- Take the bus from Hanoi Airport to Sapabus
12h 19m$158–233Local Bus, bus, train
cheapest- Take the bus from Chiang Rai to Chiang khongbus
- Take the bus from Huay Xai - Bokeo Station to Oudomxaybus
- Take the bus from Oudomxay to My Dinh bus stationbus
- Take the train from Ha Noi to Sapa Lao Caitrain
40h 50m$44–110Local Bus, bus, train via Kunming South
- Take the bus from Chiang Rai to Chiang khongbus
- Take the bus from Huay Xai - Bokeo Station to Oudomxaybus
- Take the train from Oudomxay station to Kunming Southtrain
- Take the train from Kunming South to Honghetrain
- Take the train from Mengzi to Hekou Northtrain
22h 27m$71–196Local Bus, bus
- Take the bus from Chiang Rai to Chiang khongbus
- 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
37h 34m$54–123Local Bus, Minivan, bus
- Take the bus from Chiang Rai to Chiang khongbus
- Take the bus from Huay Xai - Bokeo Station to Luang Prabang - Naluang Stationbus
- Take the bus from Luang Prabang Southern Station to Ha Noi Nuoc Ngam Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Hanoi Hoan Kiem to Sapabus
2d 1h$95–161
Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport (CEI) to Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Chiang Rai to Lào Cai is to Local Bus and bus and train which costs $40 - $110 and takes 40h 50m.
The fastest way to get from Chiang Rai to Lào Cai is to fly and bus which takes 12h 19m and costs $150 - $240.
No, there is no direct bus from Chiang Rai to Lào Cai. However, there are services departing from Chiang Rai and arriving at Lao Cai via Huay Xai - Bokeo Station, Oudomxay, My Dinh bus station and Sapa. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 37h 34m.
The distance between Chiang Rai and Lào Cai is 958 km.
It takes approximately 12h 19m to get from Chiang Rai to Lào Cai, including transfers.
Chiang Rai to Lào Cai bus services, operated by Local Bus Thailand, depart from Chiang Rai station.
Chiang Rai to Lào Cai bus services, operated by Local Bus Thailand, arrive at Chiang khong station.
There are 739+ hotels available in Lào Cai.
What companies run services between Chiang Rai, Thailand and Lào Cai, Vietnam?
You can take a bus from Chiang Rai to Lao Cai via Chiang khong, Huay Xai - Bokeo Station, Oudomxay, My Dinh bus station, Sapa bus station, and Sapa in around 37h 34m.
- Website
- vietjetair.com
Flights from Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport to Noi Bai International Airport via Suvarnabhumi
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 45m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–370
- Website
- thaiairways.com
Flights from Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport to Noi Bai International Airport via Suvarnabhumi
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 7m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $170–440
- Website
- airasia.com
Flights from Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport to Noi Bai International Airport via Don Muang
- Ave. Duration
- 5h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–210
- Website
- vietnamairlines.com
Flights from Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport to Noi Bai International Airport via Suvarnabhumi
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–390
- Website
- ethiopianairlines.com
Flights from Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport to Noi Bai International Airport via Suvarnabhumi
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 50m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $300–1,100
- Phone
- 021-891888
- Website
- facebook.com
Train from Oudomxay station to Kunming South
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 50m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $40–120
- Schedules at
- baolau.com
- Book at
- booking.baolau.com
- Second Class
- $40–75
- First Class
- $60–120
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
- $7–10
- Soft sleeper
- $12–16
- 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
- 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
Bus from Chiang Rai to Chiang khong
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $2
Bus from Chiang Rai to Chiang khong
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $2
Bus from Chiang Rai to Chiang khong
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $2
Bus from Chiang Rai to Chiang khong
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $2
- Website
- asocialnomad.com
Bus from Huay Xai - Bokeo Station to Oudomxay
- Ave. Duration
- 5h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $3–23
- Schedules at
- asocialnomad.com
Bus from Huay Xai - Bokeo Station to Oudomxay
- Ave. Duration
- 5h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $3–23
- Schedules at
- asocialnomad.com
Bus from Huay Xai - Bokeo Station to Oudomxay
- Ave. Duration
- 5h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $3–23
- Schedules at
- asocialnomad.com
- 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
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
- 856071212979
Bus from Huay Xai - Bokeo Station to Luang Prabang - Naluang Station
- Ave. Duration
- 11h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $35–55
- Book at
- https://12go.asia/en/operator/naluang
- 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
- https://12go.asia/en/operator/htx-van-tai-277?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwvvmzBhA2EiwAtHVrbyVCwiIJkYBSBEFUd1FJU61B0rS24DSIQh33R30_tD4ol7fHPWFbjxoCybMQAvD_BwE
- Phone
- 1900 6746
- [email protected]
- Website
- xesaoviet.com.vn
Bus from Hanoi Hoan Kiem to Sapa
- Ave. Duration
- 6h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $13–18
- Schedules at
- xesaoviet.com.vn
- Book at
- baolau.com
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