There are 7 ways to get from Lào Cai to Chiang Rai by bus, plane, train, ferry, 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.
Bus, fly to Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport
best- Take the bus from Lao Cai to Hanoi Airportbus
- Fly from Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) to Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport (CEI)plane HAN - CEI
11h 44m฿4,849–8,294Train, ferry, Local Bus
cheapest- Take the train from Hekou North to Kunmingtrain
- Take the train from Kunming South to Luang Prabang stationtrain
- Take the ferry from Luang Prabang to Huay Xaiferry
- Take the bus from Chiang khong to Chiang Raibus
27h 46m฿2,804–6,353Train, Local Speedboat, drive, bus
- Take the train from Hekou North to Kunmingtrain
- Take the train from Kunming South to Luang Prabang stationtrain
- Take the ferry from Luang Prabang to Pakbengferry
- Drive from Pakbeng to Chiang Khong Bordercar
- Take the bus from Chiang Khong Border to Chiang Rai Town Transferbus
25h 19m฿4,199–8,078Bus, Minivan, Local Bus
- Take the bus from Lao Cai to Hanoi Hoan Kiembus
- Take the bus from Ha Noi Nuoc Ngam Bus Station to Luang Prabang Southern Stationbus
- Take the bus from Luang Prabang - Naluang Station to Huay Xai - Bokeo Stationbus
- Take the bus from Chiang khong to Chiang Raibus
2d฿3,507–4,540Bus, fly to Chiang Mai International Airport
- Take the bus from Lao Cai to Hanoi Airportbus
- Fly from Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) to Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX)plane HAN - CNX
- Take the bus from Chiang Mai K star Travel to Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 1bus
13h 54m฿4,179–9,284Bus
- Take the bus from Lao Cai to Hanoi Hoan Kiembus
- Take the bus from Hanoi Old Quarter to Northern Bus Station, Ban Naluangbus
- Take the bus from Sokprasert Bus Terminal to Chiang Rai Transferbus
2d 5h฿3,763–4,689Train, bus
- Take the train from Sapa Lao Cai to Ha Noitrain
- Take the bus from Hanoi to Northern Bus Station, Ban Naluangbus
- Take the bus from Sokprasert Bus Terminal to Chiang Rai Transferbus
2d 6h฿3,668–4,952
Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) to Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport (CEI) flights
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Lào Cai to Chiang Rai is to train and ferry and Local Bus which costs ฿2800 - ฿6500 and takes 27h 46m.
The fastest way to get from Lào Cai to Chiang Rai is to bus and fly which takes 11h 44m and costs ฿4800 - ฿8500.
No, there is no direct bus from Lào Cai to Chiang Rai. However, there are services departing from Lao Cai and arriving at Chiang Rai via Hanoi Old Quarter, Ha Noi Nuoc Ngam Bus Station, Luang Prabang - Naluang Station and Chiang khong. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2 days 0h.
The distance between Lào Cai and Chiang Rai is 904 km.
The best way to get from Lào Cai to Chiang Rai without a car is to bus which takes 2 days 5h and costs ฿3700 - ฿4700.
It takes approximately 11h 44m to get from Lào Cai to Chiang Rai, including transfers.
Lào Cai to Chiang Rai bus services, operated by Sao Viet, depart from Lao Cai station.
Lào Cai to Chiang Rai bus services, operated by Sao Viet, arrive at Hanoi Hoan Kiem station.
Book your Lào Cai to Chiang Rai bus tickets online with 12go.asia.
There are 408+ hotels available in Chiang Rai.
What companies run services between Lào Cai, Vietnam and Chiang Rai, Thailand?
You can take a bus from Lao Cai to Chiang Rai via Hanoi Hoan Kiem, Hanoi Old Quarter, Ha Noi Nuoc Ngam Bus Station, Luang Prabang - Naluang Station, Huay Xai - Bokeo Station, and Chiang khong in around 2d.
- Website
- airasia.com
Flights from Noi Bai International Airport to Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport via Don Muang
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 2m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ฿4,100–7,500
Flights from Noi Bai International Airport to Chiang Mai International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 40m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ฿3,000–7,000
Flights from Noi Bai International Airport to Chiang Mai International Airport via Don Muang
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ฿3,000–7,000
- Website
- thaiairways.com
Flights from Noi Bai International Airport to Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport via Suvarnabhumi
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 6m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ฿3,900–13,000
- Website
- vietjetair.com
Flights from Noi Bai International Airport to Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport via Suvarnabhumi
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ฿3,300–10,000
Train from Hekou North to Kunming
- Hard Seat
- ฿240–320
- Hard sleeper
- ฿470–650
- Soft sleeper
- ฿750–1,000
Train from Hekou North to Kunming
- Hard Seat
- ฿240–320
- Hard sleeper
- ฿470–650
- Soft sleeper
- ฿750–1,000
- Phone
- 021-891888
- Website
- facebook.com
Train from Kunming South to Luang Prabang station
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 41m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ฿1,700–4,600
- Schedules at
- baolau.com
- Second Class
- ฿1,700–2,900
- First Class
- ฿2,300–4,600
Train from Kunming South to Luang Prabang station
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 41m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ฿1,700–4,600
- Schedules at
- baolau.com
- Second Class
- ฿1,700–2,900
- First Class
- ฿2,300–4,600
- Phone
- 19006469
- [email protected]
- Website
- dsvn.vn
Train from Sapa Lao Cai to Ha Noi
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 32m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ฿360–900
- Schedules at
- dsvn.vn
- Soft seat, air-conditioned
- ฿500–750
- Bed, air-conditioned
- ฿380–550
- soft seat, air-conditioned
- ฿360–500
- Phone
- 1900 6746
- [email protected]
- Website
- xesaoviet.com.vn
Bus from Lao Cai to Hanoi Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 24m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- ฿400–650
- Schedules at
- xesaoviet.com.vn
- Book at
- baolau.com
Bus from Lao Cai to Hanoi Hoan Kiem
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 1m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- ฿450–650
- Schedules at
- xesaoviet.com.vn
- Book at
- baolau.com
Bus from Lao Cai to Hanoi Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 24m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- ฿400–650
- Schedules at
- xesaoviet.com.vn
- Book at
- baolau.com
Bus from Lao Cai to Hanoi Hoan Kiem
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 1m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- ฿450–650
- Schedules at
- xesaoviet.com.vn
- Book at
- baolau.com
- Phone
- +66 2 225 1025
- [email protected]
- Website
- Pai Friendly Tour
Bus from Chiang Khong Border to Chiang Rai Town Transfer
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 12m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ฿910
- Website
- Pai Friendly Tour
Bus from Chiang Mai K star Travel to Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 1
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ฿650
- Website
- Pai Friendly Tour
- Website
- 12go.asia
Bus from Ha Noi Nuoc Ngam Bus Station to Luang Prabang Southern Station
- Ave. Duration
- 25h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ฿1,400–2,200
- Book at
- HTX Van Tai 277
- Phone
- 856071212979
Bus from Luang Prabang - Naluang Station to Huay Xai - Bokeo Station
- Ave. Duration
- 11h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ฿1,453
- Book at
- 12 Go
Bus from Chiang khong to Chiang Rai
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- ฿65
Bus from Chiang khong to Chiang Rai
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- ฿65
- Phone
- +84 91 442 57 88
- [email protected]
- Website
- vietlaobus.com
Bus from Hanoi Old Quarter to Northern Bus Station, Ban Naluang
- Ave. Duration
- 26h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ฿850–1,600
- Schedules at
- vietlaobus.com
Bus from Hanoi to Northern Bus Station, Ban Naluang
- Ave. Duration
- 25h 57m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ฿850–1,600
- Schedules at
- vietlaobus.com
- Phone
- +66 2 285 1085
- [email protected]
- Website
- 12go.co
Bus from Sokprasert Bus Terminal to Chiang Rai Transfer
- Ave. Duration
- 19h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ฿2,375
- Book at
- Yortdoy Travel
Bus from Sokprasert Bus Terminal to Chiang Rai Transfer
- Ave. Duration
- 19h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ฿2,375
- Book at
- Yortdoy Travel
- Website
- hobomaps.com
Ferry from Luang Prabang to Pakbeng
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ฿301
- Schedules at
- hobomaps.com
- Website
- asocialnomad.com
Ferry from Luang Prabang to Huay Xai
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 45m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ฿421
- Schedules at
- facebook.com
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