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Trains between Vietnam and China

Nanning, China - Hanoi Train and Kunming - Lao Cai Train have stopped service because of the outbreak of COVID-19 and the time to resume is still unknown.
From Nanning to Hanoi, passengers can take Nanning to Pingxiang train, take a taxi to Friendship Pass to enter Vietnam there, then take a car to Hanoi.
From Kunming to Lao Cai, passengers can take a train to Hekou, take a bus to Hekou Port and enter Vietnam there.

There are two railway lines between Vietnam and China, one is Hanoi - Pingxiang - Nam Ninh (Nanning, China) line, and the other is the historical Vietnam - Yunnan line. If you would like to take the cross-border overnight train, Hanoi - Nam Ninh is the only choice. While the other route of Lao Cai - Hekou - Kunming (Vietnam - Yunnan line) is faster and more convenient.

Hanoi - Pingxiang (China) - Nanning Cross-border Train

The cross-border railway between Pingxiang, China and Hanoi, Vietnam was firstly built in 1940. In November 1951, construction of the Nanning - Pingxiang section in China started. Since the railway in Vietnam is a narrow-gauge track built by France in the past, the section from Pingxiang to Youyiguan was also paved with narrow-gauge for the convenience of docking. In this way, Pingxiang Station on the Chinese side has actually become a transfer station for the combined railway transportation between the two countries.

On August 2, 1955, the first Sino-Vietnamese international intermodal train departed from Beijing and reached Pingxiang after dozens of hours, then went all the way to Hanoi. However, at the end of the 1970s, this international railway was completely interrupted. 17 years later, on February 14, 1996, the ceremony of the restoring of China-Vietnam International Railway was held at the Pingxiang Railway Station. The Hanoi-Pingxiang-Beijing-Moscow international train shuttled back and forth, and Pingxiang Station became an important hub for the intercontinental railway transportation line from Eastern Europe to Southeast Asia.

Since the journey time for Hanoi - Beijing is too long, most of the travelers will only take the train from Hanoi to Nanning, then connect China high speed train or domestic flight from Nanning to Beijing.

The travel distance for this route is about 400km and takes around 12 hours. Only soft sleepers are set on the train, one cabin contains 4 berths, the carriages are air conditioned. Toilet, hand sink, water heater, pillow and blanket are available. The ticket fare is around USD45 one way. One thing to notice is that the train departs from Gia Lam station in Hanoi, which is a little far to the city center. Passengers need to get off the train with their luggage for immigration inspection at Dong Dang (Vietnam) and Pingxiang (China).

Previous Hanoi to Nanning Train Schedule (MR2 - T8702)

Country	Train No.	Station	Arr. Time	Dep. Time
Vietnam	MR2	Hanoi (Gia Lam)	-	21:40
		Bac Giang	23:39	23:42
		Dong Dang	03:00+	04:09
China	T8702	Pingxiang	04:41	06:31
		Chongzuo	08:10	08:16
		Nanning (Nam Ninh)	10:10	-

Previous Nanning to Hanoi Train Schedule (T8701-MR2)

Country	Train No.	Station	Arr. Time	Dep. Time
China	T8701	Nanning (Nam Ninh)	-	18:05
		Chongzuo	20:11	20:17
		Pingxiang	22:10	23:41
Vietnam	MR1	Dong Dang	00:22+	02:55
		Bac Giang	05:33	05:36
		Hanoi (Gia Lam)	06:30	-

Train 5511 from Nanning to Pingxiang

Pingxiang Railway Station is the closest railway station to Friendship Pass (友谊关 in Chinese and Huu Nghi Quan in Vietnamese) on the border between China and Vietnam.

Departure	Arrival	Duration	Ticket Fare
08:45	13:29	4H44M	hard seat only, costing CNY29.5

Pingxiang to Nanning Train Schedule: 5512

Departure	Arrival	Duration	Ticket Fare
14:49	19:28	4H39M	hard seat only, costing CNY29.5

Lao Cai (Vietnam) - Hekou (China) - Kunming (China)

Lao Cai in Vietnam and Hekou in China face each other over the Red River. The two cities are at the junction of the Red River and the Nanxi River. Hekou Port is the transportation hub of the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway, Kunhe Highway, and Red River Channel. It is the most convenient land route from southwest China to Southeast Asia and the South Pacific.

Now, travelers could cross the border at Lao Cai Vietnam to Hekou, China. From Hekou, you could take high speed train to Kunming to start your China trip, this line was developed from the historical Vietnam - Yunnan Train, which was originally built from Haiphong (Vietnam) - Kunming (China) by France during 1904-1910.

Border Opening Times (China is one hour ahead of Vietnam)

Vietnam Time: 07:00-22:00
China Time: 08:00-23:00

Timetable for Hekou North to Kunming Train

(Updated on June 21, 2024)

Train No.	Departure	Arrival	Ticket Fare
C564	08:35	05:06	CNY 96 / 91 for 2nd Class Seat CNY 154 / 145 for 1st Class Seat
C560	13:30	04:25
C554	18:42	04:33
K9604	09:00	06:39	CNY 54.5 for Hard Seat

- Last updated on Jun. 25, 2024 by Gabby Li -

Questions & Answers on Trains between Vietnam and China

Asked by Aske from DANMARK | Sep. 27, 2024 05:26

Still possible from China to Lao Cai?

Hello, me and my friend are traveling through China here in 2 months, after which we are going to Vietnam, and Sa Pa is our first stop (very close to Lao Cai) so taking the train would be perfect and an awesome experience we think. Is it still possible to do this, and what would the total price be? Do you need to get visas from home or is visa on arrival possible? We are Danish citizens. We were thinking of doing this from Guangzhou or Shanghai:)
THANKS!

Answers (1)

Answered by Emily | Sep. 28, 2024 20:11

Yes, it's possible.
Sorry I cannot tell the estimate price as your route is not clear. But the train ticket from Kunming, Yunnan to Hekou North where you can enter Lao Cai, Vietnam is CNY 96 for a second class seat. At present you need to apply for a China visa from home. But as I know, China has decided to waive visa requirements for Danish people on Sep. 27 but the effective date hasn't been announced. I think it will be soon.

Asked by paolo from ITALY | Jun. 25, 2024 11:43

train hanoi xishuangbanna

i would like to travel from Vietnam to China by train or bus, is this possible?
I saw that a visa is not required until the end of 2024, I am a European citizen

Answers (1)

Answered by Daniel | Jun. 25, 2024 20:38

It's possible. You can travel to Lao Cai landport and go through the checks there to Hekou, Yunnan Province, China, then take a taxi to Hekou North Railway Station to take a train to Yuzi then transfer to a train to Xishuangbanma.

Not all Europeans are free of visa. But you as an Italian can indeed stay in China for up to 15 days without a visa.

Asked by Leo from GERMANY | May. 03, 2024 10:44

What kind of Visa could be used for cross Vietnam to China via Dong Dang?

WE are traveling from europa to hanoi and after week vocation there, we would like to travel by train from hanoi to Nanning/China. I have heard that Dong Dang does not accept Vietnam E-Visa，what kind of Visa should be applied for entering Vienam by flight to Hanoi and leaving through Dong Dang then? We are chinese living however in europa.

Answers (1)

Answered by Randy | May. 07, 2024 18:17

If flying to Vietnam, 13 international airports accept e-visa and then you can leave through Dong Dang border.

Asked by Roland from UNITED KINGDOM | Mar. 04, 2024 02:11

Is the Lao Cai /Hekou border open?

I am thinking of crossing from Lao Cai to Hekou next month and then take the high speed train to Kunming and then to Xishuangbanna for the Water Splashing Festival.

Answers (2)

Answered by Sarah | Mar. 05, 2024 19:55

Yes, it is open.

Answered by Roland | Mar. 06, 2024 06:19

Thanks Sarah!✊🌹

Asked by Chris from USA | Dec. 18, 2023 00:44

Board at Dong Dang

I would like to visit Lang Son first. Is it possible to board the train at Dong Dang by paying full fare?

Answers (1)

Answered by Jessica | Dec. 18, 2023 21:50

As I know, the train has not resumed yet.