The city was partly destroyed in 1979 during the Sino-Vietnamese war. A "punitive" war inflicted on Vietnam by China. The communist big brother wanted to curb the growing influence of the Soviet Union in this region of Asia after Vietnam's invasion of Cambodia.

"Lao Cai terminus, everybody off! »

Lao Cai is the terminus of the railway line that leaves the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi. Several trains, day and night, operate this connection. Travelers like to use this railway line with the night train and in sleeper cabins to get to and from Sapa and Bac Ha. The journey takes about 8 hours, saving you valuable time and providing a picturesque travel experience. From the Lao Cai railway station, you have only one hour's transfer by vehicle via a beautiful mountain road to the Sapa mountain resort. It takes about two hours to reach the mountain village of Bac Ha where an extraordinary ethnic market is held every Saturday and Sunday.

Since the implementation of a highway, it is now possible to reach Hanoi from Lao Cai by comfortable bus or by car in about 5 hours.

Lao Cai, border crossing with China

Located about 300 kilometres from Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, the city of Lao Cai, capital of the eponymous province, is one of the main land border crossings with China, facing the Hekou border in Yunnan. The Red River serves as the natural border between China and Vietnam at this location. If your trip to Vietnam continues to China, you can use this border crossing and take the train or bus to Kunming for example, the capital of Yunnan.