Travel to Hekou Border and Sapa of Laocai from Kunming by Train

Being around 450 kilometers from the provincial capital Kunming(昆明), Hekou Border(河口边境) is known for its cross-culture scenery. It is also one of the most famous scenic areas in Yunnan, which can be easily reached by train. Sapa, is a frontier township and capital of Sa Pa District in Lào Cai Province in north-west Vietnam. It is one of the main market towns in the area, where several ethnic minority groups such as Hmong, Dao (Yao), Giáy, Pho Lu, and Tay live. Tourists can take the train to Hekou and change the bus to Sapa.

The Kunming-Yuxi-Hekou Railway is a national Class I railway that connects Kunming, Yuxi, and Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province. It is a mixed passenger and freight railway with both single and double track sections, forming part of the eastern route of the Pan-Asian Railway.

  • Chinese Name: 昆玉河铁路

  • Foreign Name: Kunming-Yuxi-Hekou Railway

  • Opening Date: December 1, 2014

  • Line Length: 369 km

  • Design Speed: 200 km/h

  • Operating Speed: 200 km/h

  • Railway Grade: National Class I

  • Start and End Stations: Kunming South Station (昆明南站) — Hekou North Station (河口北站)

  • Number of Stations: 25 stations

  • Cities and Prefectures Passed: Kunming (昆明市), Yuxi (玉溪市), Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture (红河哈尼族彝族自治州)

From Kunming to Hekou by Train

Please be noted, that after you have arrived at the North railway station of Hekou County, you will still need to transfer by local coach or taxi to Hekou Border. However, it is absolutely important for you to reach a deal with the driver or conductor before departure. Everyday, there will be about 4 trains departing from Kunming Railway Station to Hekou North Railway Station, and the schedule is listed as follows:

Train No. Time of Departure Duration Ticket Price
K9832 11:02 5 hr 21 mins Hard Seat-CNY 54.5  Soft Seat-CNY 86.5
K9826 12:30 6 hr 19 mins Hard Seat-CNY 54.5
K9822 15:41 5 hr 47 mins Hard Seat-CNY 54.5
K9816 22:55 7 hr 10 mins Hard Seat-CNY 54.5  Hard Sleeper-CNY 100.5

Address of Kunming Railway Station:
No.1 Beijing Road, Guandu District, Kunming City, Yunnan Province
This railway station can be reached by City Bus No.2; No.80; No.23; No.24; No.25; No.44; No.83(CNY 1 for ordinary, CNY 2 for air-conditioned), and Airport Express No.919 C (approximately CNY 13), as well as Metro Line 1(can be transferred to at Dongfeng Square Station). The taxi fare from downtown area is around CNY 15 (according to the Chinese Uber, Didi), and expected time of arrival will be around 20 mins.

Travel Tips from Hekou (河口, China) to Lao Cai (老街) and Sapa (沙巴, Vietnam)

1. From Hekou Port (河口口岸) to Lao Cai (老街) (Vietnam)

Document Preparation

Chinese Passport (中国护照) + Vietnam Visa on a separate sheet (越南另纸签) (to be processed in advance) and Electronic Approval Letter (批文电子版) (self-printed)

2 passport-sized photos with white background (白底证件照) (for Vietnam customs and visa)

Cash in RMB (人民币) (Exchanging money in Lao Cai (老街) is more favorable, but only cash is accepted)

Customs Procedures

Hekou Port (河口口岸, China): Fast processing with passport and visa, approximately 2-3 minutes.

Lao Cai Port (老街口岸, Vietnam): Use the “Chinese Citizens Only” lane to avoid mistakes; you might be asked for a small tip when exchanging the visa, but you can refuse.

Transportation

Walking (步行): Hekou Port (河口口岸) and Lao Cai Port (老街口岸) are just separated by a bridge. After clearing customs, you can walk to Lao Cai’s (老街) city center.

Shared Bikes/Public Bus (共享单车/公交): You can rent a Hello bike or take a bus from Hekou North Station (河口北站) to the port (approximately 10 minutes).

2. From Lao Cai (老街) to Sapa (沙巴)

Public Transportation

Bus (巴士): There are direct buses from Lao Cai Bus Station (老街汽车站) to Sapa (沙巴) (ticket price around 20 RMB, travel time 1 hour).

Train (火车): Take a train from Lao Cai Station (老街站) to Hanoi, then transfer to another vehicle for Sapa (沙巴) (this method is not recommended due to long travel time).

Private Car/Shared Car (包车/拼车)

The cost for a one-way private car is around 100-150 RMB (more affordable when shared among four people).

You can take a motorbike or taxi to Lao Cai Bus Station (老街汽车站) (about a 5-minute walk).

Transportation in Yunnan:

Yunnan Travel by Air

Rail Transport in Yunnan

Roads in Yunnan