Day trip from Hanoi to Lào Cai
Lào Cai lies 252 km (157 mi) north-west of Hanoi, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there.
At 252 km (157 mi) apart, Lào Cai is a realistic day trip from Hanoi: about 4 h 6 min each way by road.
| Hanoi | Lào Cai | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Vietnam | Vietnam |
| Population | 8.1 million | 130,671 |
| Elevation | 10 m (33 ft) | 86 m (282 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+7 (Asia/Bangkok) | UTC+7 (Asia/Bangkok) |
Where to book tours and tickets in Lào Cai
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Staying in Lào Cai
Live rooms and prices for Lào Cai are in the search below.
Book a hotel in Lào Cai
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Lào Cai from Hanoi?
252 km (157 mi) in a straight line, north-west of Hanoi; by road roughly 308 km (191 mi).
How long does it take to get from Hanoi to Lào Cai by road?
About 4 h 6 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Hanoi and Lào Cai?
No, both are on Asia/Bangkok at the moment.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.