Driving from Ho Chi Minh City to Lào Cai
Lào Cai lies 1,327 km (825 mi) north of Ho Chi Minh City, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there.
Driving takes about 20 h 14 min without stops, over roughly 1,619 km (1,006 mi) of road; add breaks, fuel and any border.
| Ho Chi Minh City | Lào Cai | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Vietnam | Vietnam |
| Population | 14 million | 130,671 |
| Elevation | 7 m (23 ft) | 86 m (282 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+7 (Asia/Ho_Chi_Minh) | UTC+7 (Asia/Bangkok) |
Where to book car hire from Ho Chi Minh City to 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 Ho Chi Minh City?
1,327 km (825 mi) in a straight line, north of Ho Chi Minh City; by road roughly 1,619 km (1,006 mi).
How long does it take to get from Ho Chi Minh City to Lào Cai by car?
About 20 h 14 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Ho Chi Minh City and Lào Cai?
No, both are on the same offset 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.