Day trip from Sơn La to Lào Cai
Lào Cai lies 129 km (80 mi) north of Sơn La, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there.
At 129 km (80 mi) apart, Lào Cai is a realistic day trip from Sơn La: about 2 h 6 min each way by road.
| Sơn La | Lào Cai | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Vietnam | Vietnam |
| Population | 106,052 | 130,671 |
| Elevation | 608 m (1,995 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 Sơn La?
129 km (80 mi) in a straight line, north of Sơn La; by road roughly 157 km (98 mi).
How long does it take to get from Sơn La to Lào Cai by road?
About 2 h 6 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Sơn La 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.