Facts about the transport from Lao Cai to Ninh Binh
Cheapest Transport
$14
Fastest Transport
5h 15m
Earliest Departure
12:00 AM
Latest Departure
11:00 PM
Departures per day
566
Distance
263 kilometers
Transport Companies
Duc Duong Bus, Full Moon Party Tour, Grouptour, HK Open Tour, Ket Doan Travel, Luxury Van Limousine, Ninh Binh Footprint, OUROS Travel, Saigon DMC, Sapa Discovery Travel, Sapa Ethnic Travel, Techbus VN JSC, Vietnam Easy Go Travel, Vietnam Luxury Travel, Vietnam Railways, VTS
Lao Cai to Ninh Binh Destination Reviews
RB
Robert B
Bus left on time, but we arrived in Tam Coc at 4:45am (2 hours earlier than indicated on 12goAsia).
This review was autotranslated
Bus fuhr pünktlich ab, aber wir kamen um 4:45Uhr (2h früher als auf 12goAsia angegeben) in Tam Coc an.
Bus Sleeper 40, Techbus VN JSC (Techbus Vietnam Joint stock company), Mar 8, 2024
KG
Katharina G
We booked a VIP bus ticket, but in the end everyone who had a bus leaving Sapa to Ninh Binh between 9 and 10 pm was put on the same bus leaving at 9.25. The driver drove like a mad man and we arrived more than 2 hours earlier than planned in the middle of the night in Tam Coc (not good if there is no one there at the guesthouse yet). We did not make any toilet break during the 6 hours drive and the people from the bus were unbelievably rude - yelling at us when we were not fast enough entering the bus, slapping my feet with a flip flop, drawing the curtains and turning on the private light at my seat half an hour before we arrived, ... I had the feeling they were on drugs. No idea why they operate like that - and why the authorities are not doing anything against it. Never again.
Bus VIP Sleeper 34, Techbus VN JSC (Techbus Vietnam Joint stock company), Dec 25, 2023
XD
Xuan D
We booked tickets from Sa Pa to Ninh Binh, departure was supposed to be at 12:20. We arrived at the indicated address at 12 and they told us to wait. At 12:30 we asked if the bus was delayed and they told us that it would depart at 1pm.
At 1:10pm they told us that the bus was broken and that we needed to wait until 4:30pm, in a different location.
Then the departure was actually at 4:40pm (delayed again), the "luxury sleeper bus" was very smelly (like a strong smell of feet mixed with cigarettes). The driver wasa not friendly at all, almost rude.
We were originally supposed to arrive in Ninh Binh at 9:20pm, but we arrived at 1am and we had to ask for a late check-in at the hotel.
Furthermore, the arrival stop in Nimh Binh is really far from the city center (there are no stop in town) so take this into consideration when booking the same route
Bus VIP Sleeper 34, Techbus VN JSC (Techbus Vietnam Joint stock company), Dec 23, 2023
MP
Margalida P
In the schedule it said the bus was leaving at 21:45h. I was lucky to be there at 21, because the bus was leaving at 21:15h. Moreover, it was supposed to arrive to destination around 6:30am (even the worker in the office was telling us that)... at 3:30am we were told to get off the bus, so we couldn't plan to spend the night anywhere in advance and we had to knock some hostels doors to have a place to sleep.
LET US KNOW THE CORRECT SCHEDULES!
Bus Sleeper 40, Techbus VN JSC (Techbus Vietnam Joint stock company), Dec 20, 2023
EM
Ellie M
Same as all other terrible reviews. Stopped for hours mid route not sure what to do, but our luggage ended up on the roof which would have been disastrous if it had rained. Staff physically shoving you down the bus and shouting at you. Despite getting confirmation from the helpline that we were definitely getting dropped at ninh binh central hotel, ended up getting kicked out at tam coc bus station 1.5hrs before arrival time so 4.30am. I guess it got us from A to nearly B but it was far from pleasant, but we expected all of this from reading reviews which made it a little easier to deal with
Bus VIP Sleeper 34, Techbus VN JSC (Techbus Vietnam Joint stock company), Nov 15, 2023
FM
Francesco M
I had the sleeping bus almost only for me, it was quite empty and i got the 5 seats at the end only for me, was excellent so
Bus Sleeper 40, Techbus VN JSC (Techbus Vietnam Joint stock company), Nov 2, 2023
S
Sandra
SCAM. After arriving at the bus station and showing the two tickets in VIP class we are told that we have to wait for the next bus. After 10 minutes they told us to get on the bus that was there. They literally put my partner in the first bunk (because to say cabin is too long) and they took me among people who were lying on the floor of the bus to another bunk that was already occupied. They put me there and the man who was inside on the floor. The bus was full of people on the floor in deplorable conditions. The photos on their website are far from the reality.
If you want to take a bus I recommend Bookaway and the company Sao Viet in vip cabin.
This review was autotranslated
ESTAFA. Tras llegar a la estación de buses y enseñar los dos tickets en clase vip nos dicen que tenemos que esperar al próximo bus. A los 10 minutos nos comentan que nos subamos en el bus que estaba allí. Literalmente metieron a mi pareja en el primer camastro (porque decir cabina se queda largo) y a mí me llevan entre gente que había tirada en el suelo del autobús a otro camastro que estaba ya ocupado. Me metieron a mí ahí y al hombre que estaba dentro en el suelo. El autobús iba plagado de gente por el suelo en condiciones deplorables. Las fotos de su página web distan bastante de la realidad.
Si quieres coger bus recomiendo la página de Bookaway y la compañía Sao Viet en cabina vip.
Bus VIP Sleeper 34, Techbus VN JSC (Techbus Vietnam Joint stock company), Oct 22, 2023
JM
Jesus M
The bus doesn’t have toilet, and that’s is a very big problem. Threre are so much stops and we don’t can go to the toilet.
poor communication, had to change bus without bèing told why even though the bus also went to the same destination, over crowded people sleeping on the floor
Bus Sleeper 40, Techbus VN JSC (Techbus Vietnam Joint stock company), Mar 5, 2023
Travelling between Lao Cai and Ninh Binh is possible by Bus, train, van and taxi. Taxi guarantees the fastest travel on this route. Bus is the slowest option.
The most expensive ticket will cost you USD 279.66 if you go by taxi; to keep it budget-friendly, opt for a bus which will set you back mere USD 13.53.
How long does it take to get from Lao Cai to Ninh Binh?
It can take you anywhere between 6 and 12 hours to travel between Lao Cai and Ninh Binh depending on the means of transport you choose.
Taxi is the fastest way to travel between Lao Cai and Ninh Binh. Taxi will bring you to your destination in 5h 15m. Bus does a much slower job and take about 12h to reach Ninh Binh.
How much does it cost to get from Lao Cai to Ninh Binh?
Travelling between Lao Cai and Ninh Binh can be as cheap as USD 13.53 if you opt for a Techbus VN JSC (Techbus Vietnam Joint stock company) bus and as expensive as USD 279.66 if you buy a OUROS Travel taxi ticket.
Here is the list of how much you can expect to pay travelling by each means of transport available for this route.
How many trips per day are there between Lao Cai and Ninh Binh ?
555 from Lao Cai to Ninh Binh starting from 00:00 Sapa SSB until 23:00 Tram dung nghi Coc San
11 from Lao Cai to Ninh Binh starting from 00:00 Sapa until 00:00 Sapa
Check above for a bus, train, flight and ferry timetable from Lao Cai to Ninh Binh.
What mode of transportation is the best one for my route?
Bus
Travelling from Lao Cai to Ninh Binh overland will inevitably take longer but in many cases it is the cheapest option if you opt for a bus.
Things to remember: For a more comfortable ride opt for a higher-class bus wherever possible. These buses usually have soft reclining seats and are equipped with air-conditioning and on-board toilets.
They often include water, snacks or a light lunch into your ticket price and make bathroom stops en-route.
Companies operating bus routes between Lao Cai and Ninh Binh
Duc Duong Bus, Full Moon Party Tour, Grouptour (Công ty du lịch quốc tế Grouptour), HK Open Tour, Ket Doan Travel (Kết Đoàn), Luxury Van Limousine, Ninh Binh Footprint, Sapa Ethnic Travel (Công Ty TNHH Một Thành Viên Du Lịch Thiểu Số), Techbus VN JSC (Techbus Vietnam Joint stock company), Vietnam Easy Go Travel, Vietnam Luxury Travel
Taxi
Some travellers consider taxi to be the most convenient form of overland transport thanks to flexible departure times, a possibility to choose the size of the car you need, and a hassle-free door-to-door service.
Things to remember: If you are planning to make detours during your trip, discuss it with your driver or service provider in advance as it may affect the price.
Companies offering charters between Lao Cai and Ninh Binh
OUROS Travel, Saigon DMC (Công Ty TNHH Saigon Dmc), VTS
What is the most popular transport to get from Lao Cai to Ninh Binh?
There is a choice of transportation means any time of the day with Bus remaining the most popular option due to their reasonable pricing and comfort.
Out of 1000 travellers who bought tickets for this route