Book your train tickets with Fanxipan Express.
Fanxipan Express is a Vietnamese private railway company connecting Hanoi and Lao Cai.
Trains operated by Fanxipan Express
Fanxipan Express operates their own passenger cars that are attached to the trains hauled by Vietnam Railways locomotives, departing and arriving with the same schedule.
Passenger cars are divided in two classes: Sleeper 2-Berth in compartments for 1-2 passengers and Sleeper 4-Berth in compartments for 1-4 passengers. Customers who wish to enjoy some privacy by reserving the whole compartment can select the maximum number of passengers and purchase all the tickets.
For more information about travelling by train, please read our Train Guide in Vietnam.
Routes
Destinations
Fanxipan Express serves the following destinations in Vietnam:
Northern Vietnam
Hanoi–Lao Cai railway
The Hanoi–Lao Cai railway line connects Hanoi and Lao Cai, in the Northwestern Mountains of Vietnam. Trains depart from Hanoi Railway Station and return from Lao Cai Railway Station.
Train routes to Lao Cai
Change policy
The following change terms apply to the train fares:
| Fanxipan Express | Change time/date |
| Fare Sleeper 2-Berth (Private cabin) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Sleeper 4-Berth (Shared cabin) | Permitted with fees |
If you wish to change your booking with Fanxipan Express, please Contact Us. This option is available until 120 hours before departure, after that time please contact directly with Fanxipan Express. Change fees will apply.
- 50% per ticket if 120 hours or more to departure.
- No change if less than 120 hours to departure.
No change for tickets on public holidays.
Cancellation policy
The following cancellation terms apply to the train fares:
| Fanxipan Express | Cancellation before departure |
| Fare Sleeper 2-Berth (Private cabin) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Sleeper 4-Berth (Shared cabin) | Permitted with fees |
If you wish to cancel your booking with Fanxipan Express, kindly manage your booking and request a cancellation to proceed with the refund. This option is available until 5 days before departure.
Service fees will not be refunded. Cancellation fees will apply.
- 20% of the ticket fare + 50,000 VND per ticket if the ticket has been issued
- 50% of the ticket fare + 50,000 VND per ticket if 5 to 10 days to departure
- No refund if less than 5 days to departure or departure on public holiday
Reviews
Good Timothy
We were a group of 8 people travelling in Vietnam and we decided to add a sleeper train to the experiences. We paid a million VND per person to make sure we get a nice experience. When we arrived at the station there was no clear explanation of where we check in for our ride. After asking at the information I was directed to go outside and all I could find that could indicate that I reached the right place was a lounge for one of the other train services. I asked there and she called the woman in charge of Fanxipan which turns out was the little convenience stand outside the station that has no sign on it to show that it is connected to Fanxipan. It took a few minutes to explain that we purchased tickets for 8 people (2 cabins) after which she looked very upset and started making phone calls and running around the station with me in tow. Next issue was that the train was not clean. The toilets were smelly. Had no paper and by the end of the drive were blocked. Except for me , all t Menachem
Really hot, no AC and mattresses were way too firm and my back is hurting now Loane
Really hot, no AC and mattresses were way too firm and my back is hurting now Loane
We originally booked a Sapaly night train, but were rebooked by baolau to a fansipan express train. When comparing Sapaly and the fansipans trains, there is a huge different, fansipan Looks Like a world war 1 train. Just dont Book it, it was horrible. Philip
We originally booked a Sapaly night train, but were rebooked by baolau to a fansipan express train. When comparing Sapaly and the fansipans trains, there is a huge different, fansipan Looks Like a world war 1 train. Just dont Book it, it was horrible. Philip
Nous avons annulé le retour car nuit blanche à l aller. Le couchage est vraiment trop dur et le bruit tres important. Nous avons préferé un retour en bus couchette bien plus confortable. Et pourtant beaucoup de charme le voyage en train. Annie
Dry pleasant trip back down the mountain. Very polite and well spoken English driver. Enjoyed the the trip back to Lao Cai. Kerryn
Driver seemed to be on a hurry drove recklessly, overtaking on blind corners at speed. Kerryn
option to upgrade to private cabin at the station was nice! clean and comfortable. Loved it. Angelic
I don't know if this would be under Fanxipan itself, but the people at the train station were not helpful at all and were rude when we were trying to get assistance with where to go. It was confusing and when we were trying to ask some questions, they were so dismissive. Dawn
A lot of noise. the wagon creaked all the way. no way to sleep .... moreover, no wifi in the train! Horrible journey. The day agrée is impacting because we’re so tired. And it’s our last day in Ha Noi. I think we shoud be refunded. Chirine
It was ok but cold. Too much cold Chirine
Fais aller et retour mais au retour le conducteur a utilisé énormément son klaxonne. Georges
Nos dieron un ticket erróneo para otro vagón, nos hicieron cambiar de cabina ya unas instalados con el equipaje, nadie nos dio explicaciones claras en inglés. Hacia mucho frío en la cabina y en comparación con el otro tren de ida este hacía un ruido insoportable y muchos golpes. No fue agradable ni confortable. Algo positivo que decir la camas eran cómodas, estaba limpio y el aperitivo fue un buen detalle. Jose
Although bed is a bit rough but its comfy enough. Catherine
Came to trainstation as requested by ticket, “atleast 45 minutes before departure”. No one was there at the described place to give us the ticket. A guy showed up 20 min before departure, in a different part of the station than advertised, very stressed out. Apparently there train was fully booked so they had to put us on a later departure. The train suspension hasn’t had any maintenance since 1996, it cracks and bangs like crazy. That with the other noises you can forget to get some sleep. You need to book a hotel at destination to catch up on sleep. On the way back we got the cart closest to the locomotive. The vibrations and sound from the diesel engine was unbearable, not to mention the smell of exhaust in the cabin. This was the most expensive thing we bought on our trip, we booked this because the lady wanted to have toilet during the night. She ended up not going anyways because the toilet on the train was so disgusting. Not recommended. I would say book the bus Daniel
Came to trainstation as requested by ticket, “atleast 45 minutes before departure”. No one was there at the described place to give us the ticket. A guy showed up 20 min before departure, in a different part of the station than advertised, very stressed out. Apparently there train was fully booked so they had to put us on a later departure. The train suspension hasn’t had any maintenance since 1996, it cracks and bangs like crazy. That with the other noises you can forget to get some sleep. You need to book a hotel at destination to catch up on sleep. On the way back we got the cart closest to the locomotive. The vibrations and sound from the diesel engine was unbearable, not to mention the smell of exhaust in the cabin. This was the most expensive thing we bought on our trip, we booked this because the lady wanted to have toilet during the night. She ended up not going anyways because the toilet on the train was so disgusting. Not recommended. I would say book the bus Daniel
It was the worst experience, everywhere in the cabin was really dirty, there was no one to talk to and support. The beds compared to Chapa were a lot more uncomfortable and also at night water was coming in. Shahkarami
À notre grande surprise, personne pour nous accueillir à l’heure indiqué pour la remise des billets. Nous nous retrouvons un peu désarçonné sur le quai. Finalement quelqu’un nous rejoint pour nous donner un billet pour le train suivant tandis que nous voyons partir celui que nous avions initialement réservé. Jean
Habia mucho ruido en la cabina y el personal que habia no nos los ha querido solucionar. No hemos podido dormir nada. Servicio malisimo Albert
can smell the petroleum, can’t sleep Roma
Train journey was fine but employees on the train tried to do a taxi scam on us by making us pay for a taxi deposit but then putting us on a bus when exiting the station Akin
We think the toilet could of been a bit cleaner on our carrage Neil
レトロな雰囲気でとても良かったです。 Takashi
Very bouncy and rough ride. Very basic amenities. Tim
Easy booking process Thomas