How can I travel overland from China to Hanoi?

From China to Hanoi, there are several routes, each offering its unique advantages:

1. Kunming - Hekou - Lao Cai - Hanoi:

Currently, there is no train service on this section of the route. Traveling by bus from Kunming to the Hekou border gate takes approximately 10 hours, including a stop for lunch. From Hekou to Lao Cai town, the journey is just 10 minutes by motorbike or taxi. The next step is to reach Lao Cai railway station and purchase a train ticket to Hanoi (overnight train). The total distance is about 800 km, which breaks down to roughly 490 km by bus and 310 km by train.

2. Nanning - PingXiang - Lang Son - Hanoi:

By bus: The Huu Nghi Quan (Friendship Pass) is located around 17 km from Lang Son town. It is advisable to arrive at the Friendship Pass customs and immigration before 16:30, as they do not stamp foreign passports after this time. After passing through customs, you can take a minibus to Hanoi, which costs approximately VND 70,000 (about $3) and takes around 3.5 to 4 hours.

By train: Traveling from Beijing to Nanning and then to Hanoi takes about 40 hours. You will need to change trains at Dong Dang border town, as the rail gauge differs: 1.4 meters in China compared to 1 meter in Vietnam.

3. Nanning - DongXing - MongCai - Ha Long - Hanoi:

There are direct buses from Nanning to Ha Long Bay, departing at 8:00 AM from the South River Bus Center (Jiang Nan Ke Yun Zhong Xing). The bus crosses the border at DongXing instead of the Friendship Gate. The total travel time by bus from Nanning to Ha Long Bay is about 9 hours, costing around VND 3,700,000 (approximately $150). Alternatively, you can opt for an express boat from MongCai to Halong Bay, followed by a bus journey to Hanoi, although this option takes longer.