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Thai Nguyen
Hello!
Tomorrow evening I will travel from Hanoi to Lao Cai by train. Arrival time is 6:25 am. Onwards for the same day I have a train ticket from Hekou North to Kunming (departure 1:28 pm).
I know that I will have to cross the border by foot. My question is, if there will be taxis or other type of transport from the railway station to the border and from the border to the Chinese railway station.
The distances should be quite short, but I don’t want to walk because of the weight of my luggage and of myself…
Does somebody have an idea about the prices?
Best regards, Matthias
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“I am actually referring to the newer high speed railway station in Honghe which is about 170 km away”
There are many taxis in Hekou. I’m sure they would be delighted to take you to Honghe. I have no idea what the fair price is.
Check on Didi, Alipay or WeChat, perhaps you can get a quote.
Obviously it will be less expensive to take the train from Hekou to Honghe.
I did this journey in November:
Hekou-Honghe-Dali. Changed trains in Honghe.
Booked on Trip.com.
There is a recent post on this journey in the China forum.
Safe travels.
Hi Michael,
Thank you for the prompt response.
I am actually referring to the newer high speed railway station in Honghe which is about 170 km away from Hekou immgration centre.
Thank you.
“I would like to know if there are taxis or private cars waiting outside Hekou immigration centre that are willing to take us to Honghe railway station”
Yes.
The price is around 15 CNY (RMB)
Hi,
We will be crossing the border from Lao Cai to Hekou early morning in April next year. After clearing immigration in Hekou, we will then proceed to Honghe railway station which is about 170 km away from the Hekou immgration centre. We intend to take the afternoon high speed train from Honghe to Qujing with a transfer in between.
I would like to know if there are taxis or private cars waiting outside Hekou immigration centre that are willing to take us to Honghe railway station for a fee. If so, how much will the fare be? We are prepared to pay a premium fare along with some negotiations so long as both parties are happy with the negotiated fare.
Thank you.
“Do you know if there is any issues trying to cross into China at or just after Tet?”
I don’t think so.
Transportation can be challenging, but you already knew that.
Have one of your Vietnamese speaking family or friends call whatever border gate and ask them.
Thanks Michael for the heads up, even more so on the maps.
Hoping to tie a trip in to China when we next go to Vietnam in February, Yeah, during Tet time! Do you know if there is any issues trying to cross into China at or just after Tet?
Hello again a m,
Thanks for returning with a report, much appreciated.
Kunming South Railway Station is connected to the city center by two metro lines.
The metro systems in China’s provincial capitals are fantastic but Google Maps is not a good source of intel.
I am currently useing “Organic Maps” which is basically the same as Maps.me and the other open source maps. China’s metro lines and stations are clearly visible on these maps.
Assuming that you arrive in these cities in the hours that the metro is running.
Thanks again for your report 🙏
Michael and all, I thought I’d just give an update. Set to take our time and catch the 13h32 train 560 Hekoubei Kunming South, we had breakfast across the road from the Lao Cai train station. Hailed a taxi to the border (~30kVND), spent a solid hour at the Chinese Immigration with moderate queues around 8:00am (local). Took another taxi to Hekoubei station (~20RMB). Just a note that there is nothing of interest at the train station or its vicinity, aside a tiny convenience store inside the train station past security. Also the 13h32 train arrives in Kunming South (not Kunming) so you will be about an hour away from the centre or ~100RMB by taxi.
Hello a m,
See post number 17.
There is no way you will make the 08:25 train.
Take care 🙂
Thanks for this really useful info (Matthias, Michael…). We will also be arriving from Hanoi-Lao Cai at about 6h30am. I am trying to get a sense of timing (passport control, customs, taxi travel time, walking etc…); at what time the border offices opens and is it realistic to hope catching the train Hekou-Kunming leaving at 8h25 (train C564) or at 13h32 (train 560).