Lao Cai Railway Station is a railway station in Vietnam. It serves the border town of Lao Cai, in Lao Cai Province.

• From Hanoi it is a 9-hour train journey to Sapa. Trains between Hanoi and Lao Cai are designated by SE-single-digit-suffix. SE-1 and SE-3 are from Hanoi to Lao Cai while SE-2 and SE-4 are back.
• Tickets to LaoCai/Sapa can be booked at the fansipan website. Booking tickets online usually costs up to 25% extra, but they will pick you up from your hotel in Hanoi for free.
• You may want to book a return ticket when you buy your outward journey, as picking up tickets in Lao Cai is harder than in Hanoi.
• Pick up by a local guide and take a scenic one-hour drive up to the hill station of Sapa to check in to a hotel.

Hoa Dao, a newly built hotel, is over looked on the Sapa park over looking Fansipan range, and just 70m down from the central market and Sapa church.

• From Lao Cai Station, dozens of shuttle buses will be waiting outside the station to take you the remaining distance to Sapa, usually at a 'fixed' rate of 50-60,000 dong or US$2.50-$3 or US$25 for a private case.
• After enjoying breakfast, take a car ride to Tram Ton Pass.
• Before you go, prepare and bring your only necessary items.
• What to bring for climbing: raincoat, overcoat, jumper, sleeping suit, shoes for climbing, 02 pairs of socks, flashlight, lighter and some nutritious candies, camera and cinecamera.
• For food, bring something full of nutrients, may be bread, boiled eggs, instant noodles, fruits, especially water... Remember to bring enough for each meal, if you eat and not be satisfied, you will not be able to climb.
• For those travel with a group of 5 or more, it's best to book a tour. They will help you prepare more food.

At 3,143 metres Mt Fansipan is Vietnam's highest mountain. Climbing Mt Fansipan in Vietnam is for active adventure seekers who are up for a challenge!

• To climb Fansipan, you must get a permit from the Center for Ecotourism and Environmental Education (on the road to Cat Cat tourist area). Also, you have to pay a VND150,000 ($7) fee and some other charges like insurance, hygiene, monitoring and residence.
• There are three milestones to be achieved while climbing, at an altitude of 2200m, 2800m and 3134m (the Fansipan Peak).
• The first part (from Tram Ton to 2200m campsite) is easy to trek despite some slippery sections.
• When you reach the campsite at 2200m, take a rest and have lunch here.
• Each campsite (at 2200m and 2800m) has a small stall selling drinks and sleeping bag for hire (but expensive). There's even a toilet but it's not clean.
• After a short rest, you will keep on trekking up to 2800m base camp for overnight.
• You will get more tired and need to rest. But don't do that, you will likely to get cold because of sweats. And keep to reach the second base camp before night falls.
• This 2,800m mark is also a fantastic spot for sky-gazing.