The Hanoi-Lao Cai railway now operates three regular passenger train pairs daily, the Lao Cai Railway Transport Business Station said on October 11.
The first SP15 service arrived at Lao Cai Station that morning carrying 205 passengers, mostly international tourists, providing more travel options for visitors to the province.
The SP15/SP16 pair entered service on October 10, joining the existing SP3/SP4 and SP7/SP8 services. Some departure and arrival times along the existing routes have been adjusted to accommodate the new timetable.
According to the Lao Cai Railway Transport Business Station, Lao Cai Station handled 132,800 departing passengers and 195,633 arriving passengers in the first nine months of 2026.
The combined total of 328,433 passenger movements was up nearly 27.1 per cent from the same period in 2025. Departing passenger numbers rose by nearly 29.8 per cent, while arrivals increased by around 25.3 per cent.
The growth in passenger numbers has created greater demand for capacity on the Hanoi-Lao Cai route. The additional train pair is intended to meet travel needs, particularly among tourists visiting Lao Cai and Sapa.
Under the new timetable, three trains depart Hanoi for Lao Cai in the evening. SP15 leaves at 9.45 pm and arrives at 5.20 am the following day; SP3 departs at 10 pm and arrives at 5.50 am; and SP7 leaves at 10.40 pm, reaching Lao Cai at 6.27 am.
The overnight services allow passengers to rest during the journey and arrive early in the morning, making it easier to continue on to Sapa and other tourist destinations across the province.
For the return journey, SP16 leaves Lao Cai at 9.25 pm and arrives in Hanoi at 5.15 am the next day. SP4 departs at 9.50 pm and reaches Hanoi at 5.40 am. SP8 operates during the day, leaving Lao Cai at 12.05 pm and arriving in Hanoi at 7.30 pm.
Alongside the increase in services, railway operators are working with travel companies to introduce premium tourist carriages on the Hanoi-Lao Cai route, broadening the range of travel experiences available to passengers.
