The route was halted on the evening of September 8 because of landslides and flash floods caused by Typhoon Yagi. On September 15, the route was resumed but only for cargo transportation.
According to Haraco, Train SP3 departs from Hanoi Station for Lao Cai at 10 pm every day, while Train SP4 leaves Lao Cai Station for Hanoi at 9:30 pm daily. Each single ticket for the service is priced between VND280,000-420,000 (USD11.42-17.14), depending on different types of seat and departure time.
Haraco also sells bus tickets for transfers from Lao Cai Station to locations in Sapa, within a 2-kilometre radius of the Stone Church, or vice versa at VND55,000 per ticket. Passengers can buy bus tickets when booking train tickets, either directly or online.
In case of schedule changes, passengers will be informed by phone. They can also check the train's real-time status via Zalo.
Following Typhoon Yagi, many roads to Lao Cai have been seriously damaged, resulting in the temporary closure of Sapa to visitors. On September 15, the town was open to tourists again.
