How to go → HANOI to SHANGRI-LA (Yunnan) ☀️

1. Train + Bus to Shanri-La
2. Flights to Shangri-La
3. FAQ + Travel Tips
🎫 Book a Tour in China
🎫 Book Tickets + Flight

Shangri-La – a gate to the fascinating Tibet in China.

Shangrila (香格里拉; formerly Zhongdian, known as Gyalthang in Tibetan) – is an ancient city in fascinating Yunnan province and we can say, this is the one of the gates to Tibet in China. Shangrila-La is about 180 km north of Lijiang. Ethnic residents (Tibetan and ethnic Han residents, as well as a fair smattering of Naxi, Bai, Yi and Lisu), mountains, nature, historical sites and stunning atmosphere of Tibet. This ancient city was destroyed by fire in 2014 and many houses and monument are relocated or rebuilt. Interesting places for visit in Shangri-La and surrounding: Songzanlin Lamasery, Bitahai Lake, Lake Napa, Baishuitai, Mingyong Glaciers, Meili Snow Mountain, Feilai Temple, White Horse Snow Mountain, Shudu Lake, Haba Snow Mountain, Yubeng Village. There are 2 ways how you can travel to Shangri-La from Hanoi – by train or you can take a flight via Kunming in China. The fastest option is to travel by plane.

BOOK a TOUR / ACTIVITY in China ➜

From Hanoi to Shangri-La you can travel by train or plane.

Travel distance from Hanoi to Shangri-La is about 950 km by plane via Kunming and by train of Vietnam Railway + China Railway + bus from Lijiang to Shangri-La is about 1150 km. The best and fastest option of transport is to take a flight via Kunming to Shangri-La Airport (Diqing). Flight from Hanoi to Shangri-La with stopover (e.g. in Kunming) takes about 6-10 hours to Shangri-La Airport. Another option is to travel by train + bus from Hanoi to Shangri-La via Lao Cai, Hekou Kunming and Lijiang. Travel time by train is about 22-30 hours (via Lao Cai, Hekou, Kunming, Lijiang) takes about 22-30 hours. You can travel by train of Vietnam Railways from Hanoi to Lao Cai, then you cross the border, take a train from Hekou North to Kunming and from Kunming to Lijiang. From Lijiang to Shangri-La you can travel by bus. Travel by train of Vietnam Railway + China Railways + bus from Lijiang to Shangri-La should cost about $60-130/pp. If you want to save your travel time – take a flight. You can search and book train tickets and flights to Shangri-La from hanoi online.
NOTE: In2017, they are building a new railway connection between Lijiang and Shangri-La.

1. From Hanoi to Shangri-La by train + bus 

A) From Hanoi to Lao Cai by train (border town)

Trains from Hanoi run to Lao Cai town (340 km from Hanoi), it is the end station and the border town (25 km from Sapa). Trains may be from Vietnam Railways with less comfort (ofic.vietnamese railways) or also trains for tourists (also 2-bed cabin in train), but also more expensive (Orient Express, King Express, Fansipan, Sapaly, Livitrans…). You can search and buy train tickets online. From Lao Cai Railway station you need to go or take a taxi to the border crossing, cross the border to Hekou (China), only about 2 km.

• • Book and buy train e-tickets from Hanoi to Lao Cai on Baolau ➜ or 12go.asia ➜

Vietnam Railways trains – SP1, SP3, SP7, LC3:

– hard or soft seat in trains – price for one-way ticket from 120 000 – 160 000 Viet.dongs / 1 person
– hard bed (6-bed cabin) or soft bed (4-bed cabin) – price for one-way ticket from 270 000 – 400 000 Viet.dongs / 1 person
– SP = new trains, LC3 = old train, carry-on baggage – 20 kg
– train seat selection available on Baolau

Tourist and private train operators (added to SP1 + SP3):

– Livitrans, Violette Train, Oriental Express, King Express, Sapaly, PV2, Fansipan Express, Victoria Express
– price from 700 000 – 1 800 000 Viet.dongs / 1 person – soft bed (depend on the type of cabin)
– better quality and service, 2 or 4-bed cabins, carry-on baggage – 20 kg
– the most deluxe train – Victoria Express Train (price for ticket from 2 500 000 – 3 500 000 Viet.dongs)

➜ For bookings with Royal Railway and private railway companies Victoria Express, Fanxipan Express, King Express, Orient Express, Sapaly Express, Chapa Express and Saigon Golden Train, you will be required to complete the payment before submitting your order. Your reservation will be processed and you will receive a voucher by email to collect the physical ticket at the station before boarding the train.

➜ For bookings with Vietnam Railways and private railway companies Livitrans Express and Violette Train, you will be required to complete the payment before submitting your order. Your reservation will be processed and you will receive your e-ticket by email, ready to print or carry in your mobile phone or tablet and present when boarding the train.

➜ If you buy bus tickets online on Baolau or 12go.asia, you will receive your e-ticket by email, ready to print or carry in your mobile phone or tablet and present at the ticket counter of the station before boarding the bus

B) From Hekou (China) to Kunming by train (400 km)

Hekou North Railway Station (or Hekou Bei Train Station) is about 4 km from the center of Hekou town (border town), so the best way how to get there is go by taxi. From Hekou North Railway Station you can go by train to Kunming. There are a lot of trains every day and the journey takes about 3.5-7 hours. Train tickets from Hekou to Kunming cost about $13-30/pp.

• • Book train tickets from Hekou to Kunming with 12go.asia ➜ 

C) From Kunming to Lijiang by train (517 km)

From Kunming Railway Station to Lijang (about 180 km from Shangri-La) you can travel by train. There are a lot of seat or sleeper trains every day and the journey takes about 3-3.5 hours. Lijiang Railway Station is about 10 km from the Old Town. You can take a bus to the town. Train tickets from Kunming to Lijiang cost about $28-62/pp.

• • Book train tickets from Kunming to Lijiang with 12go.asia ➜

D) From Lijiang to Shangri-La by bus (180 km)

You can take a bus from Lijiang to Shangri-La (Zhongdian, Deqen). This journey takes about 4 hours. Local Transport Service Center Bus Station is located at Changshui Road to the southwest corner of the Old Town in Lijiang.

They are building a new railway connection between Lijiang and Shangri-La in 2017. In the near future, it will be possible to travel by train from Lijiang to Shangri-La.

2. FLIGHT from Hanoi to Shangri-La (via Kunming)

This is the most fastest and comfortable way how to get from Hanoi to Shangri-La via Kunming. There is no direct flight from Hanoi to Shangri-La, so you need to take another flight in Kunming. Air service is operated by China Eastern or China Southern. Shangri-La Airport (Diqing) is about 5 km south from the town of Deqen.

❓ FAQ + TIPS – Travel route from Hanoi to Shangri-La:

BOOK your HOTEL in Deqen ➜

🎫 Book your train tickets / flights from Hanoi to Shangri-La:

(You can change your departure or arrival place, eg. Hekou > Kunming, Kunming > Lijiang…)

Travel routes to China ➔