Hekou
Hekou (河口) is a small town in Yunnan, China. It's on the border with Vietnam, adjacent to Lao Cai.
Get in
Buses run from various destinations within Yunnan, including a wild overnight sleeper from Kunming (¥109). Some connections, including Jinghong require you to change buses in Mengzi. The bus station is within walking distance of the border post, and Lao Cai is just across the bridge. The border is open 8AM-11PM (7AM-10PM Vietnamese time).
Get around
See
Do
Buy
Eat
Drink
Sleep
Cope
When you leave the border office, ask the Chinese officials for a small guide with basic map of Hekou map and a glossary, if it is available.
Stay Safe
Beware of helpful guys speaking English at the bus station, offer to sell bus/train tickets in Vietnam for triple their real price or exchange currency several times more expensive than in respectable places. Check prices and exchange rates in advance. Tickets can be bought easily at Vietnam side of border.
Go next
- Vietnam - Night bus to Hanoi from Lao Cai. Costs about 350000 dongs. Very uncomfortable with loud music and no leg space. Train is much better option, but often need to be booked in advance.
- Kunming: First bus is at 8h45, next 10h50 and 1pm, cost about ¥140. It takes about 7-8h to arrive to Kunming Eastern bus station. Take bus 60 (¥2) to reach town center / railway station. The bus station is about 3 km from the border to Vietnam.
- Yuan Yang rice terraces: first bus at 9h, ¥65.