night bus Kunming to Vietnam border
 

Hi all,
Will have spent 3 weeks in China before going into Vietnam.
I am trying to avoid 2 night trains from Hanoi to Sapa, and back, and thought the night bus from Kunming might work.

Otherwise I will have to fly into Hanoi

How awful is the bus journey? I am in my 60's and not very flexible, joint wise.

I would appreciate all advice

As I know the bus from Kunming to Sapa is not awful, there is the bus with bed, comfortable. And then you can stay some days in Sapa for visiting. Night train or day train to Hanoi.

We flew Vietnam Airlines for Kunming to Hanoi - it is possible overland, but quite long. There is a lot of advice on Lonely Planet, I have copied this from there:-
"1. Kunming - Hekou - Lao Cai - Hanoi:

No train on Chinese side. From Kunming to Hekou border gate, if you travel by bus, the distance is 490km. It took us almost 10 hours to travel by bus, including time for lunch. From Hekou to Lao Cai town, it takes 10 minutes by motorbike. You go to Lao Cai railway station and buy a train ticket to Hanoi (overnight train).

So, the total distance from Kunming to Hanoi: 490km by bus and over 300km by train."

Search thorntree for more info.