Mr. & Mrs. Vandebilt + kids

Disclaimer: this post is boring. I’m only writing it for other travelers trying to do the same thing or similar to us as it was not east finding this info online.

We unfortunately had to fly from Shanghai to Shenzhen because all of the trains from Shanghai to Hong Kong were booked. Shenzhen is the city on mainland China closest to Hong Kong. The flight took just over two hours and cost us 1450RMB for two people. We landed at the airport and took a shuttle to Futian Station. I think the bus was 330 but you can find them just outside the arrivals gate. Tickets were 20RMB each.

Futian bus station is also connected to the Shenzhen metro. After Hong Kong we are traveling to Hanoi Vietnam and we had read that there is an ovenight bus leaving from Shenzhen to Pingxiang (the border city on the Chinese side). We booked our tickets at the station ourselves. The lady at the information desk spoke english and it was very easy. The tickets are 250RMB one way per person and the bus leaves at 18:40. We booked the tickets 4 days in advance but I’m not sure how far in advance you can do this. We will add a note later to tell how this goes.

After stopping briefly to book the tickets we hopped on the subway to Luoho station at the end of the line, 4RMB for a ticket. After arriving at Luoho you should take exit A and follow the signs to Hong Kong. You will go through Chinese customs and immigration then the same for Hong Kong.

Then get back on the metro this time in Hong Kong and continue your journey. Our hostel was in Tsim Sha Tsui so we traveled to that station. Tickets were 73HKD for two people. The whole trip from airport to hostel took about 4.5 hours. We will follow the same route in reverse to get back to the bus station on Saturday to head to Vietnam.

We also secured our Vietnamese visas in Hong Kong. Rather painless aside from the price. You fill out the application at the Vietnamese Consulate and submit your application along with one photo. They can process them in 5 business days including the day you submit and they are also open on Saturdays for 300HKD or have it ready in about 10 minutes for 500HKD.