From Hanoi to Sapa is about Hanoi 320 km, there are 4 ways to get Sapa from Hanoi:
>> If you want to book a Sapa Tours please refer our service here
>> If you want to book train or bus ticket to get Sapa from Hanoi, please visit our service here.
- Private Car/Van
Using a private car is more convenient and more flexible. The travel time is shorter because you don’t have to wait for others, and it allows you some breaks for photographs, refreshments or a toilet stop along the way.
Important:
- Usually, there are 3 kinds of vehicles: 4-seater cars for maximum 3 passengers, 7-seater for maximum 5 passengers and 16-seater for maximum 11 passengers. ( this to allow room for your luggage ).
- Should you tip your driver? It is up to you whether you want to tip the driver or not. If you are happy with the service he gave you can, however, there is no obligation.
- You can pay by Credit card.
- The price is per car, not per person, and the quoted price is fully inclusive, with no added extras.
- By shuttle bus to Sapa
The best way is to use day or overnight direct bus from Hanoi to Sapa town. There are variety the shuttle bus company you can book and buy bus e-tickets of Hung Thanh, Inter Bus Lines, Ha Son, Eco Sapa, Sapa Express, The SinhTourist… It costs $15/pax for one way. ( Departure from Hanoi 6-6.30 AM and arrival to Sapa 11.30-12.00 AM . or – Departure from Hanoi 10.00 PM and arrival to Sapa 5.AM )
- Sleeping Bus to Sapa
This bus is a direct service from Hanoi to Sapa and return from Sapa to Hanoi. It’s a modern tourist sleeping bus and one of the best services in this roue. The bus is comfortable, modern and passengers are accompanied by an English speaking guide who can help with anything. It has a flexible daily schedule (night and day buses) so you can book and plan your trip easily according to your travel preferences.
Because this is a sleeping bus, the seats open up to a full bed like position and you can relax and sleep the whole way. You should book return ticket to get discount perhaps
Seats – This bus has 2 floors – bottom and top seats. Seat allocation is first come first serve basis. However, If you have a specific problem with top seats, please email us to request specific seats and if possible, we’ll accommodate.
Toilets – this bus has a toilet, but also makes rest stops on the way,
Arrival at night – since the night bus to Sapa arrives very early (4am), the company lets the passengers stay and sleep inside the bus until 6am(!), So you don’t have to worry about finding/booking a hotel for the night you arrive in Sapa.
When arriving to Hanoi at night this is not the case, since in Hanoi it’s not a problem to manage in the late hours.
Pick up (Hanoi) – This service offers a free pick up from your hotel in Hanoi (as long as the hotel is in the old quarter area). Please take into consideration that this offer is subject to changes that depend on holidays/road renovations/local festivals and other factors which may prevent the bus from getting to your hotel. If you do not choose a hotel pick up, departure will be from : 20 Hàng Muối, Lý Thái Tổ, Hoàn Kiếm, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Pick up (Sapa) – In Sapa there is no hotel pick up. The bus will leave from 139 Thạch Sơn, thị trấn Sa Pa, Lao Cai, Vietnam.
No stations on the way – It is not possible to board the bus on the way, only at the departure station.
- By train to Sapa
A lots of travelers go to Sapa by the overnight train from Hanoi to Lao Cai. Trains run to Lao Cai town (340 km from Hanoi), it is the end station (25 km from Sapa). For the overnight train, you should book 4 berth sharing cabin of tourist train for soft berth and air-condition. The price is around 15 – 20 USD depend on tourist train operator. Tourists trains also offer 2-bed cabin in train, but also more expensive (Orient Express, King Express, Fansipan, Livitrans…). The most deluxe train – Victoria Express Train (price of the train ticket is about 2 500 000 – 3 500 000 viet.dongs) Vietnam Railways may change the orientation of the carriage at the departure station anytime at their convenience. Vietnam Railways trains – SP1, SP3, SP7, LC3
Travelling with children in the train: passengers under 6 years old do not need to buy train ticket if they seat with their parents, or else benefit from 25% discount in all fares when they book a separate ticket. If you do not wish to take this passenger into account when making the booking, please select a smaller number of passenger. From 6 to 9 years old need to buy train ticket but benefit from 25% discount in all fares. With 10 years old or over are not eligible for children discount, need to book train ticket as adults
Train to Lao Cai departure from Hanoi railway station at 120 Le Duan Street and Tran Quy Cap station, just behind 120 Le Duan streets.
The trains from Hanoi to Lao Cai (PM: SP1, SP3, SP7, LC1; AM: LC3) and from Lao Cai to Hanoi (PM: LC4, LC2, SP8, SP2, SP4) daily.
Sapa Tourist Trains including timetable and cost as listed below:
Victoria Train:
Victoria Express train is the best in terms of comfort and service from Hanoi to Lao Cai, Victoria Hotel’s “Orient Express” train offers one restaurant and two luxury sleeping carriages, all with air-conditioning. This is part of the normal run (LC5 and LC6) between Hanoi and Lao Cai.
Tulico Train:
Tulico train offers comfortable, air-conditioned soft sleepers. While this is not a luxurious train, it offers good alternative transportation to Sapa from Hanoi. It has soft sleepers, A/C and four-berth cabins. You are provided with one bottle of water, a small snack and a napkin.
Ratraco Train:
In the LC5 and LC6, there are Victoria Cabins, Tulico Cabins, Friendly Cabins, and Ratraco Cabins. All of these are alternatives for travellers to Sapa from Hanoi. Ratraco train is one of the best trains to Sapa with wooden cabins.
Friendly Train:
Friendly train, like the Tulico train, is not a separate train, but offers soft sleepers, A/C and clean four-berth cabins in 2 carriages which go with local trains (LC5 and LC6) between Hanoi and Lao Cai. You are provided with one bottle of water, a small snack and a napkin.
Livitrans Train:
To serve tourist requirements, the Livitrans train is also part of a regular train with 2 carriages in SP1 and SP2 which offers A/ C, soft-sleepers and clean four-berth cabins.
TSC Train:
The TSC Express train is wooden carriage, soft sleeper A.C cabin with soft 4 berths and two toilet at either ends. Each berth is equipped with individual reading lights, baggage storage and spacious trunk for suite case and hand luggage. The train provide also water and cold tower.
Fansipan Train:
The brand new Fansipan Express train has just been introduced to operate routing Hanoi – Lao Cai – Hanoi with 4 fully decorated carriages with high standard soft sleepers with airconditioning wooden cabins. Each berth is equipped with reading lights, baggage storage, flower, mineral water and napkin.
King Express Train:
New generation of tourist carriage runs Hanoi – Lao Cai – Hanoi, sister carriage with Fansipan Express. King Express train features VIP (2 berth), Deluxe (4 berths) as well as the Superior cabin.
Former Victoria train
The old Victoria Express Carriages have now returned to Ratraco group to feature wooden panelled cabins connect with SP1 and SP2 (Hanoi – Laocai – Hanoi).
>> If you want to book train or bus ticket to get Sapa from Hanoi, please visit our service here.
