How to travel from Hanoi to Sapa

Sapa is a famous tourist destination in northern Vietnam. This is a highland town in Lao Cai province, more than 300km from Hanoi. So how to go from Hanoi to Sapa? Here are some of the most convenient ways for tourists to travel from Hanoi to to Sapa explore this wonderful area as well as a great place for relaxing.

By Train

Many tourists choose the train to travel to Sapa from Hanoi owing to the low cost and safety. However, since there are no railway stations in Sapa, the train will only take you to Lao Cai Station. From Lao Cai, you will need to travel about one more hour by road to finally get to Sapa. 3 trains run daily from Hanoi to Lao Cai: SP1, SP3, and LC 3, in which SP1 and SP3 are express trains.

Here are the Hanoi- Lao Cai trains' schedules:

Tickets can be easily booked online, with fares varying from 150,000 VND to 680,000 VND depending on the type of seat or cabin.

The train SP1 includes several cars: Orient Express, Pumpkin Express, TSC Express, Fansipan Express, Livitrans Express, and Ratraco Express. Meanwhile, train SP3 features cars named Chapa Express, Sapaly Express, King Express, and Victoria Express. These are private companies that provide train services for tourists traveling from Hanoi to Lao Cai. They offer luxury accommodations with 2-berth and 4-berth cabins, which are well-equipped with superior facilities. Ticket prices range from $31 to $250 per person for a one-way journey.

Once you arrive at Lao Cai Station, you can get to Sapa by taxi or by bus. 

Inside Victoria Express Cabin

By Sleeper bus

In the past, traveling to Sapa by road was a long and tiring journey due to the lack of a highway. However, with the opening of the Hanoi-Lao Cai Expressway (CT05) inaugurated in 2014, travel time from the capital to Sapa has been shortened to about 5-6 hours. The sleeper bus is a popular option among tourists, owing to its comfort and affordable price. Unlike traveling by train, the bus will drop you off in Sapa.

You could choose some of the best bus companies operating on the Hanoi-Sapa route as below: 

Green Bus

Departures: 3 departures per day at 7:00, 14:00, and 22:00

Ticket fare: 250,000–320,000 VND

Contact: 09 0601 7273

Inter Bus Line Sapa Bus

Departures: 3 departures per day at 6:30, 13:00, and 21:30

Ticket fare: From 330,000 VND

Contact: 

Sapa Express

Departures: 2 departures per day at 7:00 and 22:00

Ticket fare: From 400,000 VND

Contact: 

Sao Viet Bus

Departures: Departs every hour from 6:30 to 23:00 (From Noi Bai Airport, there are departures every hour from 6:15 to 00:45)

Ticket fare: From 310,000 VND

Contact: 

By Limousine Bus

The limousine bus is an ideal option for those wishing for a comfortable journey with a little touch of luxury. Though following the same route as the sleeper bus, the travel time from Hanoi to Sapa by limousine is shorter, taking about 4-5 hours. Furthermore, the spacious, plush leather seats and amenities like Wi-Fi and USB charging ports make traveling by limousine bus from Hanoi to Sapa an excellent choice for many travelers. However, keep in mind that these buses have limited luggage space.

Here are some limousine bus companies operating on the Hanoi-Sapa route for your reference:

Hoang Phu Limousine

Ticket fare: From 280,000 VND to 380,000 VND 

Contact: 1900 1085 or 097 324 4078

Eco Sapa Limousine

Ticket fare: From 350,000 VND to 500,000 VND

Contact: 037 555 666

A21 Tour

Ticket fare: From 450,000 VND to 600,000 VND

Contact: 0908 450 021

By Taxi

Taking a taxi might be the most convenient way to get to Sapa from Hanoi, as it offers the most privacy, and you can choose the pick-up and drop-off points at your convenience. However, this is the most expensive method. The 5-hour drive from Hanoi to Sapa, following the CT05, costs around 2,400,000 VND for a round trip in a 4-seater taxi.

By Motorbike

For adventurous travelers, getting to Sapa from Hanoi by motorbike is an adventure full of excitement. However, this method is not recommended unless you are an experienced motorbike driver and have good health. Though traveling by motorbike allows you to admire the scenery at your own pace, it will be quite a long and draining journey, as motorbikes are not allowed on expressways. You can easily rent a motorbike in the Old Quarter area at rates ranging from around 120,000 to 150,000 VND per day.
 

Rice Terrace in Sapa

Two beautiful routes to reach Sapa by motorbike:

Route 1: Follow the Yen Bai Road to Lao Cai. Depart from Hanoi – Vinh Phuc – Viet Tri – Phong Chau – Doan Hung – Yen Bai – Lao cai – Sapa. About 360 km in total. View map

Route 2: Follow the Lai Chau road. Depart from Hanoi – Hoa Lac – Son Tay – Thanh Son – National Road 32 – Sapa. Total is about 420 km. View map

If you start your journey at 6:00, you might arrive in Sapa at 15:00. 

Each kind of transfer has its own advantages, and we hope that after reading this article, you have found the most convenient way for you to travel from Hanoi to Sapa. 

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