How to get from Hanoi to Sapa?

Sapa city is located 320 kilometers northeast of Hanoi; This is where you can truly experience Vietnam. Before you think about venturing to Sapa, remember that May to August is the rainy season; Rains, typhoons and landslides are common and can lead to accidents and unpleasant experiences.

Travelers can choose between a shuttle bus, minibus, sleeper bus, private car, combination train and taxi, or renting a motorbike to travel from Sapa to Sapa. I’ll break down these options based on the effort needed to make plans in three categories: ease of booking, interior comfort, and expected experiences.

Here are the means of transport:

From Hanoi to Sapa by train

Traveling by train is an unmissable experience in Vietnam. From Hanoi to Sapa, you need to stop at Lao Cai station. From there you will need to take a second transport to get to your destination. It takes about eight hours by express train and an hour and a half to get to Sapa.

Vietnam Railways operates two daily express trains connecting Hanoi to Lao Cai: SP1 (9:35 p.m. from Hanoi – 5:30 a.m. to Lao Cai) and SP3 (10:00 p.m. to 6:05 a.m.). The train only stops at the main stations. The journey must therefore be smooth and transparent.

During peak season and public holidays, there are more trains such as SP5 and SP7 available to meet demand. The train has standard carriages operated by Vietnam Railways (VNR) and customized carriages operated by private railway companies. VNR cars consist of different classes: soft seats, six-berth sleepers and four-berth sleepers ranging from 155,000 VND to 400,000 VND (6 USD to 17 USD), all with air conditioning, acceptable toilets and dispensers hot/cold water.

Cars operated by private railway companies are usually four- or two-berth sleepers ranging from VND500,000 to VND3,500,000 (US$20 to US$150), depending on quality and standards.

Be aware that there are scam companies selling normal RV places for higher prices and bluffing about the quality. Always plan ahead and book round-trip tickets if you want to return to Hanoi by train, to avoid fully booked situations.

For a VNR standard seat, the best way to check availability and book online is to do so via the official website – dsvn.vn . The English button is located at the top right and the site is easy to navigate. Payment is processed securely online and you can receive an electronic ticket or choose to pay later and collect the physical ticket from the station. Additionally, there is also a bus service option from Lao Cai to Sapa available for an additional 45,000 VND (2 USD) which accompanies the ticket.

If you want to have a better experience, try private trains. They range from renovated standard cabins to five-star luxury carriages in Indochinese colonial style. Here is a list of four trusted companies offering good services:

• King Express
  Price: $22 for one berth in a four-berth luxury cabin, to $97 for a two-berth VIP private cabin
  Hotline: (+84) 94 725 0025 – Ms. Linh
  
• Orient Express
  Price: $35 for a berth in a four-berth Deluxe cabin up to $70 for a berth in a two-berth VIP cabin
  Hotline: +84 43 929 0999 / +84 43 929 0597
  
• Victoria Express
  Price: $79 for a berth in a four-berth deluxe cabin to $135 for a berth in a superior two-berth cabin
  Hotline: (+84) 214 387 1522
  

Once you arrive at Lao Cai Station, there are plenty of transportation options waiting to take you to Sapa, usually at a “flat” rate of around 100,000 VND (5 USD) for buses and 500,000 (25 USD) for private cars.

However, there are aggressive scammers who initially quote 100,000 VND ($5 USD) and then charge up to 200,000 to 300,000 VND once they have your luggage in the trunk. It’s hard to get these scammers out of the crowd, but they are often aggressive and will try to get you to their bus.

You can also try to negotiate. If the bus is not completely full to begin with, drivers sometimes wander around the city to fill empty spaces. Therefore, it is best if your hotel arranges the pickup for you, which guarantees you a fixed rate.

There is also a public bus to Sapa, which frequently starts at 5:20 a.m. and costs no more than 30,000 VND ($1.5 USD). The official bus stop is right in front of the station. Public buses are red and yellow, parked at the bus station, so avoid those who try to get you to take their bus in the station.

The journey to Sapa takes over an hour. This is where the views begin. Spectacular panoramas follow you into the mountains: clear skies, colorful terraced fields and vast green mountains. The road passes through a mountainous area, so you should expect continuous curves. Take motion sickness medication if necessary.

I recommend that you read my article dedicated to travel from Hanoi to Sapa by train

From Hanoi to Sapa by bus

These buses are easy to book and hard to get scammed, making them good options. Book directly with your receptionist in Hanoi for convenience. You can also get a ticket at almost any travel agency in the Old Quarter.

You can also try booking online. But I only recommend booking the ticket by phone and paying later when you get on the bus. Paying online often leads to scams and service provider issues.

The price varies from 220,000 VND (10 USD) to 450,000 VND (20 USD), depending on the amenities of the bus (wifi, sockets, water and snacks, toilets, etc.). The air conditioning is excellent and the bus usually stops once at a gas station where you can grab snacks and stretch your legs.

Many websites will mislead you by saying the journey only takes 5.5 hours but should actually take 6-6.5 hours, due to traffic and weather conditions. It is also important to note that sometimes the minibuses or shuttles drive around Hanoi for about an hour to gather more passengers before actually taking off. You could be cramped with too many passengers.

I have compiled departure times for express buses and sleeper buses throughout the day; Pick-up from your hotel is widely available also, you can ask at reception on booking:

• Morning, 6:00 a.m. – 7:00 a.m., arrive Sapa at noon
• 12:00 – 13:00, arrive at sunset or early evening in Sapa
• Night time from 9:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. comes early morning (I don’t recommend this choice because you will miss the beautiful scenery on the way)

There are many bus options, but I recommend Sapa Express as the best option, followed by Queen Cafe VIP Open Bus, EcoSapa Limousine and Ha Son Hai Van. You can check their schedules, amenities and prices here.

From Hanoi to Sapa by private car

If you have already booked your stay in Sapa or are staying in Hanoi, ask your accommodation if they can arrange a private car for you. Tell them the pick-up address. This could be the address of the airport or your hotel in Hanoi. A car will be sent to you at the designated time for your convenience. Fees vary, but this is the least stressful option.

You can also arrange a private car from any travel agency in Hanoi Old Quarter. Always ask the price before booking.

It offers one-way journeys of €152 for a four-seater car and €160 for a seven-seater car. Most agencies should range from €150 to €200 for a single trip, but this also depends on the quality of the car.

From Hanoi to Sapa by motorbike

Getting to Sapa by scooter is quite pleasant. you just need to be extra careful on mountainous curves, note all the guide markers listed below, and take frequent rest to take care of your body. There are two common routes between Hanoi and Sapa by motorbike:

Route 1

• Go northwest along the Red River to Lao Cai, then continue to Sapa. This is the fastest route (only 334 kilometers), but the most difficult route. I suggest writing all road names in Vietnamese in case you need to stop for help from a local
• From Hanoi, head towards QL32 (national road 32).
• Stick to the road until you reach the first landmark – Tam Nong Garden Park in Phu Tho province: “ Vuon Hoa Tam Nong, quan Tam Nong, tinh Phu Tho”. You’re 25% of the way there.
• Take the road to the left of this triangular park. Turn again at the end to continue on QL32.
• There will be an intersection where QL32 turns left, continue straight on QL32C.
• Follow QL32C, the Red River should still be on your right until you get to the second marker: “Cau Yen Bai, Hong Ha, tp. Yen Bai” – which is the Yen Bai Bridge in Yen Bai Town. You are 45% of the way there.
• Cross the bridge, go around the roundabout and follow the path to the left “Duong Nguyen Phuc – DT163” and continue straight, keeping the Red River at scope of view. You should see the railway too.
• Once you arrive at refuge “Ga Trai, An Binh, Van Yen, Yen Bai” – Trai Hut station, the road (DT163) turns left. Continue straight ahead, with the river on your left.
• The next benchmark will be “ Lang Khay, Lam Giang, Van Yen, Yen Bai. Continue straight once you pass it and, again, you should drive with the river on your left until you reach Lao Cai province.
• Continue straight until you come to “ Thai Van, Bao Ha, Bao Yen, Lao Cai. The route ends following the river and turns right. Follow the main road and don’t bother with the right-hand routes, until you reach a three-way intersection. Turn left at the intersection. If you don’t know where you are, ask a local about ” Song Hong» – the Red River. It should be west of your position. You are now 80% of the way there.
• Continue on the road again. ” Pho Lu, quan Bao Thang, Lao Cai town” is the next landmark. Once there, ask for route QL4E, which crosses the river out of town.
• Follow QL4E until “Thanh pho Lao Cai” – the town of Lao Cai.
• Go to “ Cho Kim Tan, thanh pho Lao Cai» – at Kim Tan Market in Lao Cai Town and turn onto QL4D – your route to Sapa!
• For information, this is the link to the itinerary on Google Maps.

Route 2

• Follow QL32 passing Mu Cang Chai district in Yen Bai. It is one of the most spectacular monuments in Vietnam. You can conquer two of the northwest region’s four legendary mountain passes before reaching Sapa. It’s a longer route (440 kilometers), but it offers better views.
• From Hanoi, take QL32 (national road 32).
• Stay on QL32 until you reach QL4D and turn right to go to Sapa. That’s it!
• I recommend that you write down these important words to show them to locals in the following order: “ QL32”, “Mu Cang Chai”, “QL4D”, “Sapa” – scratch them gradually. The road diverges in all directions, so the compass is useless. Use the map and these words to reach your destination.
• For information, this is the link to the itinerary on Google Maps.

The first route should be faster and sometimes frustrating with so many turns and waypoints. As it follows the river, you pass through pretty towns and villages, making for a peaceful journey.

If the first route is too complicated and you want to enjoy more sightseeing and conquer passes, the second option is for you. Remember that the second route is 100 kilometers longer. You will need to keep your scooter well maintained and fueled as much as possible. On the way, in addition to the grandiose panorama of Mu Cang Chai district, you can also visit ethnic villages and hidden waterfalls.