It’s really convenient for transferring between Hanoi and Sapa. You can choose between the shuttle or the train to get there. Here are the pros and cons of two ways to get to Sapa.
If you are traveling around Hanoi, a bustling area of Vietnam’s capital and want to get away from it all, a trip to Sapa is a great idea for you. This mountainous region is one of Vietnam’s most popular destinations, attracting thousands of tourists every year.
But how to get to Sapa from Hanoi? There are two types of transportation that people generally use, such as shuttle and train. In this article you will receive some information about them and then you can decide which one you prefer.
Shuttle or train?
Shuttle to Sapa
There are three main advantages of choosing to travel to Sapa by shuttle.
Benefits
There are three main advantages of choosing to travel to Sapa by shuttle.
First of all, it’s fast. Recently, Vietnam has invested heavily in highway development. This is why traveling by car is much easier and faster than in previous years. The roads are now wide, which helps reduce travel time. So, it will take less time to go from Hanoi to Sapa, approximately 6 hours by road.
Secondly, taking the shuttle is not very expensive. Every day, several shuttles depart from Hanoi to Lao Cai, day and night. This efficiency makes the cost of shuttle travel less expensive than other types of transportation.
If a bus provider raises its ticket price higher than its competitors, customers will leave it and buy tickets from other providers. So, don’t worry too much about how much you have to spend to take the shuttle. This is because almost all ticket prices from different providers are the same and they are very reasonable.
Third, shuttles can take you to Sapa themselves. This means that these shuttles can somehow take you to the place near your hotel. So you may not need to rent a car to get to Sapa city center.
Disadvantages
However, traveling by shuttle also has many disadvantages.
The first thing is that the shuttle doesn’t have many spaces. If you don’t get used to sitting and lying down for so long, you may need space to walk.
But if you are on the bus, you must stay in your seat. You can only go to the bathroom or eat something when the bus driver stops at a few stations. Therefore, sometimes you have to wait until this moment and you have to pay attention to the bus driver in case he informs everyone to get on the bus. Otherwise, you will be left behind.
Train to Sapa
Benefits
Speaking of train, it is a cheap way to go to Sapa, Lao Cai. Many people choose to travel to Sapa by night train from Hanoi.
On the train, they can sleep or go relax. Trains have enough space for people to eat, chat with nearby friends, or go to the bathroom, something shuttles cannot provide.
You can book the ticket in advance to choose the seat and berth for the journey and avoid the crowds.
Disadvantages
However, trains also have a wide range of disadvantages.
First of all, trains do not take you directly to Sapa. It will take you to Lao Cai station, then you need to take a bus or taxi to Sapa. This can create inconvenience for you because sometimes you don’t know where to go next when the train stops.
Secondly, sometimes you can’t get a ticket during peak hours. In this situation, if you don’t book an e-ticket online, you won’t even get a seat for yourself.
Price of shuttle and train to Sapa
As mentioned above, the price of a train ticket is quite affordable. Prices start at €7 per seat, according to Vietnam Railways. However, if you want luxurious seats, you will have to pay more and the price can go up to €70.
Meanwhile, the shuttle price starts from €10 for a normal seat. And with VIP seats for a couple with more convenient services, the price can go up to €20.
All things considered, both shuttle and train are popular means of transportation from Hanoi to Sapa. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Therefore, based on the information provided in this article along with your demands, you can choose the one you want to experience. Or you can leave from Hanoi by train and then return by shuttle, then you can enjoy both.
