How to get from Hanoi to Sapa

Why visit Sapa?

Sapa is a small village and popular tourist destination in northern Vietnam. Backdropped by spectacular rice terraces, the town boasts both natural and cultural beauty. Ethnic minorities make up over 80% of its population, and here you’ll get the chance to see and experience their traditional way of life.

Here you’ll also find Fansipan, the highest mountain on the Indochinese peninsula and a great adventure if you’re up for the hike. Don’t worry, cable cars to the summit are also available. The town centre can be a bit touristy, but don’t let that deter you. The real charm of Sapa lies in its mountains and the rice fields still farmed by the hill tribes, as they have been doing so for centuries.

PRO TIP: Consider continuing to Ha Giang after your adventures in Sapa. Ha Giang is famous for its incredible motorbike loop that boasts magnificent views of Northern Vietnam.

There are 4 ways to travel the 315 kilometers (196 miles) from Hanoi to Sapa. You can choose between the bus, minivan, private transfer and train. The journey takes 4 hours 45 minutes to 8 hours 50 minutes and the quickest way is by minivan. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at 239,000 VND ($9.20).

Plenty of companies operate buses from Hanoi to Sapa daily.

The advantage of taking the bus is that they are direct. Most buses depart from Hanoi city centre and arrive at Sapa town centre, so you won’t have to worry about getting additional transfers.

If you want to save on accommodation, we recommend taking an overnight bus with Sao Viet. They depart late at night and arrive in Sapa around 06:00 in the morning.

Sapa Express and Good Morning Sapa are also good options. Although they arrive at Sapa in the middle of the night, the drivers allow passengers to stay and sleep on the bus until 06:00.

The bus trip from Hanoi to Sapa takes 4 hours 55 minutes to 6 hours 50 minutes.

Which bus to take?

There are 3 types of buses to choose from when travelling from Hanoi to Sapa. It’s a ride that takes 4 hours 55 minutes to 6 hours 50 minutes, so it’s important to pick one depending on your preferred level of comfort.

• Sleeper Bus: The most basic, these usually come with sleeper bunks, blankets, as well as food & drinks. Rates start from 239,000 VND ($9.20).
• VIP Cabin Bus: An upgrade to the sleeper bus, this comes with a cabin-style bunk with curtains that you can close for privacy. Fares are from 412,000 VND ($15.90).
• Limo Bus: Airconditioned buses with reclining seats — an alternative if you don’t want sleeper bunks. Prices start from 312,000 VND ($12).

Departure and arrival station

Different companies have varying departure and arrival stations — usually, it’s their own offices in Hanoi and Sapa.

We recommend booking with a company that offers the most convenient bus stations for you. Better yet, pick one that offers free hotel pickup and drop-off.

Kate's insider tip

Even if you’re not travelling at night, a sleeper bus is a very comfortable option for the 5-hour journey. I opted for the VIP Cabin bus from Hanoi to Sapa and it was one of the best buses I’ve ever taken. The cabin was very private with the curtain, but you still have a window so it doesn’t feel claustrophobic. The seats fully recline or you can sit up. I found the cabin very spacious, but if you’re tall, you may struggle with the length of the cabin.

Minivans offer a spacious and luxurious ride from Hanoi to Sapa. Some companies also offer free hotel pick-up if you’re staying within Hanoi’s Old Quarter.

Fares start at around 451,000 VND ($17.40). The minivan journey takes about 4 hours 45 minutes to 6 hours, depending on traffic.

Sapa is a small hill town up in the mountains that doesn’t have its own railway station. If you want to travel by express train from Hanoi to Sapa, you’ll take the train to the closest railway station in Lao Cai. From Lao Cai, you can continue by van or bus to Sapa.

The total train journey from Hanoi to Sapa takes about 8 hours 40 minutes to 8 hours 50 minutes.

All trains depart at night, which is quite convenient as they allow you to get a good night’s sleep. Upon arrival in Sapa, you’ll have enough time to freshen up and get ready to join one of the many groups going on a trek, which usually starts around 08:00-08:30.

If you contact your hotel beforehand, you might be allowed to check in early and take a shower before setting off to see the beautiful Sapa.

PRO TIP: If you are short of time, you can book the night train back to Hanoi for the next day. When doing this, you can do one-day tour on the day of arrival (day 1), sleep one night in Sapa and do another day tour the next day (day 2). On the second day, you can take the night train back to Hanoi.

The night train from Hanoi to Sapa departs from Hanoi Railway Station, a 20-minute walk or a 10-minute taxi ride from the Old Quarter. The easiest way to reach this train station is to order a Grab (taxi), which shouldn’t cost more than a few dollars.

Several trains depart at 22:00 every night. Others leave at 15:00 daily.

Once you arrive at the train station, you should enter on the western side (Tran Quy Cap). This is the platform when taking the train from Hanoi to Sapa.

Which train to book from Hanoi to Sapa?

There are many different companies you can book with when you travel by train from Hanoi to Sapa. They vary in comfort level, amenities offered, and of course, price.

Amenities differ per company — like the quality of mattresses, inclusion of free drinks and snacks, as well as the number of bunks per cabin.

See below a quick breakdown of train choices from Hanoi to Sapa.

• Vietnam Railways offers the most basic options but the cheapest price. Fares start at 669,000 VND ($26) for a 1st class sleeper (4-berth cabin with soft bunks).
• We think you get better value for money with a deluxe train, which has more comfy beds, a good pillow and free food & drinks. Rates start from 611,000 VND ($23.50) with Pumpkin Express.
• Luxury trains offer an overall more luxurious ambience. But we don’t think they’re too different to the deluxe trains in terms of amenities. Fares start from 887,000 VND ($34) with Chapa Express, 715,000 VND ($27.50) with Livitrans Express, and 720,000 VND ($28) with Sapaly Express.

Get off the train at Lao Cai Railway Station, 35 km northeast of Sapa. From here, you can take either a van or a bus to get to Sapa town centre.

The van is a quick way to get to Sapa from Lao Cai. They don’t make unnecessary stops so the journey takes just around 55m. You can get a seat for around 213,000 VND ($8.20).

Vans are easily available outside the train station so you don’t need to book them in advance. Keep in mind the ticket price, some drivers tend to overcharge tourists. Also, most vans don’t leave until they are full.

You’ll be dropped off around the main square in Sapa, within walking distance of many hotels in town. You will also find a lot of taxis here, and they can take you to your accommodation if it’s outside the town centre.

The public bus from Lao Cai is a great way to kick off your Sapa adventure while travelling like a local. These buses are quite comfortable, although you might want to pay for an extra seat for your luggage if you’re carrying big bags.

Take Bus #1 when heading to Sapa. You can find the public (yellow-red) buses across the railway station, at the end of the parking area. Buses are available as early as 05:40 in the morning.

Buses depart every 20-30 minutes and will drop you off at Sapa Yellow Bus Station, near the Old Church. Note that these public buses make a lot of stops so the journey will take at least 1h 02m - 3h 20m.

Be aware! Locals might tell you there is no public bus and point to a fake blue timetable next to the minivans. Don’t let them fool you and just continue to the end of the parking area.

If you’re travelling in a group, or if you want a direct ride from Hanoi Airport, you can also consider getting a private transfer.

Rates start from 3,086,000 VND ($120) for a 3-seater private transfer. Divide the cost and that’s just about 1,029,000 VND ($39.50) per person.

PRO TIP: The road to Sapa is safe when you travel with experienced local drivers. But we don’t recommend driving this route on your own if you’re not familiar with road conditions in Vietnam. In fact, very few companies will rent out a self-drive car to tourists.

Private Transfer options from Hanoi to Sapa