How to get from Ninh Binh 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.

There are 3 ways to travel the 410 kilometers (255 miles) from Ninh Binh to Sapa. You can choose between the bus, private transport and train. The journey takes 6 hours 45 minutes to 12 hours and the quickest way is by bus. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at 366,000 VND ($14.10).

When you want to travel direct and on a budget, take the bus from Ninh Binh to Sapa. Bus fares start from 366,000 VND ($14.10).

Ket Doan, The Long Travel, Techbus VN JSC, Ha Son, Full Moon Party, Duc Duong Bus, Grouptour and TBus operate nightly buses for this route. The advertised travel time is 6 hours 45 minutes to 9 hours 50 minutes. However, both companies are known for late bus departures.

Some buses leave at least an hour later than the promised time. Drivers and staff for both Ket Doan, The Long Travel, Techbus VN JSC, Ha Son, Full Moon Party, Duc Duong Bus, Grouptour and TBus can also be rude to passengers.

For these reasons, you can consider just travelling from Ninh Binh to Sapa by train, where you can expect a comfortable ride.

Departure and arrival station

The Long Travel departs from The Long Hotel in Tam Coc and arrives at Sapa Bus Station.

Sapa Grouptour departs from its headquarters in Tam Coc town centre. It parks at its office in Sapa city centre.

Travelling by train from Ninh Binh to Sapa involves 3 steps: 2 trains and then a van or bus.

Despite all these transfers, train travel in Vietnam is generally comfortable and come with good customer service. The same thing cannot be said for the bus companies operating on this route.

There are several trains operating daily from Ninh Binh to Hanoi.

We recommend taking the last one, SE8, which departs at 16:30 and arrives at 19:12. With this train, you will arrive in Hanoi in time for dinner. You’ll have more than enough time to find a nice resto in the city and get back to the train station before 22:00.

Ticket prices start from 113,000 VND ($4.40) for a soft seat.

Check out our page on Ninh Binh to Hanoi for more train options.

Starting October 2022, Vietnam Railways is back to its nightly operations from Hanoi to Lao Cai. This route previously operated with fewer weekly departures because of the pandemic.

Vietnam Railways train SP3 departs from Hanoi Railway Station at 22:00 every night. Travel time to Lao Cai is around 7h 20m - 8h 5m.

A ticket costs 498,000 VND ($19.20) for a 4-berth sleeper. You can also get a cheaper bunk in a 6-berth sleeper, but it is less spacious.

For more train choices, you can find deluxe, luxury and private cabins on BookAway.

Also, visit our page on Hanoi to Sapa for more details.

From Lao Cai Railway Station, you can get to Sapa by van or bus.

Vans are faster because they don’t make a lot of stops. A seat costs 218,000 VND ($8.40) for the journey that takes 55m.

The bus is a good way to travel like a local — just don’t expect a lot of space for your bags. A ticket costs 30,000 VND ($1.20) and travel time is around 1 hour.

Looking to travel door-to-door in a private car?

You can book a 5-seater taxi to get you from Ninh Binh to Sapa for 5,238,000 VND ($200).

You can also save money when travelling in a larger group. A private minivan that can fit up to 10 people costs 6,468,000 VND ($250).

Private Transport options from Ninh Binh to Sapa