How to Get From Sapa to CatBa
Train · Bus
%2Cpin-s-b%2B8B4513(107.04904472585399%2C20.7253214878072)%2F105.45990995055949%2C21.5451158629741%2C5%2F560x280%402x%3Faccess_token%3Dpk.eyJ1IjoiZ2Vja29yb3V0ZXMiLCJhIjoiY2plc2p0NmQ4MHh1cDJ4bXI3aWlraGh3YyJ9.ftb9bE1kUJiddMRbmZblQQ&w=3840&q=75)
In this in-depth route guide, you'll find the best ways to travel the 370 kilometre (230 miles) distance from Sapa to CatBa. By the end of this guide, you'll know exactly how to get there — whether you want to travel on a budget, reach CatBa as fast as possible, or enjoy the ride in comfort. We base our information on verified schedules, ticket prices, and on-the-ground insights from recent travellers.
What are the 2 ways to travel from Sapa to CatBa?
There are two ways to travel the 370 km distance from Sapa to CatBa. You can choose between the train and bus.
The journey takes between 12h and the quickest way is by train (12h). If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by train with tickets starting at 396,000 VND ($15).
12h - 12h 30m
396,000 VND ($15)
9-12h
432,000 VND ($16)
Already in CatBa?
Onward from CatBa
Once you're in CatBa, here's where to next — 4 researched onward routes to pick from.
Sapa to CatBa by Train
Travelling from Sapa to CatBa by train includes 3 steps and takes around 12h - 12h 30m — but 8 hours of that will be spent on an overnight train where you can get a good night’s sleep.
Is it worth making all these transfers when you can just take a direct bus? It’s really up to your preference. Trains are an exciting way to travel in Vietnam, and they’re generally safer and more comfortable than buses.
Step 1: Sapa to Lao Cai by Bus/Van
From Sapa, you can take a van ride for 45 minutes or a 1-hour bus ride to Lao Cai. Because you will be taking a night train, we recommend catching the last trip from Sapa so you can still make the most of your last day here.
The last van or bus leaves Sapa around 17:00 to 18:30. Confirm this schedule with your hotel so that you don’t miss it and end up paying for a more expensive taxi.
Ticket prices start from 40,000 VND ($1.50) for a van and 30,000 VND ($1.10) for a bus.
Step 2: Lao Cai to Hanoi by Train
Starting October 2022, Vietnam Railways is back to its nightly operations from Lao Cai to Hanoi. This route previously operated with fewer weekly departures because of the pandemic.
Vietnam Railways SP4 departs every night from Lao Cai at 21:30. This arrives in Hanoi at 05:25 after a journey that takes 7h 20m - 7h 55m.
You can get a 4-berth sleeper for 355,000 VND ($14). Skip the queues at the train station and buy your tickets online beforehand through Baolau.
Check out our page for Sapa to Hanoi for more train options.
Ready to book your step?
Step 3: Hanoi to CatBa
Option 1: Hanoi to CatBa by Bus & Ferry
We recommend taking a combined bus & ferry from Hanoi to CatBa for convenience. Your tour operator takes care of your transfers so you won’t have to worry about anything.
Ticket prices start from 287,000 VND ($11) and travel time takes around 3h - 4h 30m.
For more info, check out our guide on how to get from Hanoi to CatBa.
Ready to book your option?
Option 2: Hanoi to CatBa by Train + Taxi + Ferry
This 2nd option involves several transfers that you will have to schedule on your own. This is why we think you should take this route only if the tickets for the combined bus & ferry are already sold out.
Upon arrival in Hanoi, you’ll have around 30 minutes to spare before the first train departs for Hai Phong at 06:00. A train ticket costs 85,000 VND ($3.20) for the 2.5-hour journey.
You are to get off at Hai Phong Railway Station. From here, you can take a 10-minute taxi with fares from 50,000 VND ($1.90) to Pha Binh Harbour.
IMPORTANT: Make sure the driver understands that you want to go to Pha Binh Harbour, NOT Dinh Vu Port. Some drivers may try to scam you by taking you to Dinh Vu, which is 30 minutes away by taxi. There are no direct ferries from Dinh Vu to CatBa.
From Pha Binh Harbour, there are six direct ferries departing for CatBa daily. The ferry journey takes around 1.5 hours. A ticket costs 140,000 VND ($5.30) and you can buy them online on Baolau.
Ferries dock at CatBa Pier in CatBa town centre. From here, many hotels in town are just within walking distance.
Sapa to CatBa by Bus
There are six main companies offering nightly bus trips from Sapa to CatBa: Grouptour, Techbus VN JSC, Duc Duong Bus, Ket Doan, TBus and Good Morning Cat Ba.
Bus fares start from 432,000 VND ($16) and travel time is 9-12h.
If you prefer to travel with the company with the best reviews, go for Good Morning Cat Ba, which is known for its friendly staff and nice buses.
Departure and arrival station
Good Morning Cat Ba departs from Sapa Bus Station, 1 km east of Sapa Lake. It offers free hotel drop-off in CatBa town centre.
Ken Doan picks up passengers from any hotel in Sapa town centre. Its last stop is at the Parking Lot of CatBa Night Market.
Sapa Grouptour departs from its office in Sapa town centre and arrives at its headquarters in CatBa town centre.
Bus schedule from Sapa to CatBa
Rounding it up
We hope this guide was helpful in planning how to get from Sapa to CatBa. If there's anything else you're wondering about, drop us a comment and we'll do our best to answer you within a few days.
PS: If you've recently travelled this route, share your experience with fellow travellers and help us improve this post. Thanks for helping out our travel community!
Frequently Asked Questions
The distance from Sapa to CatBa is 370 km.
ABOUT YOUR DESTINATION
Why Visit CatBa?
Cat Ba is a biodiverse island along Vietnam’s northeast coast. The largest of the islands in Halong Bay, Cat Ba boasts a rugged karst landscape dotted with spectacular limestone cliffs, sandy beaches, lakes, grottoes, and waterfalls.
Popular activities include kayaking and rock climbing, but you can also just lounge by the beach and wait for the sunset at Cannon Fort. The island rose in popularity in recent years, but we love that most areas remain untouched in Cat Ba.
How We Research
Every route on Gecko Routes is independently researched and regularly verified.
500+
ROUTES RESEARCHED
Every route is personally travelled and documented by our team, covering Southeast Asia's most popular and off-the-beaten-path connections.
Monthly
UPDATES
Routes are reviewed on a regular cycle to catch schedule changes, new operators, and price updates. Every guide shows when it was last verified.
Verified
BY TRAVELLERS
Tips and corrections from our community of travellers help keep routes accurate between team visits. Your experience makes this guide better for everyone.
About the Authors
Senior Travel Writer
Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she's not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines. Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she'll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.
Founder & Trip Planning Expert
Based in Bali, Maarten's passion for travel is undeniable. In 2016, he decided to quit his job as a stock analyst and started doing what he always dreamed of: travelling through South East Asia and helping other people plan their trips. When he is not working on Gecko Routes, you'll find him surfing in the ocean or exploring the best gems of Indonesia.
Affiliate Disclosure
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through them, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep Gecko Routes free and up to date.
Reader Comments
No comments yet — be the first to share your experience!
Leave a Comment