Sapa to Ha Giang

How to Get From Sapa to Ha Giang

3Options
5h 50mFastest
$11From
ElaMaartenWritten by Ela · Reviewed by Maarten

Van · Bus · Private Transfer

Ha Giang sits 128 kilometres (80 miles) east of Sapa, close to the Chinese border. It's the start of the Ha Giang loop, a mountain circuit past limestone peaks and terraced valleys. The van is the cheapest way to get from Sapa to Ha Giang, at $11 (290,000 VND). It does the run in 5h 50m - 6h. The bus costs about the same and can take longer. A private transfer costs far more.

DISTANCE

Distance from Sapa to Ha Giang

Sapa and Ha Giang are about 128 km (80 miles) apart, and the journey itself covers around 223 km by road. Depending on the option, the trip takes between 5h 50m and 6h 40m.

~128 km
Straight-line distance
~223 km
Route distance
Map of Sapa – Ha Giang

3 ways to travel from Sapa to Ha Giang

There are three ways to travel from Sapa to Ha Giang. You can choose between the van, bus, and private transfer. The journey takes 5h 50m – 6h 40m and the quickest way is by van. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by van with tickets starting at $11 (290,000 VND).

Vanfrom$11290,000 VND5h 50m – 6h2 options to bookVan5h 50m–6h$11Cheapest

Sapa to Ha Giang by Van

Sapa Ethnic Travel and Quang Giang operate minivan trips from Sapa to Ha Giang daily. These are luxury minivans with reclining seats, unlike the bunk beds offered on sleeper buses.

The advertised travel time is 5h 50m - 6h, although a few passengers have complained that the journey actually takes 7-8 hours because the minivans make a lot of stops.

Still, we recommend taking a minivan over the bus for this route. With a minivan, you can travel during the day, enjoy the scenic landscape along the way, and arrive in Ha Giang in the afternoon. With a bus, you will arrive in Ha Giang in the middle of the night.

Minivan ticket prices from Sapa to Ha Giang start from $11 (290,000 VND).

Departure and arrival station

Quang Giang departs from its office in Sapa town centre. The minivan drops you off at your hotel’s doorstep as long as it’s within Ha Giang town centre.

Sapa Grouptour departs from its headquarters in Sapa town centre and arrives at Ha Giang Hostel in the town centre.

Van schedule from Sapa to Ha Giang

Sapa Ethnic Travel$11
5h 50m
Ket Doan, Sa Pa, Lao Cai → Ha Giang
06:45
Tickets
Quang Giang · Luxury$12
6h
Ket Doan Bus office (Hey Hotel) → Quang Giang office
08:00
Tickets

Tickets sold on Bookaway and 12Go Asia

Stations

Map of stations
Click to explore
From
To
Busfrom$115h 50m – 6h 40m24 options to bookBus5h 50m–6h 40m$11

Sapa to Ha Giang by Bus

The bus is an affordable way to get from Sapa to Ha Giang. Bus fares start from $11 (290,000 VND) and the journey takes around 5h 50m - 6h 40m.

Sapa Grouptour offers 3 daily trips from Sapa to Ha Giang. All of these buses depart in the evening and arrive past midnight — not exactly the best time to arrive if it’s your first time in Ha Giang.

You will take a sleeper bus with basic bunk beds. Sapa Grouptour is known for its comfortable buses, although its drivers sometimes drive too fast.

Ticket fares start from $11 (290,000 VND). Travel time is around 5h 50m - 6h 40m, but like the minivan, there have been complaints of buses arriving late.

Departure and arrival station

Sapa Grouptour departs from its Sapa office, just 3 blocks north of Sapa Lake. The bus arrives at Ha Giang Hostel in the town centre.

Bus schedule from Sapa to Ha Giang

Sapa Ethnic Travel · VIP 16 Express$11
6h
Ket Doan Travel SP → Ha Giang SET
08:00
Tickets
Sapa Ethnic Travel · VIP 34 Seats$12
6h – 6h 40m
Ket Doan Travel SP → Ha Giang SET
09:3010:0019:00
Tickets
Quang Nghi · VIP Limo$13
6h 30m
TBUS Sapa Office → 60 Minh Khai Street
07:3016:00
Tickets

Tickets sold on Bookaway

Stations

Map of stations
Click to explore
From
To
Private Transferfrom$130per car6h3 options to bookPrivate Transfer6h$130per car

Sapa to Ha Giang by Private Transfer

Private transfers are also available for the journey that takes 6h from Sapa to Ha Giang.

Rates start from $130 (3,300,000 VND) for a 3-seater private transfer. Divide the cost and that’s just about $43 (1,100,000 VND) per person.

Book your private transfer through BookAway so you can expect a nice car that comes with trusted drivers.

Quang Giang · Standard Car 3 PAX$130
6hper car
Sapa - Any hotel in the city center → Ha Giang - Any hotel in the city center
Any time you choose
Tickets
Quang Giang · SUV Car 4 PAX$140
6hper car
Sapa - Any hotel in the city center → Ha Giang - Any hotel in the city center
Any time you choose
Tickets
Quang Giang · Standard Minivan 10 PAX$140
6hper car
Sapa - Any hotel in the city center → Ha Giang - Any hotel
Any time you choose
Tickets

Tickets sold on Bookaway

Reach out to our Community

2

Well, I have to assume that the reverse journey (Ha Giang-Sapa) will also exist.

M
MaartenGeckoRoutes team

That's right. We haven't yet had time to write about and research this route.

0
1
E
ElaGeckoRoutes team

Hi Zs! I just updated the article to reflect current prices. Thanks a lot for the heads up!

0
1

ABOUT YOUR DESTINATION

Why Visit Ha Giang?

The journey from Hanoi to Ha Giang is as beautiful as the destination, and Ha Giang is home to some of the most amazing landscapes in Vietnam. There are not too many travellers going to this side of northern Vietnam but it's gradually becoming more well-known.

Ha Giang offers a beautiful green scenery close to the Chinese border. The town is characterized by winding roads, limestone mountains, and lush hills. If you want to reach Heaven's Gate, Ha Giang is the place to be.

Rounding it up

That's the full picture for getting from Sapa to Ha Giang, roughly 128 kilometres (80 miles) apart. In all, there are 3 ways to make the trip. The cheapest fare is $11 (290,000 VND). The quickest trip takes 5h 50m.

Prices and timetables change, so it's worth a quick check before you travel. Have a question, or travelled this route recently? Ask the community below and we'll do our best to help.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the distance from Sapa to Ha Giang?

The distance from Sapa to Ha Giang is 128 kilometres (80 miles).

What is the fastest way to get from Sapa to Ha Giang?

Journey times from Sapa to Ha Giang overlap: van 5h 50m - 6h, bus 5h 50m - 6h 40m, private transfer 6h. Depending on the departure, no single option is always the fastest.

What is the cheapest way to get from Sapa to Ha Giang?

The cheapest way to get from Sapa to Ha Giang is by minivan with ticket costs starting from 290,000 VND.

Sapa to Ha Giang?

There are daytime vans and overnight buses that directly operate from Sapa to Ha Giang.

Does Ha Giang have its own train station?

There is no railway in Ha Giang province, so your only option is to travel by bus, van, or private transfer.

How long does it take to travel from Sapa to Ha Giang?

The journey will take 6-7 hours and is about 250 kilometres by road.

About the Authors

Ela
Ela

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.

Maarten
MaartenReviewer

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.

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