If you’re thinking about putting on some hiking shoes, trekking through the valley, and exploring the land home to ethnic minorities like the Black Hmong and the Red Dao, today we’ll explain how to get from Hanoi to Sapa by train, bus, or minivan, the most common ways to get to this town.
One of the top destinations if you’re traveling to Vietnam, and one that attracts countless travelers from all over the world, has remained, over the years, Sapa, the small mountain village near the Chinese border and surrounded by valleys filled with rice fields.
A popular way to reach Sapa is by taking the comfortable night train from Hanoi to Lao Cai. There are several trains operating this route, offering carriages with bunk beds that let you sleep under the air conditioning during the 8–9 hours journey, typically departing around 10:00 p.m.
Some of the options include Victoria Express, Fansipan Express, King Express, Livitrans Express, among others.
Between 5:00 and 6:00 a.m., you’ll arrive in Lao Cai, a small town that has gained fame thanks to the influx of tourists heading to Sapa. From there, you’ll need to take a road transfer to Sapa, which takes about an hour along a winding road.
Sometimes, you’ll get the added thrill of rally-style driving from Vietnamese drivers—enough to test even the strongest stomach.
You can buy tickets at any travel agency near your hotel in Hanoi. These agencies typically offer combo packages that include both the train and the minivan transfer to Sapa.
If you prefer doing it independently, you can book the train ticket online and, once you arrive in Lao Cai, negotiate a minivan ride at the station. These usually cost between $5–15 per person.
Another increasingly popular option is traveling from Hanoi to Sapa by bus. We recommend Sapa Express, a company known for its modern fleet and spacious, comfortable seating.
The journey takes about 5 hours and can be done during the day, with departures at 6:30 or 7:00 a.m. from Hanoi and arriving in Sapa around midday.
You can book tickets online at 12go.asia, where you can select the price and departure time that suits you best. If you prefer traveling at night, they also operate a 10:00 p.m. service.
A great bonus is that they often pick passengers up in the Old Quarter, and with prior arrangement, they can even collect you directly from your hotel.
The last option is traveling by minivan. However, considering the length of the trip and the superior comfort of the buses, this may not be the most appealing choice. Minivans typically depart from the Hanoi Opera House or even directly from the airport.
That said, scheduling may be the biggest advantage here, as departures are usually at 6:45 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. So, if you arrive in Hanoi in the morning and want to head straight to Sapa by noon, this could be your most convenient option.
Again, you can make reservations through the same websites mentioned above.
