Hanoi airport to Sapa detailed guidance:
When you want to get from Hanoi airport to Sapa, you have a few options to consider. Traveling between these destinations is possible by different means of transport:
- Standard sleeper bus
- VIP cabin bus
- Shared limousine van
- Private car
If you’re looking for a quick trip, it’s recommended that you use a private car. However, if you’d rather take your time with a slower, more affordable travel option, you can consider the rest options are buses/shared vans.
The cost of travel will depend on the means of transport you choose for your trip. A private car is the most expensive option - it will cost you about VND 3,700,000 (USD 160). If you want to save on transportation, it’s better to take a sleeping bus as a Hanoi airport Sapa bus ticket costs as low as VND 280,000 (USD 12)
How long does it take to get from Hanoi airport to Sapa?
The travel time from Hanoi to Sapa can vary depending on the mode of transportation you choose. All things considered, the whole journey should take from 4.5 to 5.5 hours
- Standard sleeper bus/VIP cabin bus: around 5.5 hours with 02 breaks on the way
- Limousine van: about 05 hours with 2 breaks on the way
- Private car: about 4.5 - 5 hours
How much does it cost to get from Hanoi airport to Sapa?
The cost of the trip from Hanoi airport to Sapa varies according to what means of transport you choose for your journey. The most affordable option is the standard sleeper bus which costs VN 280,000 (~ US 12) for 01 ticket for 01 way.
However, if you’re after more upscale travel, the most expensive variant is to opt for a private - a one-way taxi ticket can cost as much as VND 3,700,000.
Here is a chart of the average ticket prices and transportation options available from Hanoi to Sapa:
- Standard sleeper bus: US12 per ticket
- Van price: USD 17 - USD 22 per seat (depend on your seat location on the van)
- Private car: From US 160 USD - US 190 per car (depend on your group size)
How many trips per day are there between Hanoi airport and Sapa?
Depending on your choice of transportation, the number of daily trips varies.
- Vans from Hanoi airport to Sapa depart during the day - there are approximately 2 departures a day: around 08:00 AM and 04:00 PM
- Daily sleeper bus/VIP cabin bus at around 08:00 AM and 23:00
- A private car is a good option to consider for this route, too. Book a cab to take you from Hanoi to Sapa at any time of the day.
Important note: If you're looking for the bus or shared van, your arrival time at the airport should be at least 1.5 hours before the pick-up time, to make sure that you'll have enough time for the check-out procedures & collecting your luggage. Never mind if you choose a private car.
Which means of transport is the best for the route?
Buses
Taking a bus from Hanoi to Sapa is cheaper than flying. Quite often, a long-distance bus is the cheapest transportation option. Buses normally make the bathroom and/or lunch stops along the way.
Things to remember before opting for a bus ride:
- If possible, make sure to choose higher-class buses for a more comfortable travel experience. Such buses often have an air conditioning system, soft reclining seats, Wi-Fi, bathrooms, etc.
- As with plane tickets, buses are better booked in advance so that you can secure a good seat.
- While booking a bus, keep in mind that delays are possible.
Private car
Catching a cab is the easiest way to get from Hanoi to Sapa. It allows you to tailor-make your trip, plan all the detours, and see all the places you want. You can choose the type and the size of your car as well to be as comfortable as you'd like to.
The car can wait for you at the airport in case of a delayed flight and pick you up right upon your arrival. Sometimes, your arrival time at the airport is not ideally matched with the bus/shared van schedule, in this case, a private car would be a good option if you do not want to wait for a long time at the airport.
Depending on the route, it might cost as much as VND 3,700,000.
Things to remember: It's a good idea to follow the route on Google Maps or any other GPS navigator.
Vans
A shared van is another means of transport for traveling from Hanoi airport to Sapa. As far as travel time is concerned, it’s basically equal to a taxi ride, while price-wise it’s way more affordable. The majority of tourists book a van online in advance.
Things to remember: while traveling by van, you might not have as much space for luggage as you would on a train or a plane. It’s a good idea to pack only the most useful things for a van trip and put them in a backpack that will be easy to carry around.
Noi Bai airport Hanoi - HAN to Sapa transfer review
Friendly customer service and legit service too!
when i first came to hanoi. all i want a straight transportation to Sa Pa town ASAP. since i arrive at noon, the only bus that departed from Hanoi center to Sa Pa is 10pm. since i don't want to waste my time, i found A21 tours in the internet and they provided an airport transfer straight to Sa Pa! just what i wanted! i took the luxury limo throught their customer service whatsapp service and they reply me zap! just a second! they also give a free snack and drinks, and don't forget free coffee too! the driver couldn't speak any english words but it's okay, i always have google translate to communicate with him. the driver also send in front of my hotel! he's really nice and helpful too!
when i back to Hanoi city, i also book from them but with sleeper green bus. one thing is you need to walk to their place (google map given) to depart from Sa Pa. i just slept along the way inside the bus because i am so tired from all those hikes and walks.
they stop at Old quarter just 5min walks to my hostel. the conductor bus is also helpful.
and yes i recommend using their service. really helpful and easy too! im looking forward to come hanoi next time and use their service again!
Thank you A21 tours!
Me and my siblings were planning to go from Hanoi to Sapa. Till we realized we haven't book our sleeper bus. We searched and came across A21 tours and tried to see if we can still be accommodated provided that the booking was done less than 24 hours. We booked online, and pro actively we have also sent a message in Whatsapp to ensure that once payment is done, we can get the e-ticket confirmation. To our surprise, just around 4-5 hours, they have reached out to us to guide us on the payment process and the issuance of the e-ticket as well. Their swift response was a relief w/our anxiety given the limited time for us. Also, it didn't stopped from just issuing the vip bus e-ticket confirmation but A21 tours consistently checked us from departure to arrival and any other concerns in between. They made sure that the tourists will only get enjoyment, safety and hassle free experience.
Highly recommended.
We took the Fansipan express from Sapa back to Hanoi on 29/9/19 leaving at 13:30, checkin was smooth(ish) - its a scruffy office on a chaotic street where you wait but this is Sapa in Vietnam after all - so expoected.
Bus is confortable enough, Im 1.73m and had plenty of legroom, the berth is private with a curtain.
Its a big bus. The road leaving Sapa is tight and twisty for th first hour down to the highway at Lao Cai, so this isnt airplane or train smoothness - however it was fine in the day. Once on the highway the driver drove at a steady 100km/hr (checked with GPS) there didnt seem to be any taumatic moments - the general standard of driving in VIetnam is pretty poor and our driver seemed to cope well - even when you come across 2 trucks stopped on the highway blocking both lanes with one reversing!!!
By the time we got into Hanoi the drivers favourite control seemed to be the horn as I think we were running 15min late.
We took this bus not because we expected a really smooth comfortable sleep and not because its cheap - its just that it IS comfortable and it leaves at a very convenient time allowing a hotel checkout at midday and then a 13:30 departure. Itys a 5.5hr drive to Hanoi - even if you take the train you have to get a bus or taxi down to Lao Cai for the first hour anyway - if you've got luggage or cases this is easier than dragging onto a train as well - as there was loads of storage space as in all long distance coaches.
Coach made 2 stops on way back - strange open sided supermarkets selling some strange stuff alongside touirist 'tat', beware you need 3k dong to pay for the toilets! Make sure you;ve got some small notes.
To be honest there isn't much alternative for getting to and from Sapa, trains are slow and go overnight only to Lao Cai, a private taxi would be expensive - and seeing the driving standards in Vietnam I'd rather be on a big bus!
Also Im sure some of the more negative views on here are for the wrong bus - this coach as in the main picture is orange and black - its called a VIP cabin bus, some of the pictures of the interior are for a different bus. We would use again because of the convenience.
We likewise availed of their Halong Bay tour and half-day Hanoi city tour. The guides that we had (Ms. Emma and Mr. Cheongsam, respectively) were knowledgeable and spoke decent English. We recommend that you wear comfortable walking/hiking shoes if you’ll join the short trek in Halong Bay. The climb is not recommended for those with weak knees. Make sure to bring some snacks too as lunch was served late. Don’t expect you’ll be able to go for a good swim once you get to one of the islands. The swimming area and time allotted were limited. Also, there were no shower areas and changing areas.
Overall, we were very satisfied with the A21 services. Communication was easy via email and WhatsApp. Everything was handled smoothly and efficiently. It’s a very reliable company and I would highly recommend it.
Thank you A21 for making our trip stress-free and enjoyable! Xin cam o’n!
A21 tours were brilliant in helping us to rearrange our booking and take the next available bus. Would recommend.
I booked 6 transfers around Nord Vietnam. Service supe and always on time, they exceeded my expectations every time. Thank you again!!!
We had like 8 trips booked with A21. All of them were booked and negotiated via Whatsapp where their response was inmediate, straight to the point, fairly priced. And they delivered a very reliable service accordingly. Some of the trops were long and the drivers were prepared, kind and proactive on planning stops for rests/toilets etc. We used door-to-door service and everytine they showed up 5-10 minues before departure with a comfortable, clean vehicle which was exactly in line we agreed. I also checked prices against other service providers and they were more than fair, so I am not even thinking of getting around with any other transfer service provider. Keep up the good service
A21 Tour provided the best travel service we have ever had abroad; easy, reactive and secure solution that allowed us to have a flexible trip. Found them when tried to book a car from Hanoi to Sapa, then ended up using A21 service 2 weeks across Vietnam. We booking our transfers (approx. every 2 days) always the day before; A21 guys always found an excellent solution in less than 10 minutes. Awesome is the way they work using WhatsApp chats to communicate, pay (with CC/PayPal) and eventually solve problems/misunderstandings with not english speaking drivers.
Thank you very much!
Andrea & Ginevra
Des transferts adéquates à nos demandes et à des prix courants.
Merci!
A21 organised 4 cars for us on our trip to Vietnam. Very efficient and professional. I would thouroughly recommend these guys for advanced booking of transport around Hanoi and HCM.
Very good organized trip and very comfortable bus,I enjoyed my drive from Hanoi to Sapa, thank you so much. Definitely recommend it
We use the limousine transfer service from Noi Bai airport to Sapa.
The service is very good. Just keep your Whatsapp on and the staff will reply you shortly in few minutes for any questions you asking.
The booking process is fast and you may made payment through online. The service is trustworthy. Just inform the staff upon arrival, and the staff will tell you roughly arrival time for the pick-up. The staff will also give a very clear instruction on the pick up point.
The driver is very professional and entertaining. We had a very good ride throughout the journey.
This service is very convenient. Sure will recommend you to use their service.
They were detailed in the communication and provide frequent updates to check with you up till the bus arrives. I was able to check with them when the Fansipan express bus arrival was delayed for the pickup from hotel.
Payment online was quick and simple as well.
Highly recommended.
Driver arrive on time for all the pick up.
Excellent service highly recommended.
Driving did feel a bit erratic at times and travelling down from SaPa was a little unnerving but that’s par for the course once you decide to bus it instead of getting the train.
I wouldn’t hesitate to book again and cannot fault the experience. I have travelled on much worse back home and paid a lot more too.
Information was translated into English too regarding stops and arrival in Hanoi which was helpful. Toilet on board was clean, which was impressive considering a lot of people struggle to keep a toilet clean even when they don’t have a moving bus to contend with.