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Hanoi to Lao Cai (Sapa) Bus review
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.
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.
Efficient, affordable transportation between Hanoi and Sa Pa with great customer service. we booked the shuttle there and the bus back, both very positive experiences