When you want to get from Hanoi to Sapa, you have a few options to consider. Traveling between these destinations is possible by different means of transport:
If you’re looking for a quick trip, it’s recommended that you use Hanoi Sapa private car. However, if you’d rather take your time with a slower, more affordable travel option, you can book a Train ticket to Lao Cai then take a taxi to Sapa.
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 3,600,000 (USD 152). If you want to save on transportation, it’s better to take a sleeping bus as a Hanoi Sapa bus ticket costs as low as VND 250,000 (USD 11)
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 to 10 hours.
The cost of the trip from Hanoi to Sapa varies according to what means of transport you choose for your journey. The most affordable operator is Vietnam Railways (Đường sắt Việt Nam): travelling by train expect to pay as low as VND 141,000 for your ticket.
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 3,600,000.
Here is a chart of the average ticket prices and transportation options available from Hanoi to Sapa:
You can order a taxi, too - an estimated cost of the ride is from USD 152 to USD 190 depend on which type of vehicle and what time for pick up.
Depending on your choice of transportation, the number of daily trips varies.
Taxis are a good option to consider for this route, too. Book a cab to take you from Hanoi to Sapa any time of the day.
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 bathroom and/or lunch stops along the way.
Things to remember before opting for a bus ride:
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.
Depending on the route, it might cost as much as VND 3,000,000.
Things to remember: It's a good idea to follow the route on Google Maps or any other GPS navigator.
Things to remember while choosing a train ticket:
Consider everything carefully while choosing the class of your train travel. In most cases, the second class is comfortable enough – it features 2 or 4 berths in each compartment and is often air-conditioned.
If you’re in for a premium experience, consider getting a first class ticket. The price of first class tickets may include Wifi, and a choice of snacks and drinks.
A shared van is another means of transport for traveling from Hanoi 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.
Sometimes, when trains or buses aren’t available, a van is your only way to get from Hanoi to Sapa.
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.
How to choose the most convenient way of travel from Hanoi to Sapa? In order to make your choice of transportation easier, we asked 1000 users to range their preferences for this route. Here are the results of the poll:
Hanoi to Sapa transfer review
15 Dec 2023 on TripAdvisor
Very clean and comfortable overnight train.
The response to the booking was quick and helpful. Once the online payment is made, the tickets with QR are issued. Very impressed with the firm bed and clean linen (no smell). Highly recommended01 Jan 2020 on TripAdvisor
Probably the most comfortable way from Hanoi to Sa Pa.
We booked the VIP version, two bed cabin of King Express train. It was reasonably clean. We did not see any bugs or vermin. Toilettes were ok. We did get some sleep. The train was very punctual both times. The train took 7.5 hours from Hanoi to La Coi. The employees in the train sell you staff that is actually free. I paid for the tee anyway because these people are very poor and it is very little they charge.When you arrive at La Coi station, there are lots of Minibuses that take you to Sa Pa for small money. This takes about one hour. The drivers already wait in front of the train. It is safe to go with them, no scam.
01 Jan 2020 on TripAdvisor
Nice experience.
We book Private Deluxe on from Hanoi to Lao Cai and VIP from Lao Cai to Hanoi. The experience was nice. The beds were comfortable and the room was clean. We could store our luggage below the bed. Water bottles provided. We were okay with the rumbling of the train while it is making its way on the track - we slept soundly. The toilet was near and clean.However, on our way back the tea lady asked us to pay 50,000 dong for what is supposed to be a free coffee or tea included in our VIP package. We didn't pay and she relented and gave us our coffee and tea for free. She didn't provide us with towels.
04 Jan 2020 on TripAdvisor
Best way to get to Sapa from Hanoi
Booked the cabin with 4 beds. Journey was about 8 hours. Experience was pretty good, and slept quite well. The beds were reasonably clean and comfortable. Free mineral water, snacks, toothpaste and toothbrush were provided. But would suggest to try not to use the toilets if possible.Overall good experience, train timing was punctual. Overnight train a good way to get from Hanoi to Sapa.
23 Jan 2020 on TripAdvisor
Just ok.
We travelled in a 4 berth cabin on the King Express From Hanoi to Sapa. The rooms are very small so take as little luggage as possible. We left three bags in our hotel at Hanoi and just took what we needed in one bag on the train to save space. Mattresses are pretty hard and not very wide but we managed to get some sleep. Husband suffered motion sickness - it can get pretty rocky. Trip back to Sapa was better as we knew what to expect. A very basic journey but good if you would prefer to travel overnight.13 Jun 2023 on TripAdvisor
Reliable & Good transport provider :)
A21 was very responsive to my queries & was able to communicate with me via WhatsApp promptly throughout my stay in Hanoi. We booked 4x Chapa Express train tickets (2 way) to Sapa & Private car (2 way) to Halong Bay. It was a breeze using A21 & strongly recommend using their services. Their prices are also comparable to other local rates.23 Nov 2019 on TripAdvisor
30 Nov 2019 on TripAdvisor
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16 Jan 2020 on TripAdvisor
16 Jul 2016 on TripAdvisor
09 Jul 2024 on TripAdvisor
Great travel company. Used it twice for booking train tickets (through web). Swift communication, good prices. Fantastic experience
07 Aug 2023 on TripAdvisor
18 Jul 2023 on TripAdvisor
05 Sep 2023 on TripAdvisor
10 Sep 2023 on TripAdvisor