Comfortable overnight train to SAPA. Deciding which private carriage to go with on your overnight trip to SAPA can be difficult. We booked and paid for our passage at the office in Hanoi, which was an easy process. Having traveled with ET -Pumpkin I can only comment on this one and other carriages on the same train. All seemed to be very similar in comfort. We paid for a VIP 2 berth soft sleeper, which I figured meant that the top bunks were folded back so that we had more room, and that the mattresses from those bunks were transferred to our bunks. The result was indeed comfortable. I think perhaps if you paid half the price for two bunks in a 4 berth you may well get virtually the same thing, but we wanted to be sure we had the cabin to ourselves. As it was, the carriage was by no means full, and the attendants locked any unused cabins. Bedding was clean and monogrammed. We had two warm blankets and pillows each. The cabin was cosy (all carriages are the same in lay-out) with wood paneling. There was A/C (good), power and lights but not much else. At the end of the carriage there is a small wash room (which unfortunately did not have soap in the dispenser) and separate small toilet. Lots of fun getting that task accomplished with the train bouncing around. Not permitted to use toilet when train stationary-guess why. There is no "dining carriage" but someone came through with snacks and drinks before we departed and I think she remained on the train. You can pass between the carriages as much as you want. It can be quite a social experience if you want that. Our carriage had at least one "attendant". They sleep in a very confined multi-purpose room at the end of the carriage, although we saw him curled up on an unused passenger bunk-would be much more comfortable. I slept very well on the way up. The train itself rocked around a lot but every carriage would have the same experience no matter how much you paid. Pumpkin will arrange for you to be picked up at Loa Cai in the early morning and taken to you hotel in Sapa (about an hour on a winding mountain road with a lot of trucks and crazy drivers). We even got free transport from out hotel at Hanoi to the train station. There is not much to see from the train at night, and in fact the trip is over before you know it. I would recommend ET-Pumpkin for a fun and comfortable overnight train experience to Lao Cai (SAPA). TIP: Beware of locals offering transport to SAPA for huge amounts of money. Ensure that all pick-ups (from train and hotel) are confirmed and that someone will be waiting (with your name on a sign) at Lao Cai station for transport to SAPA. ET Pumpkin office at Lao Cai is to your right, once outside the Lao Cai station (inside a cafe) if you need help.
hewieretep (Hanoi, Vietnam)
★★★★★
We used A21 Tours to travel back and forth from Hanoi to Sa Pa recently. It was very easy to book our trip online, with clear information of all the details. After we booked, all communication with A21 Tours (through email or WhatsApp) was first class, and they were quick to keep us informed about any changes. I would not hesitate to book a trip through them again.
thechristmasbabe (Wisconsin)
★★★★★
Great experience. We were treated like special guests throughout our trips. We were a group of four adults and the room was small but comfortable. The ride was as smooth as a train ride can be. The bunks were comfortable and the room was air conditioned so even the top bunks were cool. The bathroom was clean and very nice. We were greeted with refreshments in the morning before leaving the train. Would recommend to take a ride.
SunseekerUK (Cambridge, UK)
★★★★★
A nice way to travel to Sapa. We travelled from Hanoi to Lao Cai railway station on the Victoria Express. You then get transporting Sapa via mini buses about an hour away Check was pretty painless, they have a lounge at the station and you luggage is taken for you to the lounge. You get tea and a seat. There is a mini supermarket in the station downstairs to buy anything you need for the journey, prices in the lounge itself are high You get help to take you luggage to the train, they seen to call you in small groups to board You take all you luggage to your cabin. So can be a squeeze if it doesn’t fit under your bed. We had a 4 berth cabin for the two of us, it was okay. We use the spare duvets to lay on and the bed although a bit narrow was fine There is no restaurant car, there are two toilets which are clean and have hot & cold waterstaff onboard are friendly & helpful There is a power socket in the cabin to charge phones etc. & the WiFi worked well although did struggle with FaceTime You get two bottles of water, some people got fruit. The train departs at 22:00 and does shake about and is noisy but I slept on & off okay. They wake you at 05:30 with coffee or tea and a small croissant and you arrive at 06:00 Disembarking in easy & orderly I enjoyed the journey
Asingle-Room
★★★★★
Nice trip. We booked the VIP 2 berth cabin and the trip was nice. It is nicer than we thought or read from the other reviews. The cabin was clean and we had some freebies to enjoy during the trip. Staff are friendly and in good mood. We were warned not to take the morning coffee from the lady but we did and paid for it since it is just a small amount and she is quite polite and friendly. Highly recommend this train to everyone!
Ming C
★★★★★
NICE EXPERIENCE TO TAKE SLEEPING BUS FROM HANOI TO SAPA. Spacious and comfortable seat, friendly tour guide. Very good to control strictly as not allowed passenger to bring food and must take off shoes before boarding on bus. That's why will not have weird smell surround the bus. Highly recommend to take GREEN BUS through A21 Tours!
Sclam2010 (Malaysia)
★★★★★
Pleasant and interesting experience. Bed, pillow and blanket are comfortable. Snack,drink and banana are given. The toilet is surprisingly clean. We are a team of six and we took two cabins. The young ones enjoyed the double deckers. We old folks enjoy the two bed cabin though its more pricey.
Adam I
★★★★★
Trip Hanoi- Sapa - Hanoi. A21 were really efficient at booking my tickets from Hanoi to sapa and back. Even when I had a change of date one day before leaving sapa, they helped change the ticket with no issue at all. Answers to queries were quick. 5/5
moubini
★★★★★
Trip Hanoi- Sapa - Hanoi. A21 were really efficient at booking my tickets from Hanoi to Sapa and back. Even when I had a change of date one day before leaving Sapa, they helped change the ticket with no issue at all. Answers to queries were quick. 5/5
Jasio Ł (Poland)
★★★★★
Great trip and a great guide - Hung. Bus very clean and comfortable. Must use on this route. 5h to Sapa is beautiful.
Pete f
★★★★★
Sa Pa Sleeper Bus. Took the sleeper bus from Hanoi Airport to Sa Pa, Vietnam. Excellent communications for payment and pickup. Bella was the bus contact person. She insured a smooth ride and transition.
TriShwong (Malaysia)
★★★★★
Better Than Expected. Prior to my trip, i had read many negative reviews about this Train service so, it's an understatement to say i was really nervous. To my surprise, my cabin shared with 3 other strangers was pretty pleasant - the cabin was pretty clean and we saw no roaches. However, the cleanliness of the sheets is questionable as mine had a smell (travel with a sleeping bag liner) The AC was directly above our heads on the top bunk so, being frozen the entire night was very unpleasant. The public toilet was smelly but, if you're an Asian living in Asia like myself, it isn't anything too terrible, lol. The train left and arrived on good time. Hot drinks are available first thing in the morning, if you are ready to pay (20k per cup). Overall, the entire experience was much, much better than anticipated. I was lucky.
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