Lao Cai to Sapa

Lao Cai to Sapa

Lao Cai
Sapa
Fri, May 22
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Lao Cai to Sapa Destination Reviews

K
Kathrin
Very good driver! Very easy booking. Very good support.
Lao Cai to Sapa, Van Shared van 6 pax, Grouptour (Công ty du lịch quốc tế Grouptour), Apr 23, 2026
ED
Eugenie D
The driver was 20 min late and I phoned the 12 go hotline and the woman was extremely rude. Am very hesitant to book with the company again
Lao Cai to Sapa, Van Shared van 6 pax, Grouptour (Công ty du lịch quốc tế Grouptour), Apr 20, 2026
A
Alison
Great experience. Definitely recommend, just remember to take your own toilet roll
Lao Cai to Sapa, Van Shared van 6 pax, Grouptour (Công ty du lịch quốc tế Grouptour), Mar 16, 2026
RD
Rosa D
The bus driver took so many breaks (breakfast, coffee, car wash, packages, etc.) that it took an hour more to get to Sa Pa.
Lao Cai to Sapa, Bus Express, Grouptour (Công ty du lịch quốc tế Grouptour), Mar 11, 2026
S
Stephane
The meeting point was incorrect, and no one was there to meet us at the designated location to direct us to the correct meeting place.
Lao Cai to Sapa, Van Shared van 6 pax, Grouptour (Công ty du lịch quốc tế Grouptour), Dec 1, 2025
MT
Maxime T
The driver came 30min late.
Lao Cai to Sapa, Bus SUV Car, Asian Bus Travel, Nov 2, 2025
AK
Anna K
On time and good driver!
Lao Cai to Sapa, Bus SUV Car, Asian Bus Travel, Oct 19, 2025
AK
Anirudh K
The person who helped me was super awesome and guided me in a best way possible with zero hassle. A muat book touring service.
Lao Cai to Sapa, Bus Standard Car, Asian Bus Travel, Oct 10, 2025
KL
Kim L
Driver willing to wait for us for an hour due to our sleeper train reached Lao Cai railway station 90 mins late
Lao Cai to Sapa, Van Shared van 6 pax, Grouptour (Công ty du lịch quốc tế Grouptour), Oct 8, 2025
DW
Donald W
The usual 'exciting' drive. We were out early but the last vehicle to leave the station while the driver looked to fill the ride. Otherwise all good.
Lao Cai to Sapa, Bus Standard Car, Asian Bus Travel, Sep 26, 2025
4.4
87 customer reviews
5
42%
4
25%
3
18%
2
15%
1
0%

Lao Cai to Sapa Schedule

TypeOperatorClassDeparture TimeArrival TimePriceRating
Taxi
Hanoi VIP Transfer
SUV 5pax
Any time
+2h 30m
$49.35
  5.0
Bus
Asian Bus Travel
SUV Car
05:30
06:30
$10.62
Van
Grouptour
Shared van 6 pax
06:00
06:55
$6.83
  3.9
Bus
Techbus VN JSC
Express 16
06:30
09:30
$6.30
Van
Grouptour
Shared van 6 pax
07:00
07:55
$6.83
  3.9
Bus
Asian Bus Travel
SUV Car
07:30
08:30
$10.62
Van
Grouptour
Shared van 6 pax
08:00
08:55
$6.83
  3.9
Bus
Asian Bus Travel
SUV Car
08:30
09:30
$10.62
Van
Grouptour
Shared van 6 pax
09:00
09:55
$6.83
  3.9
Bus
Asian Bus Travel
SUV Car
09:30
10:30
$10.62
Van
Grouptour
Shared van 6 pax
10:00
10:55
$6.83
  3.9
Bus
Asian Bus Travel
SUV Car
10:30
11:30
$10.62
Van
Grouptour
Shared van 6 pax
11:00
11:55
$6.83
  3.9
Bus
Asian Bus Travel
SUV Car
11:30
12:30
$10.62
Van
Grouptour
Shared van 6 pax
12:00
12:55
$6.83
  3.9
Bus
Asian Bus Travel
SUV Car
12:30
13:30
$10.62
Van
Grouptour
Shared van 6 pax
13:00
13:55
$6.83
  3.9
Bus
Asian Bus Travel
SUV Car
13:30
14:30
$10.62
Van
Grouptour
Shared van 6 pax
14:00
14:55
$6.83
  3.9
Bus
Asian Bus Travel
SUV Car
14:30
15:30
$10.62

How to get from Lao Cai to Sapa

When you want to get from Lao Cai to Sapa, you have a few options to consider. Traveling between these destinations is possible by different means of transport:

  • Bus
  • Van
  • Taxi

If you’re looking for a quick trip, it’s recommended that you use Taxi. However, if you’d rather take your time with a slower, more affordable travel option, you can book a Van ticket.

The cost of travel will depend on the means of transport you choose for your trip. A taxi ticket is the most expensive option - it will cost you about USD 81.97. If you want to save on transportation, it’s better to take a bus as a bus ticket costs as low as USD 7.59.

How far is Lao Cai from Sapa?

If you’re traveling by land, it’s important to know the distance from Lao Cai to Sapa. Your trip will be a total of 78 miles (125 km). The flying distance is 78 miles (125 km).

How long does it take to get from Lao Cai to Sapa?

The travel time from Lao Cai to Sapa can vary depending on the mode of transportation you choose. All things considered, the whole journey should take from 3 to 4 hours.

How much does it cost to get from Lao Cai to Sapa?

The cost of the trip from Lao Cai to Sapa varies according to what means of transport you choose for your journey. The most affordable operator is Grouptour (Công ty du lịch quốc tế Grouptour): travelling by bus expect to pay as low as USD 7.59 for your ticket.

However, if you’re after more upscale travel . The most expensive variant is to opt for a taxi - a one-way taxi ticket can cost as much as USD 81.97.

Here is a chart of the average ticket prices and transportation options available from Lao Cai to Sapa:

  • Bus tickets - USD 7.59 to USD 59.95;
  • Van price : USD 14.57 - USD 59.95;

You can order a taxi, too - an estimated cost of the ride is from USD 54.28 to USD 81.97.

How many trips per day are there between Lao Cai and Sapa?

Depending on your choice of transportation, the number of daily trips varies.

  • Buses start plying the route from 06:30 - you can also take a bus as late as 16:00. There are 41 available bus trips every day.
  • Vans from Lao Cai to Sapa depart during the day - there are approximately 4 departures a day.
  • Taxis are a good option to consider for this route, too. Book a cab to take you from Lao Cai to Sapa any time of the day.

Which means of transport is the best for the route?

Buses

Taking a bus from Lao Cai 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:

  • 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. Yet it still pays to get to the bus station at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled departure.

Taxi

Catching a cab is the easiest way to get from Lao Cai 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 USD 54.28.

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 Lao Cai 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 Lao Cai 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..

The most popular transport from Lao Cai to Sapa

How to choose the most convenient way of travel from Lao Cai 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:

  • 84% decided to go for a bus.
  • 15% opted for a van.
  • 1% Other

Transportation from Lao Cai to Sapa

Facts about the transport from Lao Cai to Sapa

Cheapest Transport$8
Fastest Transport2h 30m
Earliest Departure6:00 AM
Latest Departure4:00 PM
Departures per day47
Distance125 kilometers
Transport CompaniesAsian Bus Travel, Grouptour, Hanoi VIP Transfer, HT Travel