Lao Cai to Sapa

Lao Cai to Sapa

Lao Cai
Sapa
Fri, Jul 24
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2 Travelers
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Lao Cai to Sapa Destination Reviews

MB
Marine B
I was at the station 30 min before as requested, after waiting for 40+ minutes, contacting the operator etc, someone shows up with my details on his phone and tells me that the driver has forgotten me there so he will drive me to help his friend. On the way he kept stopping at different places to get stuffs from people or pick up and drop other people -I reached my destination 1.5 hour later than expected.
Lao Cai to Sapa, Bus Standard Car, Asian Bus Travel, Jul 21, 2026
JA
Judith A
Pick up was a little away from station, phone signal was not working properly, so took us a while to get details, and van had actually set off without us, so had to turn around and come back, which they did quite quickly.
Lao Cai to Sapa, Van Shared van 6 pax, Grouptour (Công ty du lịch quốc tế Grouptour), Jul 12, 2026
J
Jacob
The taxi didnt show up
Lao Cai to Sapa, taxi SUV 5pax, Hanoi VIP Transfer, Jun 29, 2026
KN
Kazue N
I slept very well and it was very comfortable. However, there was no guidance at the reception, and no drinks were offered. The trip was fantastic.
Lao Cai to Sapa, Van Shared van 6 pax, Grouptour (Công ty du lịch quốc tế Grouptour), Jun 6, 2026
JJ
Judith J
Excellent. Close to station. Waited while o ate breakfast. Took to hotel door
Lao Cai to Sapa, Van Shared van 6 pax, Grouptour (Công ty du lịch quốc tế Grouptour), May 29, 2026
WP
Wayne P
Was under the impression that we would be travelling in a smaller bus for 6 passengers, ended up being a 14/16 seater. There wasn’t enough room for luggage in back of bus, so bags stacked in door entry. Tour guide had to stand as no seats left.
Lao Cai to Sapa, Van Shared van 6 pax, Grouptour (Công ty du lịch quốc tế Grouptour), May 22, 2026
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
4.4
93 customer reviews
5
42%
4
25%
3
19%
2
14%
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
$10.65
Van
Grouptour
Shared van 6 pax
06:00
06:55
$6.85
  3.9
Bus
Techbus VN JSC
Express 16
06:30
09:30
$6.31
Van
Grouptour
Shared van 6 pax
07:00
07:55
$6.85
  3.9
Bus
Asian Bus Travel
SUV Car
07:30
08:30
$10.65
Van
Grouptour
Shared van 6 pax
08:00
08:55
$6.85
  3.9
Bus
Asian Bus Travel
SUV Car
08:30
09:30
$10.65
Van
Grouptour
Shared van 6 pax
09:00
09:55
$6.85
  3.9
Bus
Asian Bus Travel
SUV Car
09:30
10:30
$10.65
Van
Grouptour
Shared van 6 pax
10:00
10:55
$6.85
  3.9
Bus
Asian Bus Travel
SUV Car
10:30
11:30
$10.65
Van
Grouptour
Shared van 6 pax
11:00
11:55
$6.85
  3.9
Bus
Asian Bus Travel
SUV Car
11:30
12:30
$10.65
Van
Grouptour
Shared van 6 pax
12:00
12:55
$6.85
  3.9
Bus
Asian Bus Travel
SUV Car
12:30
13:30
$10.65
Van
Grouptour
Shared van 6 pax
13:00
13:55
$6.85
  3.9
Bus
Asian Bus Travel
SUV Car
13:30
14:30
$10.65
Van
Grouptour
Shared van 6 pax
14:00
14:55
$6.85
  3.9
Bus
Asian Bus Travel
SUV Car
14:30
15:30
$10.65

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 Van. However, if you’d rather take your time with a slower, more affordable travel option, you can book a Taxi 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 46.63. If you want to save on transportation, it’s better to take a bus as a bus ticket costs as low as USD 4.75.

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 29 miles (46 km). The flying distance is 29 miles (46 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 1 to 2 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 4.75 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 46.63.

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

  • Bus tickets - USD 4.75 to USD 11.88;
  • Van price : USD 7.87;

You can order a taxi, too - an estimated cost of the ride is from USD 22.83 to USD 46.63.

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 05:30 - you can also take a bus as late as 22:00. There are 52 available bus trips every day.
  • Vans from Lao Cai to Sapa depart during the day - there are approximately 12 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 22.83.

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:

  • 50% decided to go for a bus.
  • 41% opted for a van.
  • 9% decided to catch a taxi.

Transportation from Lao Cai to Sapa

Facts about the transport from Lao Cai to Sapa

Cheapest Transport$5
Fastest Transport55m
Earliest Departure5:30 AM
Latest Departure10:00 PM
Departures per day74
Distance46 kilometers
Transport CompaniesAsian Bus Travel, Grouptour, Hoi An Express, HT Travel, OUROS Travel, Saigon DMC, Tiim Group