Sapa to Hanoi

Sapa to Hanoi

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Sapa to Hanoi Schedule

Sapa to Hanoi Schedule
Transport NameRoute TimePrice
OUROS Travel VIP Van 9pax Any timeVND 6,484k
Techbus VN JSC VIP 22 05:45 - 11:45VND 455k
Daiichi Travel VIP 20 06:00 - 11:20VND 440k
Daiichi Travel VIP 22 08:00 - 13:20VND 440k
Daiichi Travel VIP 22 11:00 - 17:20VND 440k
Grouptour Semi Sleeper 13:30 - 18:35VND 288k
Grouptour VIP 20 15:40 - 21:45VND 421k
Grouptour VIP 22 16:15 - 22:15VND 414k
Full Moon Party Tour VIP Cabin 19:50 - 01:40VND 447k
Daiichi Travel VIP 22 21:50 - 03:10VND 429k
Daiichi Travel VIP 22 22:45 - 05:05VND 440k

How to get to Hanoi from Sapa

Why go to Hanoi

Hanoi is the bustling capital city of Vietnam full of lakes, temples and pagodas. The ancient city is also the cultural capital of Vietnam and is managing to retain much of its charm despite rapidly modernizing. Visitors can wander through the streets of the Old Quarter and around Hoan Kiem Lake or take in the grand Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Presidential Palace which dates back to colonial times. Hanoi often seems to be the polar opposite of Saigon in the south but both cities share the same energetic pace.

From Sapa to Hanoi

The only way to get to Hanoi from Sapa is overland as there is no airport nowhere in the vicinity. Travelling this route by train is a classic Vietnamese experience, but buses do a good job, too, and the choice of the means of transport depends entirely on your own preferences. The distance between Sapa and Hanoi is about 300 km but be ready that your journey will take from eight hours to 10 hours.

There is currently no airport near Sapa so travelers make the journey from Sapa to Hanoi by train or bus. The overnight train from Sapa to Hanoi has long been one of the most popular overnight trains in the country with a number of more luxurious private train cars offering travelers varying degrees of comfort and relaxation on the night train.

From Sapa to Hanoi by train

The train stations which serves Sapa is located in the town of Lao Cai, some 35 km from Sapa proper. It takes about one hour to get from Sapa to Lao Cai by taxi or 1¼ hour if going by local bus, as the road is extremely curvy, though beautiful. Take your medicine in advance if you are prone to motion sickness. Note also, that trains are often late – do not be surprised over a couple of hours delay. Expect to pay between USD20 and USD30 for a lift. Tip: share with your fellow travellers.

Note the hottest time to get back from Sapa to Hanoi is Sunday night. Expect your train be full house. Do not be surprised to find ‘extra’ people on board: if no seats/berths available, some conductors accept tips for letting them in. It is unfortunately useless to complain.

Currently there are two express trains daily from Sapa (Lao Cai) to Hanoi. Both are operated by the Vietnam Railways and both are night trains. SP2 leaves Lao Cai at 8.35pm and arrives to Hanoi at 4.45am; SP4 departs half an hour later at 9.10pm and arrives at 5.25am. Both trains feature private cars which provide a much more comfortable experience than ordinary Vietnam Railways cars – though naturally at a higher price. VIP sleepers for four passengers with Livitrans Express, King Express, Fanxipan, Chapa Express or **Sapalay Express provide more or less the same level of service and cost between USD36 and USD40 (VND800,000-VND880,000). While a berth in a first class sleeping car with Victoria Express sets you back USD170 (VND3.8mio).

There is a third train from Sapa to Hanoi (LC2) that departs at 10.05am and arrives at 7.35pm. This train offers only a few dozen soft seats and the rest are hard wooden bench style seats which are quite uncomfortable for journeys of any length.

Tip Normally there is a dining car in each train where quite decent and reasonably priced fare is served. Give it a try, anyway.

In Hanoi, trains from Sapa arrive at the Tran Quy Cap street side of the Hanoi railway station. It is located west of the main entrance Le Duan street and is known as the Tran Quy Cap train station or simply ‘entrance B’. Do not be mislead: it is one and the same train station.

From Sapa to Hanoi by bus

There are sleeper buses and express buses serving the route from Sapa to Hanoi. In Sapa they normally pick up passengers at the bus station in the centre of town close to the Cathedral or directly from your guesthouse and will drop you off in Hanoi in Old Quarter or around Hoan Kiem Lake but exact locations vary depending on the company. Travellers report that Sapa Express is arguably the best way to travel from Sapa to Hanoi with new and clean buses but no toilets on board. The trip takes from six to 8 hours. There are both morning and late night departures. Expect to pay from USD15/VND300,000 per person.

Getting around in Hanoi

Many attractions will be within walking distance for those staying in the Old Quarter but some may opt for the iconic cyclo bicycle taxi, be wary of the cost and ask your hotel about reasonable prices. The same can be said of the motorcycle taxis. To avoid confusion and conflict agree on a price beforehand and write the number (including all zeroes) on a piece of paper.

Unlike Saigon, Hanoi is not known for having a reliable or trustworthy taxi service but there are a small number of green Mai Linh taxi’s which can be counted on to give you an honest metered fare and proper route. All taxis should have a working meter but be generally aware how to get to your destination to avoid being taken on an unrequested tour of Hanoi at your expense.

The ride sharing apps Uber and Grab Taxi are both operating in Hanoi and if you are accustomed to using them or one of their partners at home, you can continue using in Vietnam without having to change anything. However, you may want to grab a cheap local SIM card(~USD5) as many drivers like to call before picking you up. Don’t worry if neither of you speak each other’s language well, the call is common courtesy in Vietnam and the driver will still pick you up.

Where to stay in Hanoi

Hanoi’s Old Quarter and the area surrounding the nearby Hoan Kiem lake are popular for travelers and tourists of all types. The area gives one an easy access to many popular attractions and has one of the more lively nightlife scenes in a city that tends to get quiet rather early. The adjacent French Quarter offers more upscale accommodations without the frenzied activity of the old quarter and is better suited for those looking to get a good night’s sleep.

Things to do in Hanoi

As the country’s cultural capital, Hanoi has too many notable temples to list them all but a popular one is the Temple of the Jade Mountain which sits in the Middle of Hoan Kiem lake and is connected to the shore by the bright red The Huc bridge. Taking a stroll around the lake is also popular with both tourists and locals alike and can take on a festive atmosphere due to the various vendors and entertainers scattered about.

Travelers can checkout the Temple of Literature, where the great scholars of the past studied and whose names are still engraved on monuments in the courtyard. During certain times of the year visitors can also witness the beauty of calligraphers practicing their craft and take home a unique souvenir. A short walk away is the Fine Arts Museum of Vietnam, which boasts an impressive collection spanning the country’s entire history from the ancient civilizations to contemporary artists.

Those interested in recent history may want to tour the Hoa Lo Prison Museum, better known as the Hanoi Hilton where POW’s were held during the American War (as the conflict is referred to locally). For a more upbeat experience, one can check out the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the colonial architecture of the Presidential Palace. Nearby is Ho Tay (West Lake) which hosts several watersport activities depending on the season and has many intriguing temples of its own.

Onward travel from Hanoi

Hanoi often serves as the beginning or the end of one’s travels in Vietnam. Those who have already explored the central and southern regions and come from Sapa to Hanoi will enjoy heading to the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Halong Bay for a cruise among the limestone islands that rise dramatically out of the bay. Cruises for Halong Bay depart from the port city of Haiphong which is a few hours by bus or train to the east of Hanoi.

Travelers just beginning their time in Vietnam will want to head south from Hanoi to Hue, the ancient capital and then onwards to the costal cities of Danang and Nha Trang. Flights are available from Noi Bai Airport, situated one hour outside of the city. Always arrange for a set price taxi to the airport or better yet, book a private charter van to ensure comfort and timely arrival. Of course many bus companies can take you from Hanoi to Hue as well as the Vietnam National Railways and the private train companies Livitrans and Violette Express who operate routes daily. Livitrans and Violette offer 4 berth VIP Sleeper cabins costing around USD75-USD85 for the 14 hour overnight journey. Passengers can expect the same experiences as provided on the Sapa to Hanoi journey with snacks, drinks and a much softer bed to sleep in. They will also have wine, beer and meals available for purchase which are of a higher quality than the standard Vietnam Railways fare. The much longer journey of Hanoi to Hue makes having a comfortable berth all the more important for your wellbeing.

Transportation from Sapa to Hanoi

Facts about the transport from Sapa to Hanoi

Cheapest Transport$8
Fastest Transport3h 55m
Earliest Departure12:00 午前
Latest Departure11:30 午後
Departures per day11
Distance196 kilometers
Transport CompaniesChapa Express, Daiichi Travel, Dichung, Fanxipan, Full Moon Party Tour, GreenLion Bus, Grouptour, Inter Bus Lines, Laman Express, NewLivitrans Express, OUROS Travel, Saigon DMC, Sao Viet, Sapa Dragon Express, Sapa Ethnic Travel, Sapa Express, Sapaly Express, Techbus VN JSC, VicSapa Train, Vietnam Railways, Violette Express Train

Sapa to Hanoi Destination Reviews

AA
Best Bus ride so far! The bus was so comfortable
Bus VIP 20, Sapa Ethnic Travel (Công Ty TNHH Một Thành Viên Du Lịch Thiểu Số), Mar 18, 2024
AP
Loud crew and passengers on the bus - impossible to sleep
Bus VIP 24, Daiichi Travel (Daiichi Travel), Mar 17, 2024
CR
On time.
Bus Sleeper 40, Techbus VN JSC (Techbus Vietnam Joint stock company), Mar 17, 2024
WS
The agent is super helpful. They will contact you by Whatsapp one day before departure. The bus is super cozy. The light installation is comfortable enough. They provide one pillow and one blanket for your more comfortable sleep. The thing that I suggest is it will be more convenient to provide water bottle and wet napkin for the passengers.
Bus Executive, Sapa Dragon Express (Sapa Dragon Express), Mar 15, 2024
JA
The ride was good and the driver drove well. The bus was on time and we also arrived as planned. We lost our wallet in the bus and the bus driver A. Duong was very nice and helped us get it back.
This review was autotranslated
Bus Sleeper 44, Inter Bus Lines (Công Ty Cổ Phần Inter Bus Lines), Mar 14, 2024
Г3
I give 4/5, because the bus was new and clean and the driver was kind and helpful. We have arrived at the end with no problems. BUT There are bad things I need to mention here: - we booked ticket for 16:15 but somehow the bus was full and we needed to wait for 17:00. Not OK, if you are chading a flight; - the toilets at the bus stops, both at Hanoi and Sapa, were like taken out of a horror movie.
Bus VIP 22, Grouptour (Công ty du lịch quốc tế Grouptour), Feb 9, 2024
MH
several hours late. Stopped before Hanoi to transfer us via "shuttle bus" which were infact three small cars in which the people barely fit.
Bus VIP 20, Sapa Ethnic Travel (Công Ty TNHH Một Thành Viên Du Lịch Thiểu Số), Feb 7, 2024
V
Cockroaches on the bus. Took an extra hour to get there. Dropped us off further from where the map said so that we’d get a taxi.
Bus Sleeper 41, Grouptour (Công ty du lịch quốc tế Grouptour), Feb 3, 2024
SA
The Bus was pretty old and didn’t looked as in the pictures, teje cleaness was Aldo ver y poor. The was of driving was at least very good compared with other drivers
Bus Executive, Sapa Dragon Express (Sapa Dragon Express), Feb 3, 2024
AK
Very on time and no issues on traveling.
Bus VIP Luxury 22, Duc Duong Bus, Jan 23, 2024
4.4
1605 customer reviews
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41%
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2
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