Sapa to Lao Cai

Sapa to Lao Cai

Sapa
Lao Cai
Sun, Jun 22
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Sapa to Lao Cai Destination Reviews

H
The vehicle was overloaded. They stuffed more people into the vehicle than what is officially the passenger number. They tried to stuff even more people into the van but some of the passengers refused to be transported like chicken. This was not the standard of Vietnam travel. That was the standard of some backward African country ! Lots of luggage went on the roof of the van without any plastic cover to protect it from the rain. The van itself was Ok , bot too cold from the AC. The driver was good and the short stops were convenient for a bathroom visit.
Sapa to Lao Cai, Bus Express, Grouptour (Công ty du lịch quốc tế Grouptour), Apr 28, 2025
KG
Bed were 1m85, hard for a 1m88 person. way more wiggling than expected
Sapa to Lao Cai, Bus Express, Grouptour (Công ty du lịch quốc tế Grouptour), Jan 13, 2025
P
Delay, loud music, always stopping, driver + other clients "loud talking" /shouting for 3 h.
Sapa to Lao Cai, Bus Express, Grouptour (Công ty du lịch quốc tế Grouptour), Nov 9, 2023
J
Overall good, however we were pushed to to get there earlier thus we had to quit restaurant.
Sapa to Lao Cai, Bus Express, Grouptour (Công ty du lịch quốc tế Grouptour), Aug 7, 2023
AR
The driver was not concerned with the passenger comfort/safety experience. Locked us in the van while he took a smoke and bathroom break. He picks up extra passengers and sat them in the aisle on little stools.
Sapa to Lao Cai, Bus Ford 16 Express, Techbus VN JSC (Techbus Vietnam Joint stock company), Aug 7, 2023
MM
Driver managed to fit 23 people onto a 16 seater bus, an impressive feat, but did not make for the most comfortable ride. Got me where I wanted to go in the end.
Sapa to Lao Cai, Bus Express, Grouptour (Công ty du lịch quốc tế Grouptour), Apr 25, 2023
T
Return trip was changed with very poor communication and no sufficient information re. Time and pick up.
Sapa to Lao Cai, Bus Express, Grouptour (Công ty du lịch quốc tế Grouptour), Mar 27, 2023
4.4
42 customer reviews
5
44%
4
14%
3
21%
2
21%
1
0%

Sapa to Lao Cai Schedule

TypeOperatorClassDeparture TimeArrival TimePriceRating
Taxi
Hanoi VIP Transfer
SUV 5pax
Any time
+2h 30m
$49.85
Train
Vietnam Railways
1st Class Sleeper
04:16
05:55
$6.32
Train
Vietnam Railways
1st Class Sleeper
04:39
06:25
$6.32
Train
Vietnam Railways
1st Class Sleeper
05:22
06:25
$4.40
Bus
Asian Bus Travel
Standard Car
06:00
07:00
$4.98
  5.0
Bus
Asian Bus Travel
Standard Car
07:00
08:00
$4.98
  5.0
Bus
Asian Bus Travel
Standard Car
08:00
09:00
$4.98
  5.0
Van
Grouptour
Shared van 6 pax
09:00
09:55
$6.89
  5.0
Van
Grouptour
Shared van 6 pax
10:00
10:55
$6.89
  5.0
Van
Grouptour
Shared van 6 pax
11:00
11:55
$6.89
  5.0
Van
Grouptour
Shared van 6 pax
12:00
12:55
$6.89
  5.0
Van
Grouptour
Shared van 6 pax
13:00
13:55
$6.89
  5.0
Bus
Grouptour
Express
13:20
16:20
$5.36
  2.8
Van
Grouptour
Shared van 6 pax
14:00
14:55
$6.89
  5.0
Van
Grouptour
Shared van 6 pax
15:00
15:55
$6.89
  5.0
Van
Grouptour
Shared van 6 pax
16:00
16:55
$6.89
  5.0
Van
Grouptour
Shared van 6 pax
17:00
17:55
$6.89
  5.0
Bus
Grouptour
Express 16
17:30
18:25
$3.06
  3.5
Bus
Grouptour
Express
18:00
19:00
$3.06
  4.4
Bus
Asian Bus Travel
Standard Car
19:00
20:00
$4.98
  5.0

Transportation from Sapa to Lao Cai

Facts about the transport from Sapa to Lao Cai

Cheapest Transport$4
Fastest Transport55m
Earliest Departure6:00 AM
Latest Departure10:00 PM
Departures per day1
Distance46 kilometers
Transport CompaniesAsian Bus Travel, Grouptour, Sapa Ethnic Travel

How to get from Sapa to Lao Cai

When you want to get from Sapa to Lao Cai, 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 Bus+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 24.21. If you want to save on transportation, it’s better to take a taxi as a taxi ticket costs as low as USD 24.21.

How far is Sapa from Lao Cai?

If you’re traveling by land, it’s important to know the distance from Sapa to Lao Cai. 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 Sapa to Lao Cai?

The travel time from Sapa to Lao Cai can vary depending on the mode of transportation you choose. All things considered, the whole journey should take from 1 to 3 hours.

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

The cost of the trip from Sapa to Lao Cai 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 taxi expect to pay as low as USD 24.21 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 24.21.

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

  • Bus tickets - USD 3.52 to USD 6.22;
  • Bus+Van price: USD 6.77. From Sapa to Lao Cai starting from 13:20 Ket Doan Travel SP until 13:20 Ket Doan Travel SP
  • Van price : USD 8.61;

You can order a taxi, too - an estimated cost of the ride is from USD 24.21 to USD 24.21.

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

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 Sapa to Lao Cai any time of the day.

Which means of transport is the best for the route?

Buses

Taking a bus from Sapa to Lao Cai 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 Sapa to Lao Cai. 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 24.21.

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 Sapa to Lao Cai. 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 Sapa to Lao Cai.

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 Sapa to Lao Cai

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

  • 35% decided to go for a bus.
  • 32% decided to catch a taxi.
  • 32% opted for a van.
  • 1% Other