Facts about the transport from Sapa to Sapa Lao Cai
| Cheapest Transport | $7 |
| Fastest Transport | 1h |
| Earliest Departure | 4:21 AM |
| Latest Departure | 4:21 AM |
| Departures per day | 2 |
| Distance | 30 kilometers |
| Transport Companies | Tiim Group, Vietnam Railways |
Sapa to Sapa Lao Cai
Finding the best routes for you — almost ready!
Sapa to Sapa Lao Cai Destination Reviews
PL
Per LThey picked me up in a pickup truck that was delivering goods at different places on the way to my destination. They prioritized the gods before getting me in time to the destination.
I made it to the train station but quite frustraed.
Sapa to Sapa Lao Cai, Van Minivan 7pax, Grouptour (Công ty du lịch quốc tế Grouptour), Feb 9, 2026
RM
Rita MI got a purposal for a more cheaper price, but the driver wasn't informed, so we had the had to negociate. That was unfriendly.
Sapa to Sapa Lao Cai, Bus Standard Car, Asian Bus Travel, Feb 7, 2026
G
Grant On time and good communication. One improvement would be to offer hotel pick up without having to ask and also to clearly show the hotline as a WhatsApp number to help data only clients.
Sapa to Sapa Lao Cai, Bus Standard Car, Asian Bus Travel, Jan 28, 2026
HS
Hilde SLots of random stops, constantly on his phone.
Sapa to Sapa Lao Cai, Van Minivan 7pax, Grouptour (Công ty du lịch quốc tế Grouptour), Dec 27, 2025
TS
Tomasz SOn time pick up, clean and comfortable car, excellent driver.
Sapa to Sapa Lao Cai, Bus Standard Car, Asian Bus Travel, Nov 25, 2025
EA
Eliana A.
Sapa to Sapa Lao Cai, Bus Standard Car, Asian Bus Travel, Nov 24, 2025
J
Julien The bus was an old shuttle bus, not confortable. Some people don’t have a real seat and must seat on a stool… The driver was not good and drive very fast and not safetly.
It was one of the worst bus experience of my life!
Sapa to Sapa Lao Cai, Bus Express, Grouptour (Công ty du lịch quốc tế Grouptour), Nov 16, 2025
LM
Long MComfortable and fast travel
Sapa to Sapa Lao Cai, Bus Express, Grouptour (Công ty du lịch quốc tế Grouptour), Nov 5, 2025
RC
Rebecca CIt was just me and the driver and another coworker who caught a ride with us. They were pleasant and helpful, the car was exceptionally clean and they chatted with each other and I tried not to get carsick on the windy drive to the train station. Great company to get a ride with, highly recommend.
Sapa to Sapa Lao Cai, Bus Standard Car, Asian Bus Travel, Oct 23, 2025
A
Alexander We were picked up at 17:00 by a man in a 4x4. We then proceeded to drive around town while he was constantly using his phone. We ended up at another hotel i Sa Pa. There he and others loaded several bags of concrete. The tour around town continued with aggressive driving and honking. After making a turn and then a u-turn blocking all traffic we made a stop to pick up another person. Roughly 35 minutes after being picked up, we were now soon to leave Sa Pa for Lao Cai. The trip down the vindling mountain roads was all but safe, our driver occupied the left lane more than the right. Overtaking in sharp turns, the avoidance of an accident was an act of god. When reaching Lao Cai we stopped to offload the concrete bags before being dropped outside the station.
Sapa to Sapa Lao Cai, Van Minivan 7pax, Grouptour (Công ty du lịch quốc tế Grouptour), Aug 31, 2025
Sapa to Sapa Lao Cai Schedule
| Type | Operator | Class | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Train | Vietnam Railways | 1st Class Sleeper | 04:16 | 05:55 | $5.91 | |
Train | Vietnam Railways | 1st Class Sleeper | 04:16 | 05:55 | $5.87 | |
Train | Vietnam Rail | 4 beds cabin | 04:16 | 05:55 | $6.70 | |
Train | Vietnam Rail | 4 beds cabin upper berth | 04:16 | 05:55 | $6.70 | |
Train | Vietnam Rail | 4 beds cabin lower berth | 04:16 | 05:55 | $6.99 | |
Train | Vietnam Railways | 1st Class Sleeper | 04:39 | 06:25 | $6.29 | |
Train | Vietnam Railways | 1st Class Sleeper | 04:39 | 06:25 | $6.44 | |
Train | Vietnam Railways | Cabin 2x | 04:39 | 06:25 | $10.06 | |
Train | Vietnam Rail | 4 beds cabin lower berth | 04:39 | 06:25 | $6.99 | |
Train | Vietnam Railways | 1st Class Sleeper | 05:22 | 06:25 | $4.38 |
How to get from Sapa to Sapa Lao Cai
When you want to get from Sapa to Sapa Lao Cai, you have a few options to consider. Traveling between these destinations is possible by different means of transport:
- Train
- 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 Train 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 30.87. If you want to save on transportation, it’s better to take a train as a train ticket costs as low as USD 6.71.
How far is Sapa from Sapa Lao Cai?
If you’re traveling by land, it’s important to know the distance from Sapa to Sapa Lao Cai. Your trip will be a total of 19 miles (30 km). The flying distance is 15 miles (23 km).
How long does it take to get from Sapa to Sapa Lao Cai?
The travel time from Sapa to Sapa Lao Cai 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 Sapa to Sapa Lao Cai?
The cost of the trip from Sapa to Sapa Lao Cai varies according to what means of transport you choose for your journey. The most affordable operator is Vietnam Railways (Đường sắt Việt Nam): travelling by train expect to pay as low as USD 6.71 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 30.87.
Here is a chart of the average ticket prices and transportation options available from Sapa to Sapa Lao Cai:
- Train tickets - USD 6.71 to USD 9.00;
You can order a taxi, too - an estimated cost of the ride is from USD 25.16 to USD 30.87.
How many trips per day are there between Sapa and Sapa 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 Sapa any time of the day.
Which means of transport is the best for the route?
Taxi
Catching a cab is the easiest way to get from Sapa 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 25.16.
Things to remember: It's a good idea to follow the route on Google Maps or any other GPS navigator.
Trains
Things to remember while choosing a train ticket:Consider everything carefully while choosing the class of your train travel. In most cases, the second class is comfortable enough – it features 2 or 4 berths in each compartment and is often air-conditioned.
If you’re in for a premium experience, consider getting a first class ticket. The price of first class tickets may include Wifi, and a choice of snacks and drinks..
The most popular transport from Sapa to Sapa Lao Cai
How to choose the most convenient way of travel from Sapa to Sapa 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:
- 100% decided to catch a taxi.
Transportation from Sapa to Sapa Lao Cai
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Trains$ 6.71
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Taxis$ 25.16
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Buses are not available
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Ferries are not available
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Flights are not available
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Vans are not available