Hanoi to Sapa Lao Cai

Hanoi to Sapa Lao Cai

Hanoi
Sapa Lao Cai
Tue, Sep 9
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Hanoi to Sapa Lao Cai Destination Reviews

E
The noise and overall stability in the train makes it difficult to sleep and also the cabins are very small. The train had a 40 minutes delay as well. The gate was not the one on the ticket and the staff there were telling us to go up then down, then up again. This was a mess. We book a taxi at the station and were almost scammed. We paid 800 000 vnd to go to Ta Van in a private car and a van full of people came and it was a hassle to tell them to refund us our money.
Hanoi to Sapa Lao Cai, Train #SP3 Deluxe Cabin 4x, Fanxipan Express, Sep 4, 2025
TH
Great experience! Clean train wagons. Reliable service.
Hanoi to Sapa Lao Cai, Train #SP3 Deluxe Sleeper 4x, Chapa Express, Sep 4, 2025
JP
First of all, the original station where we should have embarked was not possible anymore, instead we should go to another station 5km’s further due to the Independence Day. However, we only came to know this on our own initiative, we were not contacted by someone of the organization which we found disrespectful, and it gave us a lot of stress. In addition, on the ticket it clearly indicated that wifi was available, even though there wasn’t. As we did not have our e-sim yet this lead us to use our European sim to contact our hostel to pick us up, which costed us a lot of money.
Hanoi to Sapa Lao Cai, Train Cabin 4x, Damitrans, Sep 3, 2025
SC
The train journey went smoothly overall. We'd like to extend a special thanks to Dean, who assisted us with the issues caused by the Independence Day parade rehearsal. Due to street closures, we missed our original train, but Dean kindly helped us switch to the next one and even supported us until we boarded. On the downside, one of the train staff sold us a private taxi ride to Sapa, which turned out to be a shared van with multiple passengers from the same train. This was misleading and disappointing.
Hanoi to Sapa Lao Cai, Train #SP3 Suite Queen Cabin, Chapa Express, Aug 28, 2025
SR
Good experience with Chapa, but bad booking experience via 12go
Hanoi to Sapa Lao Cai, Train #SP3 Deluxe Sleeper 4x, Chapa Express, Aug 28, 2025
PM
Managed to get an upgrade. Very nice of the conductor.
Hanoi to Sapa Lao Cai, Train #SP3 Premium Cabin 2x, Chapa Express, Aug 28, 2025
JV
We saw a mouse in the cabin, stains on bed sheeting, airco wasnt working properly. Beds were rockhard although we booked deluxe VIP
Hanoi to Sapa Lao Cai, Train #SP7 Cabin 2x, NewLivitrans Express, Aug 23, 2025
MD
The mattresses were very hard and the A/C was very cold and even when they listen to us and turned it down, it was not enough, so we couldn’t sleep very good because of the cold, specially on the beds on the top. 20 minutes before the arrival a man (staff) opened our cabin without o asking before to say “wake up”, it felt so intrusive
Hanoi to Sapa Lao Cai, Train #SP3 Deluxe Cabin 4x, Fanxipan Express, Aug 22, 2025
MW
Everything went well. 4-bed sleeper. Some of my Vietnamese room mates chatted late into the night but I guess that’s part of the experience.
Hanoi to Sapa Lao Cai, Train #SP3 Deluxe Sleeper 4x, Chapa Express, Aug 19, 2025
SK
was a nice experience - with a small amount of sleep :-) :-)
Hanoi to Sapa Lao Cai, Train #SP3 Deluxe Cabin 4x, Fanxipan Express, Aug 18, 2025
4.4
421 customer reviews
5
48%
4
28%
3
15%
2
9%
1
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Hanoi to Sapa Lao Cai Schedule

TypeOperatorClassDeparture TimeArrival TimePriceRating
Train
King Sapa Train
Shared Suite Cabin
00:00
08:00
$28.44
  4.8
Train
King Sapa Train
Shared Suite Cabin
00:00
08:00
$28.59
  4.8
Train
Lotus Train
VIP Sleeper 4x
21:35
05:25
$22.73
Train
Lotus Train
VIP 2 Berth
21:35
05:25
$45.45
Train
Fanxipan Express
Deluxe Cabin 4x
22:00
05:55
$23.86
  3.9
Train
Laman Express
VIP Sleeper 4x
22:00
05:55
$29.55
  4.5
Train
Et Pumpkin
Deluxe Cabin 4x
22:01
06:01
$25.81
  2.0
Train
Lotus Train
VIP 2 Berth
22:20
06:10
$45.45
Train
Lotus Train
VIP Sleeper 4x
22:20
06:10
$22.73
Train
Fanxipan Express
Deluxe Cabin 4x
22:30
06:25
$23.86
  3.9
Train
Vietnam Railways
1st Class Sleeper
22:36
05:55
$15.15
  3.5
Train
Vietnam Railways
1st Class Sleeper
22:36
05:55
$16.10
  3.5
Train
Chapa Express
Deluxe Sleeper 4x
22:40
06:40
$31.78
  4.5
Train
Damitrans
Cabin 4x
22:40
06:40
$24.67
  4.6
Train
Vietnam Railways
1st Class Sleeper
22:58
05:55
$20.61

Transportation from Hanoi to Sapa Lao Cai

Facts about the transport from Hanoi to Sapa Lao Cai

Cheapest Transport$13
Fastest Transport4h 15m
Earliest Departure6:30 AM
Latest Departure11:00 PM
Departures per day47
Distance213 kilometers
Transport CompaniesChapa Express, Charmy Express, Damitrans, Et Pumpkin, Family Express, Fanxipan Express, GreenLion Bus, Grouptour, King Sapa Train, Laman Express, NewLivitrans Express, Tiim Group, Vicsapa Train, Vietnam Rail, Violette Trains

How to get from Hanoi to Sapa Lao Cai

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

  • Bus
  • Train
  • Van
  • Taxi

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

The cost of travel will depend on the means of transport you choose for your trip. A Train ticket is the most expensive option - it will cost you about USD 195.00. If you want to save on transportation, it’s better to take a train as a train ticket costs as low as USD 20.14.

How far is Hanoi from Sapa Lao Cai?

If you’re traveling by land, it’s important to know the distance from Hanoi to Sapa Lao Cai. Your trip will be a total of 133 miles (213 km). The flying distance is 133 miles (213 km).

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

The travel time from Hanoi to Sapa Lao Cai can vary depending on the mode of transportation you choose. All things considered, the whole journey should take from 5 to 10 hours.

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

The cost of the trip from Hanoi to Sapa Lao Cai varies according to what means of transport you choose for your journey. The most affordable operator is Vietnam Rail: travelling by train expect to pay as low as USD 20.14 for your ticket.

However, if you’re after more upscale travel . The most expensive variant is to opt for a Train - a one-way Train ticket can cost as much as USD 195.00.

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

  • Van price : USD 12.58 - USD 16.18;
  • Bus tickets - USD 13.85 to USD 13.85;
  • Train tickets - USD 20.14 to USD 195.00;
  • Train+taxi price: USD 60.21 - USD 94.36. From Hanoi to Lao Cai starting from 21:35 Hanoi until 22:00 Hanoi

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

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

  • Trains always run on a set schedule - there are 47 trains per day.

Which means of transport is the best for the route?

Buses

Taking a bus from Hanoi 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.

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.

Vans

A shared van is another means of transport for traveling from Hanoi 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 Hanoi 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 Hanoi to Sapa Lao Cai

How to choose the most convenient way of travel from Hanoi 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:

  • 88% users enjoyed a train ride.
  • 8% chosen Train+taxi
  • 3% opted for a van.
  • 1% Other