Hanoi to Sapa Lao Cai by train, van, bus, taxi from VND 595k

Hanoi to Sapa Lao Cai Destination Reviews

Tina W

Shocking customer service. I needed to change my ticket and contacted the company 4 days prior. Not only was the communication poor, but I was told they would assist me. When I didn’t hear back, I followed up on my request. They had not looked into it at all, and then advised it was now too late, and I should buy a new ticket. Huge waste of money!

Hanoi to Sapa Lao Cai, Train Cabin 4x, Damitrans, Mar 17, 2026

Hari H

Ok. Not so super. Cleanliness is good. The noise of announcement and songs makes irritation. So they give ear plug: don’t forget to put, even though heard it louder.

Hanoi to Sapa Lao Cai, Train #SP7 Deluxe Sleeper 4x, Chapa Express, Mar 15, 2026

Lisa R

Great trip, super speedy

Hanoi to Sapa Lao Cai, Train #SP1 Deluxe Sleeper 4x + Shuttle Bus, Chapa Express, Mar 14, 2026

Gabrielle B

After booking got contacted by train company saying they couldn’t provide me my seats but that I could pay an upgrade. Try to negotiate but not enough. Asked to get refund and not surprised they couldn’t provide finally give me my seats. Not sure if it was spam or the real company but in both ways they tried to scam me. Got no help from 12Go. The train ride was fine. Comfortable beds but very noisy has you could expect. Barely got sleep on the night ride. Would do it again but during daytime.

Hanoi to Sapa Lao Cai, Train #SP7 Deluxe Sleeper 4x, Chapa Express, Mar 11, 2026

Jonathan M

Comfortable and punctual. Highly recommend

Hanoi to Sapa Lao Cai, Train #SP3 Deluxe Sleeper 4x, Chapa Express, Mar 10, 2026

Victoria

The train ride was great but I went to the bathroom at the very beginning and they were disgusting, urine all over the seat and floor... needless to say I refrained from going again the whole time

Hanoi to Sapa Lao Cai, Train #SP7 Deluxe Cabin 4x, Fanxipan Express, Mar 10, 2026

Jonathan M

Good comfort, punctual and well organized

Hanoi to Sapa Lao Cai, Train #SP3 Deluxe Sleeper 4x, Chapa Express, Mar 9, 2026

Johanna F

Overall everything went well, check-in, punctuality and everything, but the Train Ride ist far from luxurious! When you tried to Switch off the AC it made an afwul squeaking noise and it was Not a comfirtable Night Of sleep, since those trains Are 50 yo and it is horrobly Loud at Night, Even With earplugs!

Hanoi to Sapa Lao Cai, Train #SP3 VIP Cabin 2x, Chapa Express, Mar 5, 2026

Garth A

Vietnam trains are mostly average, mostly depart and arrive on-time. Boarding process poorly organized, there is no ticket desk or counter. Most passengers boarded 45-minutes prior, but, Fanxipan REP did not appear until later to hand-out boarding passes. VNR employees insisted that train would not depart with waiting passengers, but still, given language differences, was un-nerving and unnecessary.

Hanoi to Sapa Lao Cai, Train #SP3 Deluxe Cabin 4x, Fanxipan Express, Feb 24, 2026

Anuj S

Not sure why people complain about the noise. It is a train, for the love of God and everything holy, get over it. It was comfortable and clean. We would do it again.

Hanoi to Sapa Lao Cai, Train #SP7 Suite Twin Cabin, Chapa Express, Feb 21, 2026

4.4

692 customer reviews

49%

27%

16%

Hanoi to Sapa Lao Cai Schedule

Type	Operator	Class	Departure Time	Arrival Time	Price	Rating
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	$22.81
Train	Lotus Train	VIP 2 Berth	21:35	05:25	$45.61
Train	Fanxipan Express	Deluxe Cabin 4x	22:00	05:55	$23.95	3.9
Train	Laman Express	VIP Sleeper 4x	22:00	05:55	$29.65	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	$45.61
Train	Lotus Train	VIP Sleeper 4x	22:20	06:10	$22.81
Train	Fanxipan Express	Deluxe Cabin 4x	22:30	06:25	$23.95	3.9
Train	Vietnam Railways	1st Class Sleeper	22:36	05:55	$15.20	3.5
Train	Vietnam Railways	1st Class Sleeper	22:36	05:55	$16.15	3.5
Train	Chapa Express	Deluxe Sleeper 4x	22:40	06:40	$31.89	4.5
Train	Damitrans	Cabin 4x	22:40	06:40	$24.67	4.6
Train	Vietnam Railways	1st Class Sleeper	22:58	05:55	$20.68

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 209.24. If you want to save on transportation, it’s better to take a train as a train ticket costs as low as USD 22.61.

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 22.61 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 209.24.

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

Van price : USD 12.63 - USD 16.24;
Bus tickets - USD 13.91 to USD 13.91;
Train tickets - USD 22.61 to USD 209.24;
Train+taxi price: USD 60.44 - USD 94.72. From Hanoi to Lao Cai starting from 21:35 Hanoi until 22:00 Hanoi

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

Transportation from Hanoi to Sapa Lao Cai

Facts about the transport from Hanoi to Sapa Lao Cai

Cheapest Transport	$13
Fastest Transport	4h 15m
Earliest Departure	6:30 午前
Latest Departure	11:00 午後
Departures per day	25
Distance	213 kilometers
Transport Companies	Damitrans, ET Pumpkin, Fanxipan Express, GreenLion Bus, Grouptour, King Sapa Train, Laman Express, Tiim Group, Tonkin Heritage Express, Vietnam Rail, Violette Trains

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Hanoi to Sapa Lao Cai

Hanoi to Sapa Lao Cai Destination Reviews

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