If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of Vietnam’s capital Hanoi, head northwest into the mountains and visit the pretty city of Sapa. This former mountain station was founded by the French in 1922 and today is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country, known for its stunning landscapes and great cultural diversity. Known as Sapa and Sa Pa, this city is easily accessible from Hanoi as there are many companies serving this route.
What are the travel options from Hanoi to Sapa?
There are basically two ways to travel from Hanoi to Sapa: by train or by car. That said, there are several options that allow you to choose the alternative that best suits your pocket and schedule, as there are many companies operating both trains and buses. By road, the journey from Hanoi to Sapa is 317 kilometers (200 miles) and takes about 5 hours. Trains to Sapa are slower, but most if not all run at night, so you can rest on the way. See below for detailed information on buses and trains.
By bus from Hanoi to Sapa
Sapa bus station © Jedsada Kiatpornmongkol / Shutterstock.com
Traveling by bus or minivan from Hanoi to Sapa has three advantages: it’s cheap, it’s fast, and buses and vans will take you straight to Sapa city, which trains can’t.
Grouptour operates both buses and minivans on this route and offers around six trips daily. There are more vans than buses, so it’s easier to find a last-minute seat in a minivan, although the price is higher than buses, and there will be fewer services on board. Vans are considered a VIP service, so they have reclining seats and air conditioning. Plus, of course, there are fewer passengers traveling by minivan, so it’s a better option than the bus if you want a more relaxed journey. On the other hand, since there are no bathrooms, drinks or snacks, the van makes several stops along the way so you can stretch your legs and have a drink.
The buses also offer a VIP service, usually on sleeper buses that have reclining seats so you can sleep in if you feel like it. They also have several onboard services including air conditioning, snacks, TVs, bathroom and stewardess services. There is only one bus that leaves Hanoi at night and arrives in Sapa at 4:30 in the morning. Of all the bus options, this one is the cheapest. The planned journey time for buses is 6.5 hours, while minivans should take 5.5 hours, which should be considered when choosing one option or the other.
By train from Hanoi to Sapa
Lao Cai Railway Station. © Olga Kaszubin / Shutterstock.com
Many travelers will tell you that the Hanoi to Sapa train is the best option to travel between the two cities because the journey is long and Vietnamese roads are not always the safest. This may have been true in the past, but now there is a new highway that has improved this route and now traveling to Sapa from Hanoi is faster and safer. Ultimately, it all comes down to personal preference and available budget. Most train tickets are slightly more expensive than bus or minivan tickets, although you can probably get better service when traveling by train. This means of transport should be more comfortable than the bus, offer more space to move around, and if you choose a compartment with a bed, you will be able to rest on a real bed, not just a reclining seat.
In addition to the train being more expensive, another downside to the train is that it won’t take you into town, so you’ll have to take a bus to get to Sapa. The train station is in Lao Cai, in the valley between the mountains where Sapa is located, and the road to it is quite winding. It’s only about 35 kilometers (22 miles), but due to the bends, the journey takes 45 minutes to an hour, which is something to keep in mind as it will make the trip longer.
If you want to travel from Hanoi to Sapa by train, you have several options. The trains run on the state-owned tracks of Vietnam Railways, although the trains have various cars owned by private companies that compete with each other. Whichever carriage you choose, you will definitely travel in a compartment with beds, although prices vary greatly and you will have to check the possibilities. The cheapest option is offered by Vietnamese railways. They have a first class sleeper train which is slightly more expensive than the minibus from Hanoi to Sapa. Although, if you prefer something more comfortable, you can choose from the following carriages: Fanxipan, Livitrans Express or Violette Express. Orient Express, King Express and Pumpkin Express offer similar services, while Chapa Express and Victoria Express tend to be slightly more expensive but much more convenient.
Whichever option you choose, you will have access to bathrooms, hostess services and onboard food. The entire journey from Hanoi to Sapa takes about 8 hours.
Thanks to the new expressway, traveling overland from Hanoi to Sapa is no longer the odyssey it used to be. If you want to get to Sapa a little faster and for less money, buses and vans are a very good option. Despite this, trains from Hanoi to Sapa are also popular. What means of transport do you prefer?