Table of Contents
1. Hanoi to Sapa routes & distance
When you come to Vietnam, you should choose Sapa to explore Vietnamese traditional culture and people. Sapa is one of the most popular destinations. To travel from Hanoi to Sapa, you can go by road or trail. The distance varies depending on the chosen route.

- About 320 km: traveling in Hanoi – Lao Cai highway route. It has started since 2014
- About 390 km: going along 70 National Road. It is the main road connecting the northwest provinces of Vietnam, used before the highway is into operation.
- About 340 km: using train from Hanoi – Lao Cai province, then go by car or bus to Sapa.
- About 455 km: driving motorbike or car under 32 entrance way through Mu Cang Chai.
2. Transportation type from Hanoi to Sapa
The distance from Hanoi to Sapa is significant. It takes about 6 hours by road and 9 hours by train. If you choose to travel to Sapa by road, you have various options. These include bus, limousine, private car, taxi, or even motorbike. Each vehicle has its own positives and negatives.
With improved tourist services, there are many ways to travel. If you are a trekker, you might prefer to drive a motorbike yourself. For a safer and more relaxing experience, the train is the best choice. The train is often referred to by nicknames like overnight train, sleeper train, and sleeping train. However, most people use buses or cars to save time.
To meet tourist demands, there are many type of buses, including in: sleeper bus, overnight bus, limousine car, private cabin bus
Since how to get from Hanoi to Sapa is a primary concern for your trip, we have recommendations to provide you with detailed information about traveling from Hanoi to Sapa.
Choose carefully to have the best route for your journey. Following the tips and tricks
2.1 Hanoi to Sapa by bus
To meet tourist demands, there are various types of buses available. These include sleeper buses, overnight buses, limousine cars, and private cabin buses.
Bus is the most choice to get from Hanoi to Sapa. It is the cheap option to save expense and cost. Actually there are 38 berths so it’s comfortable and clean, even it can fit for a big guy. So you completely have a nice sleep in the route to Sapa. Moreover, we have always accompanied with a guide in the bus, you can ask anything in distance to get from Hanoi to Sapa

Bus routes
As referred above, there are some ways to travel from Hanoi to Sapa. Going by highway is best option to save your time. Usually, the bus takes 5.5 hours or 6 hours in the traffic jam to get from Hanoi to there. We have the bus station to pick up and drop off you at the center of Hanoi (address at old quarter or airport) and Sapa. So you don’t worry about difficulty in getting on/off the bus
Kind of bus and schedule
How to get from Hanoi to Sapa by bus? The fact that, you can choose sleeper bus, overnight bus, private cabin bus and limousine bus car
Depending on each kind of bus, you get other experiences and schedules. However, they have the same two break times. In the first time, you have about 5-10 minutes to go to WC and break. It only stops when your route takes 2 hours. The next time, you can relax longer, about 30 minutes at the stop station. You should have a lunch or dinner. There are some restaurants around it, however the food is not only delicious but also expensive. It is better you prepare snack and drink to eat in the break Traveling a long time from Hanoi to Sapa, you should carefully bring special belongings so that it can perfectly serve your trip. To detail understand about quality service of each bus kind. Let’s follow over summary
How to get from Hanoi to Sapa by sleeper bus and overnight bus
There are two main formats. The most common is kind with three rows of bunk beds running from the front to the end of the bus. The last row is a wide bed for more seats. The second kind has two rows of double size bunk beds or twin beds.
The sleeper and overnight bus are owned by the travel company and almost specially used for
Positives:
- Berth is big, enough for a big guy
- High-class newborn bus
- On the second floor, you can clearly see view from outside
- Equipped with air conditioner, bottle of mineral water,
travel blanket and tour guide - Driver is full of experience to have a safe route
- The route is faster (only 5-6 hours)
- The ticket is cheaper than train
- Available seats with some daily schedule. Estimated 6
departure time a day. So you can choose this bus which is suitable for your
plan
Negatives:
- More dangerous than train route, especially the departure in
night - You don’t accept to bring snacks or drink so that you can
make it dirty and noisy - There are no WC room so you have to wait to the stop station
- The area for each ticket is only enough, not completely
comfortable
You can book the sleeping bus online here
Hanoi to Sapa limousine bus car

Another good choice to get Sapa is using limousine bus car. It is also called VIP bus car. This limousine is a direct car to travel from Hanoi to Sapa. It has a head office to return from Sapa to Hanoi. With limousine, it can take you to the destination in the most comfortable way
There are 2 main types: Sapa limousine van with enough 9 seats and 18 seats
The main reason it considers as VIP- high class car is improving negatives of the sleeper bus and overnight bus
Positives:
- It can pick up and drop off you at hotel. So you don’t lost
time to go the waiting station - Departure time is flexible everyday
- Running faster and more smooth
- The berth is more comfortable and bigger. It suits for a big
guy - Equipped with air conditioner, bottle of mineral water,
travel blanket, USB charger and and LCD TV. Don’t worry to use smart
phone in the car - Internet wireless is free for you
- A good option for a small group. You have more air space
- Experienced driver to arrange a safe route
Negatives:
- More dangerous than train route, especially the departure in
night - There are no WC room in the bus car in the urgent cases
- There is no tour guide to ask necessary information
- Little inconvenient to others if you make
louder or noisy - No individual space for couple
- The fare is higher than bus
Hanoi to Sapa private cabin bus
If you want to have more space, it is the best choice. Each guest is in each cabin. Also twin cabin for couple. Let it imagine as if you are living in your room. It’s so prefect for individual hobby

Positives:
- Equipped with air
conditioner, bottle of mineral water, travel blanket, USB charger, LCD TV with
headphone - There is a WC room on the
car - More relaxing in your cabin
without caring other guests - Internet wireless is free
for you - The berth is the most
comfortable. As the familiar to your bed - Running
faster and more smooth, even the road is rough or rugged
Negatives:
- Ticket fee is the most expensive
- There is no tour guide to ask necessary information
- If you scare about living alone or small space, this service is not good choice
2.2 Hanoi to Sapa by train
Travelling from Hanoi to Sapa by train is a unique experience for you. You take about 6-8 hours to transfer from Hanoi to Lao Cai railway station then you go to Sapa by car or bus. All the transportation services can be clearly seen when you go out the station building.

Because the route is very long, you can take a rest and have a nice noon/ night on the train. From your hotel at Hanoi, you can go to the Hanoi train station at no 120, Le Duan stress. Then take your time and your money to travel to Sapa
Positives:
- More relax space so you feel comfortable and fresh to start a
journey at Sapa in the early morning - Very safe because only train has unique road
- It has WC room if you want to use it
- Enough travel blanket and pillow
- Internet wireless is free for you
- Equipped with air conditioner, USB charger, LCD TV
- Available space to cover your luggage
- You can bring snack or drink to go to the train. Further
there is a small shop to supply food and dishes for you. It is convenient
Negatives:
- Limitation about time and seat. You have to reserve the space
before your trip - There is no train from airport. So you have to take a taxi to
Hanoi train station - The route is longest
- When you come to Lao Cai railway station, you have to take a
car or bus to travel to Sapa - Almost the departure time is night
Top 5 best train for you
How to get from Hanoi to Sapa by train? Although train route has a little of negatives, they always try to improve their service. We can recommend you some high quality trains as below
1st King express
King express train design with 26 berths, including both deluxe and VIP cabins. It equipped with new furniture such as wooden- paneled, air conditioner, bottle of mineral water, individual reading light and baggage storage
In a deluxe cabin, there are 4 berths while only 2 berths for VIP cabin. You can enjoy individual doing as your home. It’s very
If you go with a group. It’s perfect to book a deluxe cabin. You can talk and watch TV together during the trip without making noisy others
2nd Violet express
As their name, the main color of this train is violet with blanket and pillow. It seems romantic for couple to Sapa
There are total 14 cabins with 2 berths or 4 berths in each cabin. This is a new brand so all furniture is new and modern, even WC room. You can feel the familiar air as at your home
3rd Sapaly express
This train is decorated with high quality berth. It is outstanding strength. All berths are soft and big. You also use blanket and pillow on the train
There are total 13 cabins with 4 berths in each cabin. Besides it, it has a large room to put your luggage. The restroom is modern and clean. If you want, you can use it to take a shower. Because of these features, it is the best choice for you to take a rest
4th ET-Pumpkin Sapa
This is a new brand for travel from Hanoi to Sapa by train. It is designed in Halloween Festival therefore it makes deeply impressive to people especially customers are curious
The furniture is very nice and luxurious with colorful decoration. It has 2 kinds: a 2 berth cabin and a 4 berth cabin. Suitable for other requirements
5th Victoria Express
As the called name, it ranks the top good train at Hanoi. It is decorated with luxurious furniture making your feeling as stay at 5-stars hotel
Besides the same equipment as other brands such as individual reading light, baggage storage, air conditioner, wooden-paneled, blanket, pillow or rest room, it has a large window so that you feel the fresh air. Very necessary for the carsick
It also includes 2 types: 2 berths and 4 berths in a cabin. In each cabin, there is a toilet so you don’t need to go out cabin
A special feature of Victoria Express, you can be served a free breakfast or tea break. There is a small dinner table between 2 berths. It looks like as a luxurious restaurant
2.4 Hanoi to Sapa by private car, taxi
How to get from Hanoi to Sapa by private car or taxi is a good choice if you want to control travel as your requirement For extreme private transportation to travel from Hanoi to Sapa such as a private car, a van or a minivan or taxi. There are many choices for you with 4 seats, 7 seats, 16 seats or even 30 seats. Depending on your request, you can book firstly to own a luxuriously private car

Positives:
- It can pick up and drop off you at any place
you propose - It can save times. Further, you can ask
driver to follow any routes/ destination you want - It is more convenient to travel any places at
Sapa - Equipped with an experienced driver, can help
you any problem you wonder - You can choose a new- modern car with other
brands - You have extreme private space. Very
comfortable during your trip
Negatives:
- There is no rest room in the private car
- The fare is the highest.
- It is not safer than train
3. Key information to get to Sapa from Hanoi
Traveling from Hanoi to Sapa is a small journey within a larger trip to Sapa. Be sure to check all important information before deciding on the most suitable transportation method. Here are some factors to help you find the best way:
Firstly, collect enough members in the group. This is essential. You need to control the total number of members to book enough space. Be sure to ask for other opinions regarding special requirements such as a restroom, breakfast, or berth.
Secondly, consider your health. Some people experience carsickness, which can affect your next journey in Sapa. So, it’s vital to consider your health when choosing transportation.
Secondly, caring about your health
Some people have problems with carsickness. It can affect to the next journey at Sapa. So you should consider about your health
Thirdly, ticket fare. Each mode of transportation has different pricing levels. Assess whether it fits within your budget. Be sure to calculate the total cost and expenses involved.
Each transportation has another level of price. Is it suitable for your budget or not? Exactly calculating about total cost and expense
The last factor is the brand name of the transportation. Choosing a reputable brand ensures reliability and comfort during your travels. There are brands known for their poor reputation, leading to unsafe situations and accidents.
Famous brand makes you reliable and comfortable during travel. There are some notorious brands which making unsafe and accident.
We recommend you choose reputable brands, ensuring that their service is reliable and well-improved.
4. What to avoid and not to do in Sapa
After finding the way to get to Sapa, you also should check some tips and tricks about new countryside, new culture and new food so that you can take advantage of all times at there
Make reference about review at Sapa before your trip
Hope that you can have a memorial trip at Sapa- one of the most beautiful place at Vietnam

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