Sapa, 30 kilometers from Lao Cai city center, is one of the most appealing tourist destinations in the Northwest of Vietnam. Coming here, you can admire the charming natural landscapes and immerse yourself in the airy atmosphere. From Hanoi, it takes you about 8 to 12 hours to reach Sapa. Let’s find out how to transfer from Hanoi to Sapa with Handspan Travel Indochina!

Through the article, you will learn detailed information about these means of transport below.

Traveling from Hanoi to Sapa by motorbike 

If you would like to stop en route to admire the scenery and take photos, you can choose to travel to Sapa by motorbike. It takes you about 10 to 12 hours to reach Sapa, depending on your journey. You can select one of the three routes below to transfer from Hanoi to Sapa.

• Hanoi - Vinh Phuc - Viet Tri - Phong Chau - Doan Hung - Yen Bai - Lao Cai (total route about 360 kilometers)
• Hanoi - Hoa Lac - Son Tay - Trung Ha Bridge - Phong Chau Bridge - Doan Hung - 70 Highway - Lao Cai - Sapa (total route about 370 kilometers)
• Hanoi - Hoa Lac - Son Tay - Trung Ha Bridge - Thanh Son - Tu Le - Mu Cang Chai - Than Uyen - O Quy Ho Pass - Thac Bac - Sapa (total route about 420 kilometers)

Among these three ways to drive from Hanoi to Sapa, most people choose the last way. Although it is longer than the two other ways, driving along the route, you can pass through Khau Pha Pass and O Quy Ho Pass, northwest Vietnam’s two most magnificent passes. 

Khau Pha Pass

O Quy Ho Pass

By driving a motorbike, you can control the itinerary yourself; however, you should not drive if you are traveling to Vietnam for the first time and are not familiar with the Vietnamese road system. Instead, you can use a shuttle bus, limousine, or train to Sapa, as detailed below.

Using a shuttle bus from Hanoi to Sapa

Shuttle bus is the first choice for tourists when they travel from Hanoi to Sapa due to its convenience and time-saving. All of the shuttle buses run along the Noi Bai - Lao Cai highway, which takes you about five to six hours to get to Sapa. Currently, there are many shuttle buses carrying tourists from Hanoi to Sapa with high-quality services. Below is a list of some reliable shuttle bus brands that Handspan highly recommends.

• Interbus Lines

Interbus Lines Sapa

• Queen Cafe

• Sapa Express

Sapa Express

Let’s choose yourself a shuttle bus and travel from Hanoi to Sapa!

Transferring from Hanoi to Sapa by limousine

As the shuttle bus, limousines are also popular means of transport to reach Sapa from Hanoi. They are suitable for every guest with luxury and comfortable conveniences. Using the shuttle bus, you can be picked up in every place in the inner city of Hanoi and dropped off directly at your accommodation in Sapa. Let’s find detailed information about some limousines you can choose to travel from Hanoi to Sapa!

• Green Lion

Green Lion Luxury

• Sapa Luxury Van Limousine

• ET Pumpkin 

Hanoi to Sapa by train

Many tourists choose to transfer from Hanoi to Sapa by train due to the safety, convenience, and exciting experiences. Although the train does not take you directly to Sapa, you should choose the train if you would like to admire the majestic scenery of Vietnam’s Northwest mountainous areas. 

Traveling by train from Hanoi to Sapa

From Hanoi Railway Station, it takes you 8 hours to Lao Cai Railway Station. You can choose the SP1 departing at 09.35 p.m. or the go, SP3 train departing at 10.00 p.m. The price for a turn is from VND 150,000 per person depending on the type of seat. For more information about the prices, you can check here. 

Besides the standard train, if you would like to experience high-quality services, you can choose these VIP train carriages below.

• King Express

• Fanxipan Express

• ET Pumpkin 

These VIP train carriages have a luxurious design and offer modern facilities, such as a reading light, a two-way air conditioner, a luggage compartment, a minibar, etc.

Getting off the train, you should catch a taxi, motorbike, or bus to get to Sapa, which takes you about 45 minutes. 

Besides motorbikes, shuttle buses, limousines, and trains, you can contact us for a private transfer service if you would like to travel with your group only. 

In conclusion, through this article, you have just known detailed information about four means of transport to travel from Hanoi to Sapa. Hope that with these pieces of information, you will have an unforgettable experience during your trip! For further things to know before traveling to Sapa, please refer to our blog post: Sapa travel guide.