Travel from Hanoi to Sapa

There are two ways to travel from Hanoi to Sapa: 1. You can take a train to Lao Cai and then take a bus from Lao Cai to Sapa. 2. You can travel direct by road from Hanoi to Sapa in a bus or minivan. Travelling direct by road is cheaper and quicker than travelling by train to Lao Cai and then taking a bus to Sapa.

Bus Times from Hanoi to Sapa

There are currently 19 bus services a day from Hanoi to Sapa available to book online.

Buy Tickets from Hanoi to Sapa

Use the Search Box below to buy tickets from Hanoi to Sapa.

Hanoi SSB Bus Stop

Grouptour minivan and bus services to Sapa depart from the Grouptour office at No. 16 Hang Chinh Street.

Sapa SSB Bus Stop

Grouptour bus and minivan services from Hanoi terminate at the Grouptour Office on Luong Dinh Cua Street in Sapa.

About Sapa

Sapa, located 315 km to the north west of Hanoi and 35 km from the border with China, is a small mountain town located at 1,500 metres above sea level in the Hoàng Liên Son mountain range. The town of Sapa itself is small and tourist oriented, with the shops and restaurants run by people from elsewhere in Vietnam who have come to Sapa to make money from the tourist industry.

The vast majority of the area’s population are from hill tribes, most notably the Hmong, who live in villages outside of the main town. It is the mountains, villages and rice terraces farmed by the indigenous population which are the principal attractions for foreign visitors to the area.

Sapa has a temperate climate because of the altitude and mountainous geography. Bring waterproofs and some cold weather clothes, especially if you visit between November and February or if you plan to go trekking into the higher mountains around Fansipan, which at 3,143 metres above sea level is the highest mountain in Vietnam.

A popular option is to stay clear of the town and opt for a home stay in one of the outlying villages. The level of comfort in home stay can vary dramatically depending upon how much you pay and who organises it for you. The same is true of the trekking options and it pays to shop around either in Hanoi or in Sapa to find out exactly what is on offer. If you are more adventurous, and want better value for money, speak with the hill tribes people who wait around the streets of Sapa in large numbers trying to sell local handicrafts about organising some trekking and a home stay for you. This way you cut out the middle man and you stand a reasonably good chance of getting a comfortable and rewarding experience for a lower price.