By bus the journey from Sapa to Dien Bien is scheduled to take 9 hours. Bus services to Dien Bien arrive very early in the morning which is good if you are planning to take the connecting bus service from Dien Bien Phu to Luang Prabang which departs at 07:00.
Bus Times from Sapa to Dien Bien
There is a single daily bus service from Sapa to Dien Bien available to book online.
| Sapa | Dien Bien | Cost | Company |
| 18:00 | 03:00 | $ 16.00 | Grouptour |
- Semi-Sleeper: The Grouptour vehicle for the Sapa to Dien Bien route is a full length bus with fully reclined seats arranged bunk bed style.
Buy Tickets to Dien Bien
Use the Search Form to buy tickets from Sapa to Dien Bien.
Sapa SSB Bus Stop
Dien Bien SSB Bus Stop
About Dien Bien
Dien Bien, also known as Dien Bien Phu, is a town in the north eastern region of Vietnam located 36 km by road from the border crossing to Northern Laos. If you are planning to travel from Sapa to Luang Prabang then this is the best route to take, although bear in mind that travellers with an e-Visa for Vietnam are not permitted to exit via this particular border crossing. Dien Bien is a medium sized town with a population are around 100,000 people. The town itself has few attractions and foreign visitors generally tend to come here on route to Laos or to visit the surrounding countryside.
Rice terraces in Dien BienDien Bien is scenically situated within a valley which is 20 km long and 6 km wide and surrounded by mountains. The valley is famous for being the most productive rice growing area in Vietnam, benefiting from being flat with abundant water. The surrounding hills are majestic, with lakes and caves as well as hill tribe groups living in traditional style villages. The major historical attractions in the area relate to the battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954 when Vietnamese forces secured a comprehensive victory over a French army leading to the end of French colonial rule in Northern Vietnam. There are several sites to visit related to the battle of Dien Bien Phu in and around the town including a museum and bunkers in the area where the fighting took place.