Trains from Hanoi to Sapa

Trains from Hanoi to Sapa

Hanoi
Sapa
Sun, Dec 21
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Hanoi to Sapa Destination Reviews

S
Wrong ticket ! Missed the train !! No one is helping
Hanoi to Sapa, Train Cabin 4x, Damitrans, Dec 18, 2025
NM
Nice experience but the train does not go to Sa Pa. You stop at Lao Cai. From there you take a bus to Sa Pa. You Need to pay 55 dong for pax. It takes around one hour.
Hanoi to Sapa, Train VIP Cabin 2x, Sapaly Express Train, Jul 29, 2025
ZN
Customer assistance was great and helpful, they helped us to book a driver to pick us up from Lao Cai train station directly to our hotel. The cabin (vip cabin for 2 pax) was clean, they provided us earplugs, drinks and snacks and cozy bed. Overall experience with Chapa train was great. Would love to join this train again in the future.
Hanoi to Sapa, Train #SP3 1st Class Sleeper, Chapa Express, Dec 6, 2024
LR
Relatively comfy beds for a train. Easy to know where to check in per their instructions and plenty of space for storage in cabin. We got I think the VIP sleeper cabin so two of us shared with another two travellers. Overall good xp.
Hanoi to Sapa, Train #SP3 VIP Sleeper 4x, Laman Express, Nov 29, 2024
PW
Arrived a little early in order to get
Hanoi to Sapa, Train #SP3 Suite 2x, Chapa Express, Nov 26, 2024
SM
Took a chapa express from Hanoi to Sapa. We bought the whole cabin for 2 of us. Approx £60 each. It was so beautifully decorated. Really clean sheets. Comfortable beds. A clean toilet for the use of the whole carriage. We were given complimentary water beer and snacks. It really was perfect
Hanoi to Sapa, Train #SP3 1st Class Sleeper, Chapa Express, Nov 7, 2024
V
Great cozy luxury train journey. Very helpful staff. My wife and kid loved everything about it.
Hanoi to Sapa, Train Shared Suite Cabin, King Sapa Train, Oct 15, 2024
YS
While the train service from Hanoi to Sapa had some drawbacks, such as pushy attempts to upgrade tickets, the train itself was impressive. The cabins were new, with exceptionally clean bed sheets, free snacks, and water. However, the noise level made it challenging to sleep well—consider bringing earplugs. On the return journey, the limousine was more comfortable and faster.
Hanoi to Sapa, Train #SP3 VIP Sleeper 4x, VicSapa Train, Jul 22, 2024
A
We booked the Laman because they said the have wifi and we really needed to be able to connect to some meetings. Wifi did not work, we asked the workers, they said they will check it but never did and never gave us feedback about it.
Hanoi to Sapa, Train #SP3 1st Class Sleeper, Laman Express, May 16, 2024
EV
If you’re looking for an excuse to upgrade your sleeper, this is is. The trip gets an overall 2 stars because it was clean and it left and arrived on time. But that’s sadly where the good times ended for us. Our seats had been changed and that wasn’t communicated well enough to the guys onboarding us, so we walked from section to section hoping for help. By the times we got to our bed we were questioned a few times, but thankfully not kicked off. We had someone either leave or arrive at every stop which was very disruptive. My least favourite was the drunk who literally stumbled in and collapsed on his bed. Then the door wouldn’t stay closed, so we unfortunately had it open all night. Really wishing I’d just paid the extra for a private 2 bed room to avoid all the disruptions.
Hanoi to Sapa, Train #SP1 1st Class Sleeper, Vietnam Railways (Đường sắt Việt Nam), May 2, 2024
4.4
970 customer reviews
5
32%
4
37%
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21%
2
10%
1
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Hanoi to Sapa Train Schedule

OperatorClassDeparture TimeArrival TimePriceRating
King Sapa Train
Shared Suite Cabin
00:00
08:00
₱1,666
  4.8
King Sapa Train
Shared Suite Cabin
00:00
08:00
₱1,675
  4.8
Lotus Train
VIP Sleeper 4x
21:35
05:25
₱1,335
Lotus Train
VIP 2 Berth
21:35
05:25
₱2,670
Laman Express
VIP Sleeper 4x
22:00
05:55
₱1,736
  4.5
Lotus Train
VIP 2 Berth
22:20
06:10
₱2,670
Lotus Train
VIP Sleeper 4x
22:20
06:10
₱1,335
Fanxipan Express
Deluxe Cabin 4x
22:30
06:25
₱1,402
Sapaly Express Train
VIP Cabin 2x
22:30
06:30
₱6,670
  4.0
Vietnam Railways
1st Class Sleeper
22:36
05:55
₱890
  3.5
Vietnam Railways
1st Class Sleeper
22:36
05:55
₱946
  3.5
Violette Express Train
VIP Sleeper 4x
22:40
06:25
₱1,558
  3.7
Vietnam Railways
1st Class Sleeper
22:40
06:25
₱923
  3.9
Vietnam Rail
4 beds cabin
22:58
04:13
₱962
Vietnam Rail
4 beds cabin lower berth
22:58
04:13
₱893

Transportation from Hanoi to Sapa

Facts about the train from Hanoi to Sapa

Cheapest Train₱1,140
Fastest Train6h 57m
Earliest Train9:35 PM
Latest Train11:03 PM
Daily Train Routes4
Distance225 kilometers
TrainChapa Express, Charmy Express, Damitrans, Family Express, Fanxipan Express, King Sapa Train, Laman Express, NewLivitrans Express, Tiim Group, Vietnam Rail, Violette Trains

How to get from Hanoi to Sapa by train

Train from Hanoi to Sapa is a decent alternative to bus or air travel. Travelling from Hanoi to Sapa by train is easy, safe, and convenient. There is a direct railway link between the two destinations, which makes your trip smooth and hassle-free. Tickets are available for online booking and it is a good idea to buy them in advance to secure your seat. To get the most out of your train journey, check the schedule and choose the most convenient departure. As a rule, trains and ticket classes are available for every taste and budget.

How far is Hanoi from Sapa?

The distance from Hanoi to Sapa is 225 km. Railways link the two destinations so that you can travel direct without connections. If there are connections, they will be indicated in your ticket.

How long does it take to get from Hanoi to Sapa by train?

Depending on the type of train, the length of your railway journey from Hanoi to Sapa may vary. The slowest train needs about 8h 25m to get to Sapa, and the fastest one brings you there in about 6h 57m. We recommend opting for the fastest service to save you time, especially if you travel by day. With overnight service, the difference of a couple of hours seems not so crucial and may prove even convenient.

Note that trains normally depart on time from their station of origin but sometimes come later than scheduled to their terminus. It is better not to plan short connections if you are going to continue your journey immediately after arrival to Sapa.

In many destinations, train stations are located very centrally and have good transport connections with the rest of the city, bus stations, and airports. It mostly concerns the older and well-established railway stations. The newer and bigger ones tend to appear in the outskirts of towns and cities, first of all, due to the reason of limited space in the central locations. Getting to and from there may be challenging even by taxi, as restrictions may apply on taxi operators allowed to serve the passengers. Hence, we highly recommend double-checking the location of the station you will depart from and arrive at as some destinations have several train stations.

How much does it cost to get from Hanoi to Sapa by train?

There may be carriages of a different class on one and the same train on one and the same route. The price of your ticket will vary accordingly – from a dirt-cheap tag for hard seats to high numbers for super comfy overnight sleeper berths on luxury trains. For the Hanoi – Sapa route, the cheapest ticket costs while if you want to travel with more comfort, expect to pay for the most expensive option.

Travelling by train essentials

  • Train tickets often sell out well before the date of departure. Book them in advance even if your travel does not fall onto high-season dates. Travelling during peak periods which also include public and national holidays, and long or bank weekends, advanced booking is a must if you do not want to remake your travel plans on the spot. It is unnecessary to go to the train station to book – buy your ticket online in a few clicks.
  • Advanced booking ensures you get the seats and berths you want. For example, the lower berths are always the first to sell out, while upper berths may be available even on the departure date. Similarly, for longer distances, it is the night trips that enjoy the highest demand, while you may be able to grab a ticket for the same route an hour before departure if it is an inconvenient day ride that eats a huge part of your time.
  • There may be different carriages within one and the same train: fan-only and air-conditioned; hard seats and soft seats; second class berths and private compartments. Before buying your ticket, make sure you understand what type of seat you are paying for. Prices may differ greatly, but sometimes it is a good idea to pay more not to spend 20 hours on a hard seat in a fan-only carriage. In general, second-class berths are a good choice for longer overnight trips, while for shorter 4-6-hour day journeys, a soft seat is a great option.
  • Air-conditioning on trains can be excessive – as well as heating during the cold season. Make sure to pack layers not to get cold or hot during your trip. In hot countries, fan-only carriages are a cheaper and acceptable alternative to air-conditioned carriages.
  • There are toilets on board a train. Depending on the type of train, some carriages can be equipped with simple squat-type toilets or normal Western toilets. Regardless of your ticket's price, the train toilets' cleanness is not often up to the standard, alas. It especially concerns cheaper classes, though even in first-class carriages, complaints are not unheard of.
  • There is normally a dining carriage on long-distance trains, but on some routes, dining carriages have become extinct due to covid-19 restrictions. Check in advance if food is available on board or simply pack some snacks to be on the safe side. On many trains, you will also see hawkers patrolling the aisles during the journey and selling soft beverages and snacks. Alcohol drinks are prohibited on trains.
  • Smoking is prohibited, too, if, of course, you are not travelling by a common class somewhere in China or Indonesia!
  • Arrive at the train station at least half an hour before departure to allow enough time to find your platform and go through check-in formalities. A passport or other ID which you use for buying your train ticket is almost always needed, so keep it at hand to produce when asked at check-in or boarding.
  • Trains may arrive at their destination later than scheduled. These delays are not uncommon, especially for long-haul routes. Be ready and plan accordingly. Yet compared to buses, trains are less weather and traffic dependent hence more reliable schedule-wise.