Sapa to Hanoi, Train #SP4 VIP Sleeper 4x, Fanxipan, Nov 18, 2024
I
Inga
Clean and cozy atmosphere. Matraze a bit hard but totally okay for one night.
Sapa to Hanoi, Train #SP4 VIP Sleeper 4x, Laman Express, Nov 6, 2024
BA
Benjamin A
The ride was exactly as advertised and was very pleasant. Good service with being shown to the room and complimentary drinks and snacks. Some confusion over being told a pregnant lady needed to take the lower bed but turns out the lower bed was empty but not a problem. Only improvement I would add would be that the ticket says to go to the terminus restaurant to check in but we were turned away when we did this as the tickets we had meant that we didn’t need to check in and could board the train directly.
The train was quite bumpy especially at the end but managed to get some solid sleep.
Sapa to Hanoi, Train #SP4 VIP Sleeper 4x, Laman Express, Aug 28, 2024
CB
Chin B
Experience was great! We booked same day in the afternoon, to start to go back to Hanoi at night, and got a confirmation within an hour. We got to the train and had free refreshments and a personalized letter to thank and welcome us (+points for this gesture!). The cabin was clean, restroom too. The ride sometimes was not so quiet but it's normal since we're on a train 😅. For our first sleeper train experience, overall, it was great as we managed to get some sleep, left and got to our destination on time.
Everything went perfect with 12go, but we could hardly sleep because the bed was as hard as a board
Sapa to Hanoi, Train #SP4 VIP Sleeper 4x, VicSapa Train, Oct 27, 2023
DS
Daniel S
Carriage had AC and which worked perfectly. But there was noise all night, extremely poor tracks and old carriages led to the fact that is was impossible to sleep
Sapa to Hanoi, Train #SP4 1st Class Sleeper, Vietnam Railways (Đường sắt Việt Nam), Oct 26, 2023
AK
Arthur K
We could't find anywhere on 12go asia or on the voucher how to get our tickets, making it really difficult to get in the train. We Also had to change room several times because the crew could not find our reservation.
Sapa to Hanoi, Train #SP4 VIP Sleeper 4x, Sapaly Express, Oct 24, 2023
SR
Stephen R
Clean, got into Hanoi bang on time, reasonably comfortable. Crew came round with a cart selling snacks in the evening and coffee in the morning.
Very noisy and bumpy ride. Sleeping was hardly possible.
This review was autotranslated
Sehr laute und holprige Fahrt. Schlafen war nur wenig möglich.
Sapa to Hanoi, Train #SP4 1st Class Sleeper, Vietnam Railways (Đường sắt Việt Nam), Aug 19, 2023
AT
Andreas T
We slept in a nighttrain from the Company Lama Express. We got some snacks and drinks in the cabin and the beds where clean. A sleeping train is sometimes loud, but that is normal. We arrived in time. The toilets were clean. The AC was as always in Asia very cold. You have to book to the main Railwaystation in Hanoi because there are 3.
Sapa to Hanoi, Train #SP4 1st Class Sleeper, Vietnam Railways (Đường sắt Việt Nam), Jul 2, 2023
Train from Sapa to Hanoi is a decent alternative to bus or air travel. Travelling from Sapa to Hanoi 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 Sapa from Hanoi?
The distance from Sapa to Hanoi is 196 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 Sapa to Hanoi by train?
Depending on the type of train, the length of your railway journey from Sapa to Hanoi may vary. The slowest train needs about 8h 5m to get to Hanoi, and the fastest one brings you there in about 6h 6m. 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 Hanoi.
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 Sapa to Hanoi 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 Sapa – Hanoi 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.