As there is no railway station in Sapa, when traveling from Hanoi to Sapa by train, you will arrive at Lao Cai City and will have to continue your trip to the town of Sapa by bus or private transport. Taking a local bus from Lao Cai to Sapa is the cheapest way to get to this popular tourist destination. Find the current schedule and ticket prices of this bus.
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Bus Route from Lao Cai to Sapa
The route of the Lao Cai–Sapa bus is as follows:
- Pho Moi Station (Lao Cai Railway Station)
- Coc Leu Bridge
- Hoang Lien Road
- 4D Highway
- Sapa Church
When traveling back to Lao Cai, the bus returns the same way.
Lao Cai–Sapa Bus Schedule
Bus from Lao Cai to Sapa
The bus to Sapa departs daily, from 5:30 to 16:00. If you will reach Lao Cai later than that, you will need to hire private transportation or stay overnight in the city before going up to Sapa the next morning. Accommodation for the overnight in Lao Cai City can be booked here: Lao Cai Hotels.
Buses leave every 20 to 30 minutes. The current bus schedule of departures from Lao Cai Railway Station implemented in September 2023 (valid in December 2024) is as follows:
- 5:30
- 6:00, 6:20, 6:40
- 7:00, 7:30
- 8:00, 8:30
- 9:00, 9:30
- 10:00, 10:30
- 11:00, 11:30
- 12:00, 12:30
- 13:00, 13:30
- 14:00, 14:30
- 15:00, 15:30
- 16:00
Bus from Sapa to Lao Cai
The bus from Sapa departs daily, from 7:30 to 18:00. If you have a train ticket for a trip from Lao Cai to Hanoi in your pocket, give plenty of time for getting back from Sapa, as the road down from the mountains isn’t the easiest one, and unexpected disturbances can occur.
The frequency of buses going to Lao Cai varies from 20 to 30 minutes, so you should plan accordingly. The current bus timetable of departures from Sapa Church as of December 2024 is as follows:
- 7:30
- 8:00, 8:30
- 9:00, 9:30
- 10:00, 10:30
- 11:00, 11:30
- 12:00, 12:30
- 13:00, 13:30
- 14:00, 14:30
- 15:00, 15:30
- 16:00, 16:20, 16:40
- 17:00, 17:30
- 18:00
Lao Cai–Sapa Bus Ticket Price
Bus from Lao Cai to Sapa ticket price for a one-way trip to Sapa or vice versa is 30,000 40,000 VND per person (new price from November 2022).
If you are going to board the bus or drop off somewhere before reaching the final destination, the bus ticket price should be as follows:
- Trip distance over 20 km - 40,000 VND per person
- Trip distance from 10 to 20 km - 20,000 VND per person
- Trip distance up to 10 km (in inner Lao Cai City or inner Sapa center) - 10,000 VND per person
Lao Cai–Sapa Bus Stations
In Lao Cai City, the bus going to Sapa can be found at Pho Moi Station, which is better known as Lao Cai Railway Station (Ga Lao Cai). The bus stop will be on your left after exiting the train station building. You should notice parked buses in the parking lot there.
In Sapa, the bus going to Lao Cai can be found on the road near Sapa Church. You will notice a bus stop shelter and a yellow/red-colored bus parked there.
To discover other bus services in the town, explore the Sapa Bus guide.
Train from Hanoi to Sapa
The bus from Lao Cai to Sapa is usually used by travelers who are traveling from Hanoi to Sapa or vice versa by train.
As the route between Hanoi and Lao Cai is one of the most popular train routes in Vietnam, the train travel service on this route is offered not only by Vietnam Railways but also by private companies. Private companies have designed special carriages for tourists that are more luxurious and have a higher standard than the ordinary train. Private cabins are provided for tourists where they can fully rest during the 7 to 9 hour journey from Hanoi to Sapa. The list of the best private trains running on this route can be found here: Train from Hanoi to Sapa.
Train tickets for the trip on different trains serving the route can be booked here: Hanoi - Sapa Train Tickets.
