In the past, traveling to Sapa by bus was taking a long time and made tourists tired as the way to Sapa was mostly rural road. After building a highway in 2014, getting from Hanoi to Sapa by bus has become much more convenient. Here’s a complete guide covering everything you need to know about Hanoi to Sapa bus travel.
Hanoi to Sapa Bus Route
When taking a bus from Hanoi to Sapa, the route follows Noi Bai - Lao Cai highway, which is a modern highway built in 2014. On the way you’ll see beautiful views of the countryside.
During the last 35 km, it is an exciting part of the route because buses need to drive up the hill that is steep in some places. For those who are motion sick, taking a pill is recommended. On this part of the route buses usually drive slowly for safety reasons so the journey up the hill may take more than 1 hour. On the way you'll see views of lush green mountains and beautiful rice fields that contrast with blue sky.
Hanoi to Sapa Bus Types
The buses used for travelling between Hanoi and Sapa are mostly sleeping buses that are supposed to help you sleep on the bus all the way. In general, the sleeper is quite comfortable for small travelers but for larger people it’s quite uncomfortable as it’s impossible to fully lie down. There are some companies that offer buses with reclining seats but they are really hard to find.
Hanoi to Sapa Bus Schedule
A big number of buses depart from Hanoi to Sapa every day. In general, bus departures can be divided in 3 periods: morning, afternoon, and night. You can choose the departure time that suits your travel plans best.
Morning Bus from Hanoi to Sapa
Morning buses depart from Hanoi at around 6:00 - 7:00 and arrive in Sapa in the afternoon. Taking a morning bus is convenient for those arriving in Hanoi late at night and willing to have a good rest before starting the journey to Sapa. If choosing this trip, you will get a chance to see scenic views of the countryside along the way.
Afternoon Bus from Hanoi to Sapa
Afternoon buses depart from Hanoi between 12:00 - 13:00 and arrive in Sapa late in the evening. Taking an afternoon bus is suitable for those who do not want to get up very early. Traveling by a bus in the afternoon to Sapa is not much different from taking a morning bus as you will also get a chance to enjoy countryside views. However, you will be arriving in Sapa in the dark.
Night Bus from Hanoi to Sapa
Night buses depart from Hanoi around 21:00 - 22:00 and arrive in Sapa around 4:00 in the morning. In most cases, the bus company allows passengers to sleep on the bus until 6:00. The advantage of traveling by night bus is that you can save time and accommodation expenses for 1 night. However, when traveling at night, you will miss the beautiful scenery along the way. Additionally, driving at night might be less safe as the route to Sapa is hilly and driving conditions are more difficult at night.
To find Sapa bus departure times use this search form.
Hanoi to Sapa Bus Companies
There are many bus companies operating on the route between Hanoi and Sapa. We’ve made a list of the most famous and reliable companies offering trips by bus from Hanoi to Sapa.
1. Inter Bus Lines Bus
Bus Type: Bus Sleeper 44, Bus VIP 22
Departure time from Hanoi: 06:30, 13:00, 21:30
Departure time from Sapa: 07:30, 13:30, 16:00, 22:00
Pick up/Drop off point in Hanoi: 5 Tran Nguyen Han, Hanoi
Pick up/Drop off point in Sapa: 436 Dien Bien Phu, Sapa
Price: starting at 250,000 VND per person
Tickets: Inter Bus Lines Bus tickets
2. Sapa Express Bus
Bus Type: Bus VIP 28, Bus VIP 18 Express
Departure time from Hanoi: 07:00, 15:00
Departure time from Sapa: 07:30, 15:00
Pick up/Drop off point in Hanoi: 13 Hang Thung, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Pick up/Drop off point in Sapa: 06 Ng. Vuon Treo, Sapa, Lao Cai
Price: around 360,000 VND per person
Tickets: Sapa Express Bus tickets
3. Sapa Dragon Express Bus
Bus Type: Executive, Sleeper
Departure time from Hanoi: 06:25, 06:30, 06:35, 06:45, 06:55, 07:00, 21:40, 21:45, 21:50, 22:00
Departure time from Sapa: 14:00, 14:10, 15:15, 15:20, 15:25, 15:30, 15:35
Pick up/Drop off point in Hanoi: 54-26 P. Hang Tre, Ly Thai To, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Pick up/Drop off point in Sapa: 582 Duong Dien Bien Phu, Sapa, Lao Cai
Price: starting at 167,000 VND per person
Tickets: Sapa Dragon Express Bus tickets
4. Sao Viet
Bus Type: Bus VIP Cabin
Departure time from Hanoi: 06:00, 08:00, 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 19:30, 23:00
Departure time from Sapa: 13:15
Pick up/Drop off point in Hanoi: 7 Pham Van Dong, Mai Dich, Tu Liem, Hanoi
Pick up/Drop off point in Sapa: 599 Duong Dien Bien Phu, Sapa, Lao Cai
Price: starting at 440,000 VND per person
Tickets: Sao Viet Bus tickets
5. Grouptour
Bus Type: Hanoi to Sapa Bus VIP 22, Bus VIP 20, Sleeper Bus 38 Express, Bus VIP 12 & others
Departure time from Hanoi: many departures from 05:50 to 24:00
Departure time from Sapa: many departures from 05:30 to 24:00
Pick up/Drop off points in Hanoi:
- Noi Bai Airport, Hanoi
- Hanoi SSB, 16 Hang Chinh, Hang Buom, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Pick up/Drop off point in Sapa: 582 Duong Dien Bien Phu, Sapa, Lào Cai
Price: starting at 350,000 VND per person
Tickets: Grouptour Bus tickets
6. Duc Duong Bus
Bus Type: Bus VIP Luxury 22, Sleeper Bus, Bus VIP Sleeper 34
Departure time from Hanoi: many departures from 5:30 to 23:45
Departure time from Sapa: many departures from 6:00 to 23:15
Pick up/Drop off points in Hanoi:
- 4 Bat Su, Hanoi
- 1 Nguyen Hoang My Dinh, Hanoi
- 779 Giai Phong, Hanoi
- My Dinh Bus Station, Hanoi
- 204 Tran Quang Khai, Hanoi
Pick up/Drop off points in Sapa:
- Sapa Cosy Hotel
- Sapa Market
Price: from 255,000 VND per person
Tickets: Duc Duong Bus tickets
7. Sapa Ethnic Travel
Bus Type: Bus VIP Luxury 22
Departure time from Hanoi: many departures from 06:20 to 01:00
Departure time from Sapa: many departures from 6:50 to 23:15
Pick up/Drop off points in Hanoi:
- Noi Bai International Airport, Hanoi
- 98-124 Tran Nhat Duat, Hang Buom, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Pick up/Drop off points in Sapa:
- Sapa Market
- 8 Sien Bien, Sapa, Lao Cai
Price: starting at 429,000 VND per person
Tickets: Sapa Ethnic Travel Bus tickets
Travel time from Hanoi to Sapa
Many websites are stating that the journey takes only 5.5-6 hours, which may mislead you. In fact, it normally takes more than 6 hours to travel between Hanoi and Sapa by bus.
Most of the buses include the pick-up service from Hanoi Old Town and it can easily take about 1 hour until everyone gets on the bus so buses tend to depart later than advertised.
Additionally, buses stop for food and toilet breaks 1 or 2 times and it takes more than 30-45 minutes, making the entire travel time longer than it should be.
Hanoi to Sapa Bus Price
For a trip from Hanoi to Sapa bus tickets cost about 250,000-450,000 VND per person, depending on the company and facilities on the bus.
Hanoi to Sapa Bus Tickets
Buying bus tickets for a trip between Hanoi and Sapa is easy. You can check the information of every company operating on this route online. We would recommend checking the bus details of each company along with the schedule and pick up/drop off points prior booking a ticket.
Sapa bus tickets can be conveniently booked using the form below.
Hanoi to Sapa bus advantages
The main advantage of taking a bus is that this way is cheaper than taking a train and much cheaper than taking a taxi. The journey by bus takes about 6-7 hours and the bus drops you off in Sapa town without having to transfer from Lao Cai, like you need to do when taking a train.
In addition, most of the bus companies provide pick-up service from hotels in Hanoi Old Quarter. You don't need to go to the train station or bus station by yourself.
Hanoi to Sapa bus disadvantages
Taking a bus is less comfortable than taking a train. However, the main disadvantage is related to safety as the last part of the route to Sapa is a mountain road that can be quite dangerous, especially at night.
To discover other bus services in the town, explore the Sapa Bus guide.
Tips
For more detailed information about taking one of the listed buses check our reviews: Bus from Hanoi to Sapa and Bus from Sapa to Hanoi.
Other ways of traveling between Hanoi and Sapa are briefly described here: How to get from Hanoi to Sapa.
If you will be traveling with your family or as a group, consider taking private transfer as it would much more convenient than taking Hanoi - Sapa bus.
Private transfer from the city of Hanoi to Sapa can be booked here: Private transfer from Hanoi to Sapa.
Travelers going directly from Hanoi Airport to Sapa can get a better deal here: Private taxi Noi Bai Airport (HAN) to Sapa
