One of the options for passengers to travel from Hanoi to Sapa is to take the train from Hanoi to Lao Cai station, then take the bus or taxi from Lao Cai to the town of Sapa. At 340 km, it’s not a short distance and I’m sure people would prefer to travel on a safer option. In this article, I will tell you about the train (with updated schedules and prices) from Hanoi to Lao Cai as my personal experience.
The first time I traveled from Hanoi to Sapa, and as I was asking for a local train from Hanoi to the town of Sapa, everyone laughed. In fact, there is no direct train between the two places, so it required the combination of the train and bus as I mentioned above.
Types of train from Hanoi to Sapa
Many trains connect Hanoi to Sapa. You can find express trains that start with SP, others are slower trains. If you are a tourist, just take an SP train (SP1, SP2, SP3, SP4, SP7, SP8), which takes about 8 hours for the journey from Hanoi to Lao Cai.
Local Train: The local train provides basic facilities and you are mixed with the local population. There are several options for these cases such as hard seat, soft seat, hard sleeper, soft sleeper with air conditioning. The SP express trains depart at 21:35 and 22:00.
Night Train: For an 8-hour journey from Hanoi to Sapa, the hard seat or even the soft seat will exhaust you as they are only suitable for a short distance. The soft sleeper or the hard sleeper is much more comfortable and when you travel at night, it saves you time if you sleep well.
Tourist Train: Specially designed for tourists to help customers benefit from better service and comfort during the journey. Tourist trains are all equipped with air conditioning, soft sleeper, reading lamp. Private companies rent cars in a train and turn them into luxury sleeper cars for tourists.
SP1/SP2 carry a whole range of private sleeper cars for tourists, including Fansipan Express, Orient Express, etc.
SP3/SP4 include Sapaly, the Victoria Express train, Orient Express and you can also find King Express and others on SP7/SP8.
Admittedly, it costs more on tourist trains, but it is worth the money for its services.
Train to Sapa from Hanoi timetable and prices
The Express trains from Hanoi to Lao Cai depart twice a day every day (which are SP1 and SP3) and it takes you about 8 hours to go from Hanoi station to Lao Cai station.
| Trains | Departure and arrival times | Price | |
| SP1 | 21h35 – 5h15 | 7h40 | 370.000 vnd |
| SP3 | 22h – 5h55 | 8h05 | 340.000 vnd |
The fares for train tickets from Hanoi to Sapa vary from one brand to another due to their facilities and services. The most expensive is the Victoria Express train.
In the tourist train, they offer guests 2 options which are a shared sleeper cabin and a private 2-berth cabin. Obviously, in a 4-berth cabin, the ticket price is per person whereas in a private 2-berth cabin, you have to pay for the whole cabin to stay there. In some cases, if you are traveling alone and wish to stay in a 2-bed cabin, it will be expensive.
However, for some companies, they would like to accommodate more and more guests so they only ask for a small supplement + your single ticket to stay in a VIP 2-berth cabin.
The 6 best night trains from Hanoi to Sapa
Five best night train brands are gathered and presented here for your convenient journey. Let’s take a look at their facilities, train schedules, and ticket prices.
1. Train Victoria Express *****
The Victoria Express train is one of the most luxurious trains on the Hanoi – Sapa line, accommodating 48 passengers with 13 luxury cabins, a bar, and a restaurant.
- Facilities: AC, reading lamp (private), luggage storage, large bay window and bathroom, and waiting room at the station
- Train times: SP3 Dep. 22:00, Arr. 5:55
| Cabin type | 4 berth cabin | 2 berth cabin | 2 berth cabin (1 person) |
| Ticket price | 83 € | 250 € | 225 € |
Advantages:
- It’s the best service for the train journey from Hanoi to Sapa. And it has received many reviews from customers who have traveled by it.
- It provides high-quality services and it’s the best option for people who wish to use a professional and luxurious service.
- The private 2-berth cabin is very clean, the mattress is very comfortable and the view is great.
2. Orient-Express ****
Facilities: All cabins are equipped with superior facilities such as air conditioning, a clean bathroom, large luggage storage, and comfortable berths.
Train times: SP1: Dep. Hanoi at 21:35, Arr. Lao Cai at 5:15
| Cabin type | 4 berth cabin | 2 berth cabin | 2 berth cabin (1 person) |
| Ticket price | 31 € per person | 130 € per cabin | 130 € |
Advantages:
- They also have a large bathroom for guests and have received many positive reviews from passengers for the comfort of using the services here.
- The staff is well trained and ready to assist customers in all cases.
3. King Express *
The King Express train has a total of 25 cabins, spread over several carriages and can accommodate nearly 100 passengers.
Facilities: air conditioning, blankets, pillows, towels, and private toilets per cabin
Train times: SP3: Dep. Hanoi at 22:00, Arr. Lao Cai at 5:55
| Cabin type | 4 berth cabin | 2 berth cabin | 2 berth cabin (1 person) |
| Ticket Price | 33 € per person | 140 € per cabin | 140 € |
Advantages:
- As its name suggests, this company would like to treat guests like kings and queens, therefore, they have a very nice team of staff, always smiling and helpful.
- According to some reviews, people who traveled on King Express highlighted the clean and spacious cabin of this company.
4. Fansipan Express Train ****
This is one of the most luxurious tourist trains from Hanoi to Lao Cai, serving 112 passengers in 4 superior sleeper cars.
Facilities: AC, reading lamps, water, snack and towel, and the waiting room at the station
Train times: SP1: Dep. Hanoi at 21:40, Arr. Lao Cai at 5:15
| Cabin type | 4 berth cabin | 2 berth cabin | 2 berth cabin (1 person) |
| Ticket Price | 27 € per person | 140 € per cabin | 140 € |
Advantages:
- Well, Fansipan Express is appreciated for its professional staff and services, as well as its well-equipped facilities.
- Fansipan Express is the company that offers one of the most reasonable prices for customers.
5. Train express Sapaly ****
The Sapaly Express train runs the SP3 on the way from Hanoi to Sapa, which is fully decorated with high-quality soft berths with air-conditioned wooden cabins. It offers 2 options as favors to customers, namely 4 soft berth cabins and 2 Vip berth cabins.
Facilities: AC, reading lamps, water, snack, and towel.
Train times: SP3: Dep. Hanoi at 22:00, Arr. Lao Cai at 5:55.
| Cabin type | 4 berth cabin | 2 berth cabin | 2 berth cabin (1 person) |
| Ticket Price | 30 | 140 € per cabin | 140 € |
Advantages
- The decoration of each cabin makes you feel warm and the air conditioning is quite strong in summer.
- Hot water is provided, so this is an advantage for this company
- The staff is well trained and attentive.
6. Chapa Express *****
This is one of the newest trains in the system and it offers a luxurious and comfortable journey to its customers. The facilities are exceptional from the train system in Vietnam.
Facilities: AC, reading lamps, water, snack, and waiting room at the station
Train times: SP3: Dep. Hanoi at 22:00, Arr. Lao Cai at 5:55
| Cabin type | 4 berth cabin | 2 berth cabin | 2 berth cabin (1 person) |
| Ticket Price | 42 | 160 € per cabin | 160 € |
Advantages
- They have a waiting room, where guests can relax to wait for the train or change clothes and take a shower.
- The cabin is very large and the window is also big.
- They provide snacks, water, and also fruits for all guests
- Almost all guests tell the staff that they were the best on the route from Hanoi to Sapa.
