How To Take The Hanoi To Sapa Train (Night Schedule, Tips & What To Do Before Departure)

I travel to Vietnam every year, but I’ve never have been to Sapa-until this time; I decided to visit that beautiful mountain province of northern Vietnam. Hanoi to Sapa train is best way to go easy on your pockets and enjoy the journey with locals. I was so excited and chose to do it like the backpacker’s way.

I booked a night train ticket so that I could see the misty morning of Sapa. It’s a popular way to visit, as traveling by night train can be easy on your pocket because you don’t have to book a hotel for the night. If you are not sure whether the night train worth it, read my tips that could help in your next Hanoi-to-Sapa journey.

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Hanoi to Sapa Train Schedule (Night Schedule)

Train departs from Hanoi Railway station (Ga Hà Nội) and arrive at Lao Cai province, which is about 1 hour from Sapa. From there you will need to catch a bus or cab to the town.

It will take around 8 hours to reach Lao Cai from Hanoi. Below is the table of popular overnight trains:

SP1: Departs Hanoi at 9:40 PM, arrives Lao Cai at 5:30 AM

SP3: Departs Hanoi at 10:00 PM, arrives Lao Cai at 6:05 AM From Lao Cai, it’s about a 1.5-hour drive to Sapa by bus or taxi. Ticket Prices (One Way) Prices vary based on comfort level:

Soft seat (regular train): $6–$8

Soft sleeper (4-berth cabin): $14–$17

Luxury tourist trains (e.g., Chapa, Sapaly, King Express):

Shared 4-berth cabin: $29–$45

Private 2-berth cabin: $130–$225

Note: Please check timings way before your planned night.

What I think I knew before booking

Every train is not equal; the more premium seats you would choose the more comfort you will get. I was in a hurry and didn’t know about how uncomfortable the cheapest seats can be. S, my person experience will suggest you choose your seats accordingly.

Pro tip: Book early especially during weekends you will get tickets on hiked prices.

What is actually like to be on a train in Vietnam

The trains are mostly clean and comfortable but if you are not used to travel in Local trains in your city; that can be overwhelming. Toilets in Vietnamese trains are normal; not so clean but not too bad as well. The same thing happened to me as well; I have never travel by train in my city, so it felt little challenging to me.

Pro tip: Bring your ear plugs as Vietnamese mostly snore too much and it can hamper your sleep.

How to book train from Hanoi to Sapa

There are trusted platforms like 12go.asia, Baolau . These platforms give you instant update about your booked tickets and not too expensive as well. But you should also check the prices at your hotel as well. Sometimes hotel at Hanoi give better prices than these online platforms.

Pro tip: Booking the train tickets at Hanoi train station can give better price.

How to reach Sapa from Lao Cai

There are so many options available but most comfortable one is Minivan which will cost you only 3$ to 5$. Beware of aggressive touts as they seem to be taxi drivers, but they may scam you.

Bonus tip: Don’t expect perfect English there as Lao Cai and Sapa are not the primary city like Hanoi.

What to pack for the journey

Some essentials you shouldn’t forget for this journey are warm clothes, Passport, water, food, as this is a mountain region and it can be quite cold there. Don’t forget to charge your power bank as hotel check-in usually at 2pm and you will need your phone charged for the trip.

Final Thoughts

If you ask me that I would do it again then my answer is Yes. Sapa is a beautiful place and reaching there in train is a lifetime experience. Talking with locales during my travel is unforgettable experience. Knowing their culture and talking about different aspects of life. But you must use the Google Translate for that. Best of Luck for your Train Journey.