How To Get From Hanoi To Sapa By Train 2023 

From Hanoi to Sapa by train is a safe, fast, and beautiful way to travel. On some routes, there are trains departing every 10 to 15 minutes every day. This is typical for inter-city travel, and for longer train routes, there are fewer conventional services – plan ahead to choose what works best for your journey

Get from Hanoi to Sapa by train 

The best way for tourists to reach Sapa, one of the most attractive destinations in Vietnam, is by train thanks to the advantage of time and money. Trains depart from Hanoi station at night and arrive at Lao Cai station in the city bordering China early in the morning and vice versa. To meet the needs of tourists, service providers have upgraded the trains with full facilities such as air conditioning, clean bathrooms, and comfortable beds, and each car has a different name. When you hear Sapaly Express or Livitrans Express, they are not trains but just different carriages on the same train operated by National Railways.

Normally, it can be divided into 3 types of cabins: 4-bed cabin, 6-bed cabin, and soft cockpit. Cruise ships also have VIP carriages, where the upper berth is removed to provide more space and privacy for just 2 people. Prices range from $35 to $45 per person for a 4-bed room and $20-$25 for a 6-bed cabin. It is also possible to purchase return tickets directly from Hanoi. Children under 5 years old are free of charge and share a bed with their parents.

Train schedules and fares

From Hanoi:

From Lao Cai:

Each trip takes about eight to nine hours one way. There are also two-morning trains, departing at 6:10 and 8:20 and arriving at 3:40 and 5:05 p.m., but these are not recommended as they have many stops along the way.

Lao Cai station is about 38 km from Sapa and takes about 1 hour by bus or car. Bus fare from Lao Cai to Sapa is 2-3 USD, tickets can be purchased at the station gate. Usually, the bus station is located right in front of the Sa Pa church, but visitors can also ask the driver to drop off the booked hotel.

List of shipping trains Hanoi – Sapa

Each train has different strengths – you can choose according to your time and budget preferences

• Victoria Express
• Sapaly high-speed train
• Quick orientation
• Express king
• Chapa Express
• Express fans
• Express train Livitrans
• Pumpkin Express (out of service)
• Ratraco Express (decommissioned)
• Royal Express (out of service)
• Former limited express train (inactive)

How to book train tickets

When you arrive in Hanoi, you can book train tickets online in advance through several websites or domestic agents. During the high season (December and January), train tickets can sell out very quickly so you should book in advance.

Online train ticket booking

Hanoi SapaTrain.com provide train ticket booking and travel packages to Sapa. One-way fare is 35 USD/person/way.

Luggage

• Hand baggage: Hand baggage not exceeding the weight limit of 20 kg for adults and 10 kg for children is allowed on board the train. These bags are neatly and securely packed.

How do I pay for my ticket?

• • Online, you will pay by Visa hoar any card. Of course, we accept all major Vietnamese and international credit cards.
  • If you would like to pay for your fare by bank transfer, we will provide you with our bank details.
  • We accept all payment methods from any bank using Western Union service worldwide. We will then send you the receipt details. Therefore, please enter your control number to complete the payment receipt.

How to get train tickets after paying for tickets?

After paying for your ticket, you will receive your order via email. This email confirms that we have received your flight booking request. We will send the e-ticket to your email. You can print out this ticket and check in like a normal ticket. The e-ticket will be used as the original passenger ticket from September 1, 2015. The e-ticket will be sent to your email 10-15 days before the departure date. So we hope you’ll quickly check your email for them.

When I successfully paid for the train ticket on your website, you confirm that my order is not available. How long does get your money back?

• When you buy train tickets on my website, you will rarely be able to book without booking. But if this happens to you, we will refund 100% of the fare to you within 15 days. But we think you should contact us via email or phone number to check the ticket status before booking!

What is the baggage policy when traveling by train in Vietnam?

• Hand baggage: Hand baggage not exceeding the weight limit of 20 kg for adults and 10 kg for children is allowed on board. These bags must be neatly and securely packed.

How do I buy tickets for my child?

• After choosing a route, you must enter the number of adults and children (if any). Child fares are subject to the following regulations:
  • Under 5 years old: Free.
  • 5 years old to under 9 years old (under 1.3 million high): 75% of the adult fare on the North-South route and vice versa. But the Hanoi – Sapa leg and vice versa, children must pay the same price as adults.
  • Over 10 years old: 100% adult price.
  • Note: Only one child is allowed per adult!

I bought your train ticket, but I can’t catch the train on the scheduled date. What is the refund policy for train tickets in Vietnam?

• Cancellation policies vary by booking type, time of year, and reason for cancellation. Regulations on ticket refund and ticket refund after ticket issuance are as follows:
• • If you cancel or correct after 15 days of departure, you will be charged 35% of the airfare.
• • If canceled or modified from 2-14 days before the departure date, 50% of the fare will be charged.
• • If canceled or modified within 24 hours before departure, 100% of the fare will be charged.
• • For tourist trains (Orient Express) from Hanoi to Sapa and vice versa: train tickets are not refundable in any case.
• We reserve the right to cancel your reservation with prior notice. In such a case, a 100% full refund will be credited to your account.
• In some cases such as storms, storms…you can’t get on the bus on time but cancel 1-2 days before departure
• – The train will run as normal and you will not receive a refund.
• – If the train does not run, we will reconfirm you via email, but you must ask the hotel reception to return the original ticket sent to us (as we usually send the ticket to your Hotel within 5 – 6 days) and 100 % Cashback to your credit card within 15 days.

How to book train tickets Online?

• Booking train tickets online is easy. In the following order:
• Step 1: Select the itinerary you want to buy on the homepage, click “Book”, then choose a travel date.
• Step 2: The shopping cart displays all the train tickets that you intend to buy, after completing the selection process, click Continue to pay.
• Step 3: Pay for train tickets securely online.
• Step 4: Receive tickets by email and prepare to go
• Can I go to Hoi An by train?
• There is no train station in Hoi An, the nearest is Da Nang station. The distance from Da Nang to Hoi An takes about 30 minutes by bus or car. You should take the night train from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang, then take a bus or taxi to Hoi An easily.

Is it possible to buy a ticket that allows multiple stops?

• Trains are not allowed to use multi-stop tickets in Vietnam. You just need to use the ticket for the route (stop). If you want to go to many places by train in Vietnam, you should plan your trip clearly so that you don’t miss the train. For example:
• “From Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) I want to go to Hanoi by train. I want to go through Nha Trang, Da Nang, and Hue, so I book 4 tickets for 4 stages as follows:
•  First ticket: Ho Chi Minh to Nha Trang
• 2nd ticket: Nha Trang to Da Nang
• Third ticket: Da Nang to Hue
• Last ticket: Hue to Hanoi”

If we forget or lose our luggage on board, can we get it back? 

• If you forget your bags, we’re sorry you weren’t able to get them back. Due to train staff changing shifts every hour, the number of people getting on and off the train is too large, so we cannot manage your luggage, and we are not responsible for your luggage on board. Take care of your luggage.

Can I bring my motorbike on the train? How much?

• Of course, you can board the train by motorbike. Since we only sell train tickets, you have to go to the train station to buy motorbike tickets.
• NOTE: Their fee is based on the capacity of the motorcycle.

Can I bring my pet on board?

• We’re sorry that you can’t bring your pet on board to keep the air fresh and not disturb other passengers.

If I bought a cruise ship ticket, how do I get it back?

• If you book a cruise train ticket, we will email your booking slip 15 days before departure and you can print it out and reconfirm it at the train station 1 hour before departure. Then the train staff (type of cruise ship) will guide you on board. This is the policy of all cruise line companies. Once you’ve printed your voucher, if you lose it to someone else, you won’t be able to get on the bus and there’s nothing we can do.
• NOTE: The address to reconfirm your voucher will appear on the submitted voucher.

How do I board the train if I lose my ticket for the return train?

• The unified train ticket is the original ticket and the paper ticket. So we just print it once and email it to you. If you lose your ticket, you must contact us immediately to get a new ticket for your journey.
• So please don’t worry about lost or damaged tickets.

If I am traveling alone, can I book VIP rooms for cruise trains?

• If you are traveling alone on a cruise ship and want to use the VIP cabin (2 soft beds), of course, you can use the VIP cabin, but please book the whole cabin. This is the policy for VIP class on cruise ships.

What should I do if I have not received my ticket?

• If you have not received your ticket by email, please confirm with us immediately. We will send them back. You can ask your hotel to print it out.
• We are a travel agency, not a station, so if you have not received your train ticket, you must email us at info@aninie.vn immediately to inquire about train tickets. Please do not disturb some staff at train stations (Hanoi and Saigon stations). We have no connection with them! Thanks in advance!

The estimated travel time from Hanoi to Sapa by train is around 7 hours 19 minutes. Trains ensure the fastest land travel time. With generally no congestion, a more or less steady pace of travel, and short stopovers at train stations.  trains are almost always one of the fastest and safest ways to get from Hanoi and Sapa.