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Sapa Tours
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Sapa Vietnam Transportation - Train Ticket from Hanoi to Lao Cai
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Land
Bus, minibus & motorbike
Sapa’s proximity to the border region makes it a possible first or last stop for
travellers crossing between Vietnam and China.
The gateway to Sapa is Lao Cai, 38km away on the Chinese border. Buses to points
west such as Lai Chau and Dien Bien Phu pass through a few times a day from Lao
Cai, the main transport hub. Sapa’s bus station (for minibuses in this case) is
in the north of town.
Minibuses make the trip from Lao Cai regularly between 5am and 5pm (25, 000d, 1½
hours). In Sapa, minibuses wait in front of the church but do not run to any particular
schedule. However, in Lao Cai minibuses wait for the train that arrives from Hanoi.
If you are arriving from China, you can pick one up at Lao Cai bus station.
The advertised rate of hotel minibus services to Bac Ha (110km) for the Sunday market
is around US$10 per person; departure from Sapa is at 6am and from Bac Ha at 1pm.
It’s cheaper to go to Bac Ha by public minibus, changing buses in Lao Cai.
Driving a motorbike from Hanoi to Sapa is feasible, but it’s a very long trip, so
start early. The total distance between Hanoi and Sapa is 380km. The last 38km are
straight uphill – unless you’ve been training for the Olympics, it’s hell on a bicycle.
Train
The train trip between Lao Cai (gateway station to Sapa) and Hanoi has become much
more comfortable with the advent of a soft-sleeper class and private rail carriages
hitching a ride on the main train. Currently, a sleeper ticket between Hanoi and
Sapa can be booked only through hotels and agencies in Sapa, but in Hanoi you can
book at the station. There is an official Railway Booking Office
(871 480; 7.30-11am & 1.30-4pm)
on Pho Cau May in Sapa which charges a 7000d service fee for seats, 10, 000d for
a sleeper.
Ticket prices start at 79, 000d for a hard seat (bad choice!) to 223, 000d for an
air-conditioned soft sleeper, and rise by about 10% at weekends. There are also
several companies operating special private carriages with comfortable sleepers,
including the affordable ET Pumpkin and the more luxurious and
expensive Victoria Express.
The day train leaves Lao Cai at 10.20am, while two night trains depart 8.35pm and
9.15pm, with the later express service including the private carriages. The journey
takes about 10 hours. From Hanoi the all-stations day train departs at 6.15am and
the night trains depart at 9.20pm and 10pm respectively.
LOCAL TRAIN: HANOI - LAO CAI
The Ha Noi-Lao Cai trains runs every evening, departing from Ha Noi Train
Station at 120 Le Duan Street. Three run at night, and one makes a day trip. The
following are the trains from Ha Noi to Lao Cai (PM: SP1, LC1, LC3; AM: LC5) and
vice versa (PM: SP2, LC2, LC4; AM: LC 6) daily. The daytime route offers only hard
seats, whereas travelers can enjoy soft-sleepers, Air-conditioned, four-berth cabins
on the night trains.
In the SP3 & SP4, there are 2 Victoria
Carriages. In SP1 & SP2,
there are 2 Tulico Carriages, 1 Friendly
Carriages, 2 Ratraco Carriages, and 2 TSC Carriages, 2 King Express Carriages, 2
Royal Carriages. All of these are alternatives for tourists to Sapa from
Hanoi.
VICTORIA TRAIN
Victoria Express train is the best train in terms of comfort and services
from Hanoi to Lao Cai, Victoria "Orient Express" stylish train offers one restaurant
and two luxury sleeping carriages, all with air-conditioning. This is not a separate
train, but rather part of the normal run (SP3 & SP4) between Hanoi and Lao Cai.
SPECIAL PROMOTION PACKAGE: 01 OCT 2009 - 30 APR 2010
- VICTORIA SAPA
PACKAGE (train & hotel)
LAO CAI - SAPA TRANSFER
The Ha Noi - Lao Cai train stops at Valley Lao Cai, just 40 km from Sa Pa; in order
to reach Sa Pa, you will need to travel another hour and a half through a connecting
bus or private car. Ticket prices for connecting buses Lao Cai - Sa Pa are 25000VND
or US$1.60/way.
TRAIN FARE
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Seating |
Fare (USD)/way |
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TSC |
First class with wooden cabin- 4 berths |
30 |
Book train
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Friendly |
First class with wooden cabin- 4 berths |
30 |
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Tulico |
VIP class - 2 berths (only 1 VIP available)
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60 |
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First class with wooden cabin- 4 berths
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30 |
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Second class cabin - 4 berths
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25 |
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King Express
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VIP class - 2 berths (only 1 VIP available)
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60 |
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First class with wooden cabin- 4 berths
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30 |
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Ratraco
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First class with wooden cabin- 4 berths
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30 |
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Royal
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Second class AC soft sleeper - 4 berths
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25 |
TRAIN SCHEDULE
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Departure
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Destination
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Station
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Dep time
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Station
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Arr time
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SP1/ Tulico, Friendly,
Ratraco, TSC, King Express, Royal
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Hanoi
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21.15
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Lao Cai
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06.00
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SP2/ Tulico, Friendly,
Ratraco, TSC,
King Express, Royal
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Lao Cai
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20.15
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Hanoi
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05.00
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NOTE ON THE TICKET
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We recommend that you choose the Soft Sleeper and the TSC, Friendly, Tulico, King
Express, Ratraco, Royal trains for cleaner cabins and berths.
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Normal train can easily buy at train station in Hanoi train.
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We ONLY can purchase the return tickets from Ha Noi for the Victoria Express, TSC,
Tulico, King Express, Ratraco, Friendly, Royal train. For other normal trains, you
need to purchase the return ticket yourself, when you are in Lao Cai or Sa Pa ,
or request the hotel to buy it for you (you cannot be guaranteed a soft sleeper
if you buy on short notice).
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Train tickets are returned, 10% of the fare will be charged to you.
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Child fare: under 5 years: free of charge if sharing bed with parent; 5 years/up:
adult rate.
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