Hanoi to Sapa Train Journey to Your Hanoi Tour Plan

Train Overview: Types of Hanoi to Sapa Trains Explained

Vietnam Railways – Affordable & Authentic

Operated by Vietnam Rail, the public train service has several overnight departures along the SP route: SP1, SP2, SP3, SP4, SP7, and SP8.

• Departure Location: Hanoi Railway Station, 120 Le Duan Street
• Arrival Point: Lao Cai Railway Station, ~1 hour by road to Sapa
• Departure Times: Most commonly around 21:30 and arriving ~05:30-06:10
• Ticket Options:
  • Soft seat
  • Hard sleeper (6 berths per cabin)
  • Soft sleeper (4 berths per cabin)
• Cabins: Simple setup, common toilet, no in-room amenities
• Ticket Price Range: ~150,000đ – 400,000đ depending on cabin type and bunk level

Hanoi Railway Station (Sours: wikipedia)

Tourist Trains – Private Comfort & Premium Experience

Private tourist operators anchor their luxury sleeping compartments to the same Vietnam Rail locomotives. These carriages provide a hotel experience on the same Hanoi to Sapa Train journeys. Here’s what to expect:

Top Tourist Train Brands:

All these luxury trains depart from the same station and follow the same schedule as public trains, but offer enhanced comfort, privacy, and better service.

Sapaly Express Train (Sours: traintosapa)

Public vs. Private: What’s the Right Choice for You?

Hanoi to Sapa Train Timetable 2025 (Updated)

Hanoi to Sapa Train Schedule (2025)

Note: All the sleeper trains provide various sleeper train ticket types. To experience a high-class journey, trains such as SP3 may feature brands such as Sapaly Express Train, Chapa, and Victoria Express with air-conditioned cabins and luxury VIP cabins.

Which Hanoi to Sapa Train Should You Choose?

Among the available routes, SP1 and SP3 are the best recommended to tourists, owing to their evening departures (after dinner) and convenient arrival times at Lao Cai Sapa in the morning.

• SP1: A little earlier, best to reach by 6 AM to watch the dawn break over the hills of Sapa.
• SP3: Luxury train flagship for the likes of the Sapaly Express Train, ideal for a peaceful night in a superior air-conditioned compartment. 
• SP7: Typically used for economy or midrange sleep brands, leaving later and arriving a little later thus perfect for late arrivals. 
• SP8: A daytime train, with panoramic views of mountains, rivers, and rice terraces. It has no sleeping cabins, but it’s great if you’d rather see the country than sleep!

Top 6 Hanoi to Sapa Tourist Trains Compared

Fansipan Express (Sours: trekkingtoursapa)

How to Book Hanoi to Sapa Train Tickets

Book Online – Fast, Easy, and Secure

The best option to reserve your Hanoi to Sapa Train ticket is via reputable online portals. You can visit the websites of luxury trains like Sapaly Express Train, Chapa Express, or booking aggregators including VNPAY App or BestPrice Travel.

• Step-by-step guide:
  
  1. Select your departure time (usually 21:30 and arriving ~05:30-06:10)
  2. Select your desired brand and air-conditioned cabin or VIP cabin.
  3. Enter Passenger Information
  4. Make an online payment securely
  5. Obtain an e-ticket immediately through email

You can also utilize apps or English-supported booking websites with the ability to convert currencies, choose seats, and display the ticket fare with a breakdown.

Perfect for: International visitors, planners, technology-oriented travelers

Buy Directly at Hanoi Railway Station (Tran Quy Cap Gate)

Opt for the old mode of traveling? Go to Hanoi Railway Station, but approach via the Tran Quy Cap Gate (in the case of Vietnam Rail trains to Lao Cai Sapa). This station has the majority of tourist trains going out.

• Address: 120 Le Duan Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
• Opening hours: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
• What to bring: Passport, desired date of departure, and Vietnamese dong or card

Request trains SP1, SP3, or SP7 and state if you would want a soft sleeper, VIP cabin, or a particular train brand of the kind Sapaly Express Train.

Perfect for: Last-minute bookers, travelers already in Hanoi, local experience seekers

Book via Hotel or Trusted Travel Agency

Many hotels and hostels in Hanoi provide Hanoi to Sapa Train booking services. Typically, these agencies provide packages with a sleeper train ticket, a hotel in Sapa, and bus transfer from Lao Cai Railway Station to central Lao Cai Sapa.

• Some even provide free pickup from the station.
• Can reserve highly sought-after VIP cabins or enjoy special discounts in the low season.

Perfect for: Beginners, families, those with a preference for guided support

Watch Out for Common Scams!

Booking at the station: Beware. Regrettably, some crooked agents near the Hanoi Railway Station might provide:

• Counterfeit tickets or past booking confirmations
• “Discounts" that result in local trains with hard wooden seats rather than sleeper compartments
• Charging foreign visitors beyond the actual ticket fare

Avoid This By:

• Reservations at the authorized counter or through licensed tour operators
• Requesting confirmation of train number, leaving time, and cabin type in a straightforward manner
• Never pay cash without a paper or email confirmation.
  

Pro Tips for Booking During High Demand (Weekends, Holidays, Festivals)

• Book at least 2 weeks in advance for weekend or Tet (Vietnamese New Year) travel.
• Chapa/Sapaly Express and VIP cabins are usually booked 5-7 days in advance.
• Utilize online tools to keep an eye on availability in real-time.
• Be sure to coordinate how to get to Sapa from Hanoi while booking, some operators will arrange a transfer from Lao Cai to Sapa for you.

Lao Cai Railway Station (Sours: wikipedia)

Travel Tips for the Perfect Train Experience

What to Pack for the Overnight Train

Even when you’ve opted for a luxury option like Sapaly Express Train, packing a few essentials will make your journey on the Hanoi to Sapa Train even better:

• Warm clothes or a light blanket: Even during summertime, air conditioned cabin can be cold
• Portable charger or power bank: Cabins do provide some with plugs, but not all.
• Snack & water: Even though the majority of the trains provide free snacks, it’s best to bring your own
• Earplugs & sleep mask: Ideal for light sleepers
• Slippers or socks: Stay comfortable in the cabin
• Toiletries: Wet wipes, toothbrush, toothpaste

Food, Drinks & Toilet Access Onboard

All major Hanoi to Sapa Train services provide free water, biscuits, and sometimes fruit, particularly in VIP compartments on luxury services. Full meals aren’t available, though, so eat dinner in Hanoi first and then take the train to Hanoi Railway Station.

• Toilets are situated at the end of every carriage.
• Public train cleanliness is acceptable, and better still, on luxury trains
• Sometimes instant noodles or tea are available to heat with hot water

Bonus tip: Sapaly Express Train and Fansipan sometimes carry small dining lounges or snack trolleys, try the cabin host!

When Should You Arrive at Hanoi Station?

Try to reach Hanoi Railway Station at least 45-60 minutes ahead of your planned departure time (around 21:30 and arrive at Lao Cai Railway Station at 05:30-06:10). Early arrival provides you with time to:

• Please verify your sleeper train ticket.
• Find your departure gate.
• Relax in the lounge while traveling on a premium train such as Victoria Express or Chapa.

Safety Tips for Night Arrivals

When you reach Lao Cai, it will still be the morning hours between 5 to 6 AM. Here’s how to remain safe and comfortable:

• Book your bus or hotel shuttle in advance from Lao Cai Railway Station to Sapa
• Don’t accept any unsolicited invitations from strangers at the station.
• If you made a reservation at a travel agency or a hotel, you will see signs outside the station with your name.
• Keep personal objects near you, particularly in cabin shares.

Recall, the last part of the trip from Hanoi to Sapa is only 38 km, roughly 1 hour by bus or private car.

Which Gate to Use at Hanoi Station?

Numerous visitors confuse the station gates. Here’s the trick:

• Choose the Tran Quy Cap Gate if you are taking the Hanoi to Sapa Train (this gate receives the majority of the tourist trains, including the Sapaly Express Train and the Chapa Express) 
• Avoid the Le Duan Gate, usually employed for southbound trains. 
• Address at both entrance points: 120 Le Duan Street, but follow signs prominently marked for “Sapa Trains" or ask station staff.  

Conclusion

The trip from Hanoi to Sapa Train is not just a trip, it’s a relaxing, visually stunning, and time-efficient start to your journey. From the convenience of a sleeper train ticket to the stunning views of the countryside as you reach Lao Cai, this journey provides a special and unforgettable traveling experience. If you are still thinking about how to get to Sapa from Hanoi, this is the solution that passengers rely on the most. So go on and book in advance to enjoy the best ticket deals and claim a spot on the Hanoi to Sapa Train today!