Sa Pa town - Getting There

Lao Cai distance
Located 300km from Hanoi, Lao Cai can be reached by car or train. There is National Highway No.70, 279, 4D linking Lao Cai to Yen Bai, Lai Chau and Ha Giang, China in turn. There are two trains depart from Hanoi daily to Lao Cai.

Take a train from Hanoi to Lao Cai. Many minubuses are waiting at the train station for Sapa. They are offering the service with 25-50,000D but local price is 25,000D but the bus always moves around the station to catch up customer for full seats before leaving for Sapa. Bargain hard and kepping on bus.
Many people visit Sa Pa on an organized tour from Hanoi , and this is certainly the most hassle free way to make the trip. The most popular route is by train to Lao Cai, and then the connecting bus to Sa Pa. The bus stops at Sa Pa's main post office leaving you with a couple of minutes walk into town.
The Victoria Hotel organizes sleeper carriages departing from Hanoi at 21.30 on Thursdays and Fridays, returning 18.30 Sundays. The round trip costs about $90 plus an extra $12 if you wish to be pickup in Lao Cai.

The tourist bus back to Lao Cai leaves from outside Sa Pa's church. Most hotels will organize a jeep back to Lao Cai for around $2 to $3 (they will also organize the train tickets). Tickets for sleepers and soft seats on the night train are in short supply so book in Sa Pa before leaving for Lao Cai station.
Once in Sa Pa motorcycle taxis can be arranged through your hotel or guesthouse, or pick one up at the top of the market steps.

Arriving Lao Cai station
When you arrive from Lao Cai, the minibus stops at the area where many hotels are clustered. This is not the center. The minibus continues to travel. You may ask the driver to take you to the market or Royal Hotel, both are good starting points to look for a room. Or you may get off at the church and a foot ball field. Facing to the church facade, walk to right, small street between the church and the football field, you will see steps. Go down the steps and turn left before you enter the market. This is Cau May Street, where most budget accommodation can be found. More GHs are behind the market. Go down the same steps to the bottom and walk through the market.

The altitude and steep mountainous terrain make getting around Sa Pa hard work for anyone who isn't in reasonable shape. Renting a motorbike is a good option with less danger from other road users, because more hazards from mother nature herself are quite common.
The roads, tracks and paths of the northwestern mountains can be treacherous. Landslides and washed-out sections are not uncommon, especially during periods of heavy rain.

By Train from Hanoi (evening train)

Rail is still slow and adventurous. The rail network is limited. Lines run between Hanoi-Saigon, Hanoi-Lao Cai-Hekou (China)-Kunming (China), Hanoi-Lang Son-Beijing (China). Trains to China depart from Hanoi train station. You can join the train to Kunming at Lao Cai, but you can only join the train to Beijing from Hanoi. The train stations for some Vietnam travel destinations can be literally in the middle of nowhere. The rolling stock is generally serviceable, but old and spartan by western standards.

 

Overnight train from Hanoi to Sapa
There is a train that runs from Hanoi to Sapa. There are four different classes, but I recommend that you travel in the soft sleeper. It´s not that expensive and you have a bed, you share a berth with four people. Don´t drink the water which is given to you free as although it is in a bottle it is tap water and not safe. Also it is a good idea to bring a chain and lock and lock your suitcase as sometimes when the train stops people jump in a steal the bags, but it is not that often! I got my tickets through my travel agent "FOOTPRINT TRAVEL" which is a Vietnamese company and whom I was very pleased with but you can also buy your tickets at the train station I suppose.

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 Cabins. In SP1 & SP2, there are 2 Tulico Cabins, 1 Friendly Cabin, 2 Ratraco Cabins, and 2 TSC Cabins. 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.

ROYAL TRAIN and OTHERs

To serve tourist requirements, the Royal Train is also part of a regular train with 2 carriages in SP1 and SP2 which offers A/ C, soft-sleepers and clean four-berth cabins.

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 25.000 VND or US$1.60/way.