Which is Better to Go to Sapa: Shuttle Bus or Train?

lif you are traveling around Hanoi, a bustling area of Vietnam's capital city and you want to escape from it, a trip to Sapa is a great idea for you. This mountainous area is one of the most popular destinations in Vietnam, which attracts thousands of tourists each year. But how can you get to Sapa from Hanoi? There are two kinds of transportation that people usually use named shuttle bus and train. In this article, you will be given some information about them and then, you can decide which one you prefer.

Shuttle Bus or Train?

Shuttle Bus to Sapa

There are three main advantages that you should choose to go to Sapa by shuttle bus.

First of all, it is fast. Recently, Vietnam has invested in developing the highway a lot. That is the reason why going by car is much easier and faster than that in previous years. The roads now are wide and firm so vehicles can go in comfortably. Thus, it will take less time to go from Hanoi to Sapa, which is just about a 6-hour drive.

Secondly, going by the shuttle bus is not much expensive. Every day, several shuttle buses depart from Hanoi to Lao Cai both in the daytime and nighttime. This efficiency makes the cost of traveling by shuttle bus cheaper than other kinds of transportation. If a bus provider rises their ticket price higher than that of the competitors, customers will leave them and buy tickets from other providers. So, don’t worry much about how much you need to spend to go by shuttle bus. It is because almost all the ticket prices from different providers are the same and they are very reasonable.

Shuttle Bus to Sapa

Last but not least, shuttle buses can take you to Sapa themselves. This means that these buses can somehow bring you to the place near your hotel. So you may not need to hire any car to take you to downtown Sapa.

However, going by shuttle bus also has lots of disadvantages. The first thing is that the bus does not have a large space enough for you to go around. In case you do not get used to sitting and lying for such a long time, you may need some space to walk. But if you are on the bus, you have to stay in your seat. You can only go out to the toilet or to eat something when the bus driver stops at a few stations. Therefore, sometimes you need to wait till that moment and you have to pay attention to the bus driver in case he informs everyone to go on the bus. Or else, you will be left behind.

Train to Sapa

Talking about the train, it is a cheap kind of transportation to go to Sapa, Lao Cai. There are lots of people choosing to go to Sapa by overnight train from Hanoi. On the train, they can sleep or go along to relax. Trains have enough space for people to eat, chat with friends nearby or go to the toilet, which is the thing shuttle buses cannot provide. You can book the ticket in advance to choose the seat and berth for the trip and to avoid the crowd.

Train Is A Cheap Mean Of Transportation To Go To Sapa, Lao Cai

However, trains also have a wide range of drawbacks. First, trains do not take you straight to Sapa. It will take you to the train station, then you have to catch a bus or taxi to go to Sapa. This may create some inconvenience for you as sometimes, you don't know where to go next when the train stops. Additionally, you sometimes cannot get a ticket at peak time. In this situation, if you do not book an e-ticket online, you will not have even a seat for yourself.

The costs of transportation to Sapa

As mentioned above, the price of a train ticket is quite affordable. Prices start at $7 per seat, according to Vietnam railways. However, if you want luxurious seats, you will have to pay more and the price can be up to $70.

Meanwhile, the price for the shuttle bus starts at $10 for a normal seat. And with VIP seats for a couple with more convenient services, the price may be up to $20.

All things considered, shuttle bus and train are both popular means of transportation from Hanoi to Sapa. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, based on the information given in this article along with your demands, you can choose the one you want to experience. Or you can depart from Hanoi by train and then come back by shuttle bus, then you can enjoy both of them.

You may also like: How to Travel From Halong To Sapa?

Nobita Hanh

(Image source: Internet)