1. Bus – Sapa to Ha Long
2. Taxi/Car – Sapa to Ha Long
3. Bus + Train to Ha Long
🎫 Book a Tour in Ha Long
🎫 Book Ticket to Ha Long
From Sapa to Halong Bay you can travel by bus, private car, bus + train.
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- The travel distance from Sapa to Halong Bay spans approximately 480 km by land if you opt for the route via Hanoi. Travelers can conveniently journey from Sapa to Halong Bay via a sleeper tourist bus, a popular and cost-effective option. This mode of transportation typically takes about 8-10 hours, with bus tickets ranging from $15-30 per person. Alternatively, travelers can choose private car or taxi services, which take approximately 6-8 hours and cost between $145-400 per car (suitable for up to 9 passengers).
- It’s worth noting that various bus and private car options are available from Sapa to Hanoi, as well as from Hanoi to Halong Bay or Hai Phong. For those preferring a combined bus + train journey, there’s a bus service from Sapa to Lao Cai Railway Station, from where travelers can proceed by train to Hai Phong via Hanoi. Additionally, from Hai Phong, travelers can travel by boat to Cat Ba. Although there are no flights from Sapa to Halong Bay due to the absence of an airport in Sapa, travelers can rely on buses, trains, or taxis for transportation.
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- Halong Bay stands as a quintessential tourist destination in northern Vietnam, attracting throngs of visitors daily and ranking among the most visited sites in Southeast Asia. While the bay experiences high tourist footfall, it remains a must-visit destination for travelers exploring northern Vietnam. Among the bay’s islands, Cat Ba Island reigns supreme, easily accessible from Tuan Chau Island or Hai Phong via boat or ferry. Tuan Chau Island serves as a modern tourist hub boasting numerous hotels and serving as the launching point for boat trips to Halong Bay.
- For a unique aerial perspective, travelers can opt for a sightseeing flight with Hai Au Aviation (Seaplanes) from Hanoi to Tuan Chau in Ha Long. Ha Long emerges as a bustling modern city teeming with services, hotels, resorts, and a plethora of tourist attractions and activities. The closest airports to Ha Long town are located in Hai Phong or Van Don, offering convenient connections to central or southern Vietnam. From Ha Long or Tuan Chau, travelers can also venture to another sought-after destination, Ninh Binh, with options to book tickets online.
| Transfer Mode – Sapa to Ha Long: | Travel Time | Cost Range |
|---|---|---|
| Bus + Train (via Lao Cai) | 14-16 hours | $25-120/pp |
| Bus / Van | 8-10 hours | $15-30/pp |
| Private Car / Taxi | 6-8 hours | $145-400 (vehicle) |
How do I get from Sapa to Halong Bay?
1. SLEEPER BUS from Sapa to Halong Bay
The cheapest and most used variant of transportation for solo travelers from Sapa to Ha Long Bay is by sleeper or seater bus or minivan. It is a popular transfer option mainly among solo low-cost travelers in northern Vietnam. There are plenty of comfortable older, but also very new and modern sleeper buses from Sapa to Ha Long.
These buses are operated by many private companies such as Duc Duong, New Way Travel, Sapa Ethnic Travel, Techbus VN, Full Moon Party Tour, Phuc Xuyen, Grouptour, Luxury Van Limousine or Sapa Discovery.
They are usually also well-rated by other travelers. The travel time from Sapa to Ha Long Bay can take 8-10 hours, depending on the bus you choose, the buses may have other different routes. Bus tickets to Ha Long from Sapa also vary in price and cost approximately $15-30/pp, also depending on the type of bus or minivan. Modern comfortable minivans or new minibuses for more people can be a little more expensive than classic sleeper buses.
In a group of more passengers, you can also book an entire small minibus, which can sometimes pay off from a budget point of view. These sleeper buses or other new minivans or minibuses can depart from various locations in Sapa and also arrive at various locations in Ha Long, such as downtown, Bai Chay and even Tuan Chau Island. You can search and book bus tickets to Ha Long from Sapa easily online in advance.
2. PRIVATE TAXI / CAR from Sapa to Halong Bay
The most comfortable, fast, but at the same time the most expensive option to get to Ha Long from Sapa is by private taxi/car. This method can be suitable for those who do not decide the budget for their travel. Transportation by private car from Sapa to Ha Long Bay can take 7-9 hours, depending on where you depart from and where exactly you want to go in the Ha Long area.
To reserve a private car with a driver, you can use several verified companies such as HaLong Transportation, Ouros Travel, Taxi with VTS, Saigon DMC. These private companies offer you modern cars, comfortable minivans and even SUVs and Jeeps, you can also book a car for a larger number of travelers, e.g. minivans for 9-16 people.
Private car and chauffeured transportation from Sapa to Ha Long Bay costs approximately $145-400/car, usually small cars are cheaper and minivans for more people are more expensive. However, minivans can sometimes be worthwhile if you are traveling in a group of passengers, so you can then calculate the fare per individual person.
By private car or taxi from Sapa town, you can arrive to Ha Long Bay to various places and stops, again like buses, for example to the city center, Bai Chay area and even Tuan Chau Island. You can search and book your private car / taxi to Ha Long Bay from Sapa online even in advance.
3. BUS + TRAIN from Sapa to Ha Long / Hai Phong
You can also travel to Ha Long from Sapa by a combination of bus and train via the cities of Lao Cai and Hanoi. This option can be interesting for those who want to experience traveling by train, but you have to expect a longer travel time and it has a total of 3 steps.
The first step is to travel by bus from Sapa to Lao Cai, the second step is to travel by train from Lao Ca to Hanoi, and the third step is to travel by train to Hai Phong or Ha Long, but the journey to Hai Phong is shorter and faster. From Sapa to Lao Cai you can take a public bus to the train station, tickets cost about $1.70/pp, a private minivan is a little more expensive. You can reach the train station by public bus in about 1 hour. You can also use some private cars to Lao Cai.
The second step is to travel by train from Lao Cai to Hanoi, you can mainly use popular tourist sleeper trains or regular trains of Vietnam Railways. Tourist sleeper trains on this route are New Livitrans Express, Violette Trains, King Express, Fanxipan Express, Chapa Express, Sapaly Express, Laman Express, Damitrans and or VicSapa Train and they offer better comfort than regular trains.
However, they are also more expensive, the price of train tickets from Lao Cai to Hanoi ranges from $14-70/pp, the cheapest is a seat or bed on a regular train, tourist trains are more expensive and start at approximately $30-35/pp. Tourist sleeper trains are mostly for 4 passengers in a cabin, exceptionally for 2 people, classic trains of Vietnam Railways have cabins for 6 passengers with sleeping beds. The journey time by train from Lao Cai to Hanoi is about 8-8.5 hours, so it is advisable to choose a sleeper bed.
The third step is to travel by train from Hanoi to Hai Phong or Ha Long. It is better to choose the train option from Hanoi to Hai Phong by Vietnam Railways and from there take a boat to the popular island of Cat Ba, for example. The train to Ha Long has a longer travel route than to Hai Phong.
Travel time by train to Hai Phong from Hanoi is approximately 2.5 hours and train tickets will cost you approximately $3-6/pp (seat). The train station is located in the center of Hai Phong and you can go from the city to Bến Phà Got Port and take a boat to Cat Ba Island from there. Bus tickets to Lao Cai and train tickets from Lao Cai to Hanoi and from Hanoi to Hai Phong are easy to find online and in advance.
BOOK TRAIN TICKETS to Hai Phong ➜
❓ FAQ + TIPS – Travel route from Sapa to Halong Bay:
1. How to book and buy tickets from Sapa to Halong Bay?
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- You can book bus / train tickets from Sapa to Halong Bay or Cat Ba online on Baolau ➜ or 12go.asia ➜
2. Do you want to book a cruise or boat in Ha Long Bay?
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- There are various types of boats, you can search and book your cruise to Ha Long Bay with KLOOK ➜
3. How long does it take to travel from Sapa to Halong Bay?
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- Travel by sleeper tourist bus from Sapa to Halong Bay (via Hanoi) takes about 8-9 hours.
- Travel by train+bus from Sapa to Halong Bay (via Lao Cai, Hanoi) takes about 14 hours.
- Travel by private taxi/car Sapa to Halong Bay takes about 6-8 hours.
4. How much does it cost to travel from Sapa to Halong Bay?
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- Travel by sleeper tourist bus from Sapa to Halong Bay costs about $15-30/pp.
- Travel by train + bus from Sapa to Halong Bay (via Lao Cai, Hanoi) costs about $25+/pp.
- Travel by private taxi/car from Sapa to Halong Bay costs about $145-400/car.
5. What is the travel distance from Sapa to Halong Bay?
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- Travel distance from Sapa to Halong Bay is about 480 km by train+bus/bus/minivan.
6. How to get from Sapa to Lao Cai?
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- Lao Cai is about 33 km from Sapa, you can travel by local public bus or you can use taxi.
- Bus ticket from Sapa to Lao Cai costs only about $1.60/pp.
7. Is it possible to travel by plane from Sapa to Halong Bay?
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- No, it is not possible to take a flight from Sapa to Halong Bay, there is no airport in Sapa town.
8. We would like to travel from Hanoi to Hai Phong, what are the ways?
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- From Hanoi to Hai Phong you can travel by various tourist buses or you can travel by train, check it: Hanoi to Hai Phong – Schedule. The most cheapest way is to travel by train. From Hai Phong you can travel to Cat Ba Island by ferry/boat.
9. Is it possible to travel from Sapa to Halong Bay by direct train?
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- No, it is not possible to travel by direct train from Sapa to Ha Long. The closest railway station to Sapa is Lao Cai Railway Station (it is about 33 km from Sapa). From Lao Cai you can travel by train to Hanoi and from Hanoi you can take a train to Ha Long (via Kep). From Hanoi to Ha Long by train it takes about 6.5 hours.
10. What is the most cheapest way of transport from Sapa to Ha Long?
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- The most cheapest way of transport from Sapa to Halong Bay is to travel by tourist bus. The most cheapest buses to Ha Long start at $15/pp.
11. Where you can go and travel from Halong Bay?
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- From Halong Bay or town you can travel by bus to Tam Coc in Ninh Binh. Travel by tourist bus from Ha Long to Tam Coc takes about 3-4.5 hours and travel distance is about 180 km. Tam Coc in Ninh Binh is a big tourist place, you can see amazing karst sceneries or take a boat ride. If you are already in Tam Coc you can go to Trang An scenic complex, Mua Caves or Hoa Lu. There is no direct train between Ha Long and Tam Coc.
12. Which islands you can also visit in Vietnam?
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- There are various popular and tourist islands in Vietnam. One of the most popular and visited island is Phu Quoc in southern Vietnam. You can read this article: 10 Best Islands in Vietnam.
13. How to travel solo in Vietnam?
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- Discover the wonders of solo travel in Vietnam as you explore ancient temples, cruise through scenic landscapes or karst sceneries, hike various national parks and ethnic villages and connect with the warm-hearted locals, creating a personalized journey of cultural immersion and breathtaking experiences.
BOOK a TOUR / ACTIVITY in Halong Bay ➜
| ⭐ The Best Rated Cruises in Ha Long Bay:⭐ | |
|---|---|
| ➡️ Signature Halong Cruise | ➡️ Alise Cruise Halong |
| ➡️ Victory Star Cruise | ➡️ Halong Athena Cruise |
| ➡️ La Regina Legend Cruise | ➡️ Era Cruises Halong |
| ➡️ Paradise Luxury Sails Cruise | ➡️ Victory Cruise |
| ➡️ Halong Sapphire Cruise | ➡️ Santa Maria Cruise |
| ➡️ Royal Palace Cruise | ➡️ Peony Cruise |
🚍 Bus Schedule / Timetable – Sapa to Halong Bay + Bus Tickets:
Bus Schedule - Sapa to Ha Long Bay | Departs in Sapa | Arrival in Ha Long Bay | Bus ticket - Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Phuc Xuyen | 08:00 | 16:13 | From $19.00 |
Phuc Xuyen | 11:00 | 19:13 | From $19.00 |
Phuc Xuyen | 16:00 | 00:13 | From $19.00 |
Grouptour | 07:00 | 17:00 | From $20.00 |
Grouptour | 08:00 | 18:00 | From $20.00 |
Grouptour | 10:10 | 20:10 | From $20.00 |
Grouptour | 10:45 | 20:45 | From $20.00 |
Grouptour | 15:30 | 21:50 | From $21.00 |
Grouptour | 21:30 | 06:30 | From $21.00 |
Techbus VN | 07:00 | 16:10 | From $22.00 |
Techbus VN | 10:00 | 19:10 | From $22.00 |
Techbus VN | 15:00 | 00:10 | From $22.00 |
Sapa Ethnic | 07:20 | 16:40 | From $18.00 |
Sapa Ethnic | 11:30 | 20:40 | From $18.00 |
Sapa Ethnic | 15:30 | 00:50 | From $18.00 |
Sapa Ethnic | 21:40 | 06:00 | From $18.00 |
Full Moon Party | 15:50 | 00:50 | From $22.00 |
Full Moon Party | 21:40 | 06:40 | From $22.00 |
Daiichi Travel | 06:00 | 16:00 | From $32.00 |
Daiichi Travel | 07:00 | 17:00 | From $32.00 |
Daiichi Travel | 08:00 | 18:00 | From $32.00 |
Daiichi Travel | 09:00 | 19:00 | From $32.00 |
Daiichi Travel | 10:00 | 20:00 | From $32.00 |
Daiichi Travel | 11:00 | 21:00 | From $32.00 |
New Way Travel | 08:00 | 18:00 | From $28.00 |
New Way Travel | 11:00 | 21:00 | From $28.00 |
New Way Travel | 15:30 | 01:30 | From $28.00 |
New Way Travel | 22:00 | 08:00 | From $28.00 |
Duc Duong | 10:30 | 20:30 | From $21.00 |
Duc Duong | 15:30 | 01:30 | From $21.00 |
🚕 Taxi Schedule / Timetable – Sapa to Halong Bay + Fares:
Taxi Schedule - Sapa to Ha Long Bay | Travel Time | Fares (Car) |
|---|---|---|
Taxi with VTS | 06:00 | From $146.00 (Comfort) |
Taxi with VTS | 06:00 | From $155.00 (SUV) |
Taxi with VTS | 06:00 | From $302.00 (Minibus) |
Saigon DMC | 07:00 | From $144.00 (Comfort) |
Saigon DMC | 07:00 | From $153.00 (SUV) |
Saigon DMC | 07:00 | From $260.00 (VAN) |
Saigon DMC | 07:00 | From $292.00 (Vip VAN) |
Ouros Travel | 07:00 | From $145.00 (Comfort) |
Ouros Travel | 07:00 | From $154.00 (SUV) |
Ouros Travel | 07:00 | From $262.00 (VAN) |
Ouros Travel | 07:00 | From $293.00 (Vip VAN) |
Ha Long Transport | 07:30 | From $259.00 (Standard) |
Ha Long Transport | 07:30 | From $306.00 (SUV) |
Ha Long Transport | 07:30 | From $386.00 (Minivan) |
🎫 Book and buy your tickets from Sapa to Ha Long + Schedule:
(You can change your departure, arrival, e.g. Sapa to Lao Cai, Sapa to Hanoi…)