Travel Blog
Update train transfer information 2015
The most popular and convenient way to get to Sapa from Hanoi is by sleeper train.
If you choose to an experience with us we can also book the overnight trains and transfers for you.
We try to make this very easy for our guests by arranging train tickets for more than 95% of our guests. Once you read these hints and tips you will understand why it is better to leave it to us the professionals to take the guess work out and leave you to have a smooth stress free journey to Sapa.
The trains to Lao Cai depart Hanoi everynight of the week at 21:50. We choose to book our guests on the Livitrans or King Express or Fanxipang train carriages as we believe these to be the best. These carriages are VIP with 4 beds in each room. There is a toilet at the end of the carriage. We strongly advise our guests to book a private 4 berth cabin even if there are only one of two guests travelling, this ensures privacy, security and a better night sleep. The train line was build in 1906 and you can feel every piece of history in the track as you take the journey 320kms to Sapa. It certainly is a wonderful way to travel and makes coming to Sapa all that more exciting.
Bus transfer from Lao Cai to Sapa:
After 9 fairly sleepless hours on the night train you want to make sure your bus transfer from Lao Cai train station to Sapa has been organised by your hotel in Sapa, because at 5:00am when your train pulls into Lao Cai the last thing you want to do is to be left standing around having to negotiate for a seat to Sapa. I have heard crazy stories where travellers paid more then US$30 for a single ticket from Lao Cai to Sapa in a mini van. Please don’t let this happen to you.
Here are some tips:
If you want a taxi this will cost you up to 580.00 VND
The journey is 37km from Lao Cai to Sapa
The journey will take up to 1 hour depending on the weather
When you arrive it will be too early to check into most hotels.
Find a good cafe or restaurant for breakfast – Our Indigo Summer House is open from 7.30am and is a great place to shower and get some breakfast.
If you negotiate a bus ride yourself, do not pay until you arrive in Sapa
Make it easy for yourself, the train station is not the place for an adventure!!!
Terms & Conditions
By making a train booking with Sapa Travel, you acknowledge reading and accepting these Terms and Conditions and agree not to violate our policies.
ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS
In these Terms and Conditions “we, our, us, company” refers to Sapa Travel, an online operator for train ticket booking in Vietnam. “You” refers to the individual person creating an account with us and/or making a reservation through us. This website is offered to you and is conditioned on your acceptance without modification of the terms, conditions and notices contained herein as they exist at the time the booking is made. Your use of this website including the use of your booking, and the site information, constitutes your agreement to the following terms, conditions, and notices.
You agree to be fully responsible for any claim, expense, liability, losses, costs including legal fees incurred by us arising from any infringement of the terms and conditions set out in this agreement.
MODIFICATION
Sapa Travel reserves the right to change any part of this agreement without notice and your use of the Website will be deemed as acceptance of this agreement. We advise users to regularly check the Terms and Conditions of this agreement.
We have complete discretion to modify or remove any part of this site without warning or liability arising from such action.
TRAIN BOOKING
To make an online train reservation, select the itinerary you would like to travel on the front page, or email the following information to Sapa Traveladventuressapa@gmail.com
• Name of passengers (as it appears in passports)
• The exact dates of traveling
• Your preferred train(s) or expected time
• Type of ticket you would require (Soft berth, hard berth, or soft seat)
• Number of adults and children (noted with ages at the time of travel) accompanied (if any)
The booking is effective only when you make the payment, and we will issue & send the ticket voucher to you.
SPECIAL NOTE:
Sapa Travel is a third party booking agent, which allow customers to reserve train ticket online in advance. We are therefore not to be held accountable for train services provided by Vietnam Railways and private train companies such as Livitrans, King Express, Sapaly to name a few. Please direct any inquiries, concerns or complaints to the train travel experience to the corresponding people in charge.
– For the ticket delivery process, when we send you the booking confirmation and request for an address where the tickets be delivered you will have to provide us the address to deliver your tickets prior to your departure time. Otherwise, we are not responsible for delay or missing your train.
TICKET TYPES
* Recommended – 4-berth soft sleeper cabin refers to the cabin where 4 people share one cabin, which 4 berths in each cabin (see prices above)
Also available on request:
Soft-seat refers to the ticket option of soft non-armchair seat, with air-conditioner in cabin.
6 berth hard sleeper cabin refers to the ticket option of hard bed on a cabin, shared with 5 other people
2-berth soft sleeper cabin refers to the cabin with only 2 berths where 2 people share one cabin. The cabin with 4 berths but two upper berths are removed where 2 people share one cabin
RATES
Unless specified otherwise, rates are quoted in US dollars. The fares rates are for one way trip, including all fees and service charges.
Children price
• Under 5 years: Travel free if sharing berth with parents
• From 5: Price will be 100% of adult price
PAYMENT
– Credit Card: We accept payment through all major credit cards. In both ways, we will only proceed with the payment after reconfirming with you.
– PayPal. We accept payment via PayPal with a commission fee of 8.5%
– Bank transfer: Bank transfers can be made from your bank account abroad. For this payment method, you will need to cover for all bank fees (usually an additional 3%). Our bank account information as below:
Name’s card holder: Tran Quoc Long
Address: 198 Tran Quang Khai, Hanoi, Vietnam
Account number: 0011000536585
Bank’s name: VietcomBank
CANCELLATION & REFUNDS
– Ticket cancellation or amendment made after issued Booking Confirmation will be charged 30% of the ticket price.
– Ticket cancellation or amendment made 48 hours before departure date will be charged 50% of the ticket price.
– No Show or Ticket cancellation or amendment made less than 48 hours of the departure date will be charged 100% of the ticket price.
Important Note: When the tickets were issued and delivered to your address in Vietnam then it will be impossible to cancel! In that case, you need to bring tickets to the nearest train station to cancel by yourself! We can not make a cancellation without tickets in our hands!
Sapa Travel reserves the right to cancel your booking with a prior notice. In such case, a full refund of 100% will be credited to your account.
Sapa Homestay
Sapa is famous for both its fine, rugged scenery and also its rich cultural diversity. If trekking is your thing, why not opt for a two or three day experience incorporating homestays in the villages of your choice. What better way to expose yourself to the cultures and colour of Vietnam’s ethnic minorities on a trek through terraced rice paddies, bamboo groves and traditional villages all in the shadow of Mount Fansipan.
Sapa Travel work in association with a number of host families throughout the Hoang Lien Son Mountain range and each village has something different to offer. Our homestay partnerships grew out of Sapa Travel’s mission to promote and support responsible travel. From the popular Lao Chai and Ta Van homestays to the quiet and remote village of Lao Chai San, each homestay has a different feel, but all offer the traveller a rare glimpse into the way of life that has all but vanished from the rest of Asia. Here you will find no welcome mats or rehearsed “cultural” parades, just real people living real lives who greet visitors with genuine warmth and real smiles.
There are two types of homestay. The choice is either a well established mini guest house style homestay with other travellers or staying in an a traditional Hmong home as exclusive guests. In both, expect to experience village life in all its glory. On the plus side, you will get some quality time with the wonderful Black Hmong community. Hmong homes are set within the famed rice paddies and have incredible views if the weather permits. On the downside, expect to be awoken early by roosters or the families livestock. You can choose towards the end of your trek which type of homestay you want to stay.
Your choice of trek often influences the homestay we can use. The guesthouse style homestays are quite large and built from wood or brick. There are no separate bedrooms or en suit bathrooms and only some homestays have wifi. The guesthouses do have electricity. Typically, there is one big open space upstairs, which is then divided into zones with mosquito nets. The photos below show the sort of setup you might expect. These homestays normally have a couple of western style toilets and warm showers. The number of guests varies per day, but typically, two to three groups will share a particular homestay on any given night.
There are facilities to buy soft drinks, beers or water at an additional cost.
What are the bathrooms like?
The bathrooms are clean and do offer privacy. There are hot showers and flushing toilets!
Whilst walking around the house, it is best to take off your boots and slide into a pair of the plastic sandals. For more tips of acceptable behaviour, please see our comprehensive code of conduct.
If you are looking for absolute authenticity in a real home, then this is the choice for you. You can cook and eat with your host family and generally enjoy the hospitality of Sapa’s mountain people. The only way to guarantee a private experience is to stay in a traditional home. These homes also come equipped with a sleeping area and mosquito net, but bathroom and toilet facilities vary. Many homes have no toilets whatsoever, whilst others have long drop latrines.
Are there any dangers or annoyances?
The traditional way of cooking is over open flame. At dinner time, with all the cooking that goes on, the house may get quite smoky.
Mosquitos can be an issue in summer, but they are not terrible (just bring repellent and use the mosquito net provided). Long trousers are recommended for after sunset.
Roosters will cockle-doodle-doo very early in the morning, but it’s just the signal that you might want to get up and see what’s going on in the village!
Can Cau Cattle Market 2015
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- Most of the buffalo here are male, huge and strong with quite threatening looks.
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- Can Cau Cattle Market in the northern highlands province of Lao Cai is the largest of its kind in Vietnam’s northwestern region with hundreds of buffalo and cows put up for sale. It is organized every Saturday along the Can Chu Su Hill in Can Cau Commune, about 115 kilometers from Sa Pa
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- It is not unusual for some of the aggressive-looking animals to suddenly start a fight.
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- The market attracts many tourists, foreign and Vietnamese.
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- Many people come to the market to sell and buy cattle, while some are just watchers.
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- Some onlookers gather for chit-chats.
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- Buffalo traders are recognizable with backpacks or shoulder bags, often made from traditional brocade. It is said that a trader can carry up to hundreds of millions of dong with them to the market
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- Although buffalo are often considered an important asset of farmers, they do not have fixed prices. Instead, both sellers and buyers decide on the animals’ value and then negotiate with each other. This buffalo for instance is offered at VND40 million (US$1,800).
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- Among the buffalo put for sale, many are sold specifically for breeding, while others for farming or meat.
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- Can Cau Market often ends soon after noon. When traders have bought enough buffalo and left with them on trucks, many sellers stay at the market to buy necessities before leaving as well
Sapa Travel is a team of experienced guides in Sapa Town and its villages. Sapa Travel is not a big company, and we do not pretend to be. Our work is to combine a personal touch with a high level of reliability, while maintaining excellent value for our inbound destination management services to Sapa and the North of Vietnam. We compete with a flexible and creative attitude towards travel, and by doing what we say when we say we will do it. While many large companies promise to have their ‘best’ team on the ground, we ARE the team on the ground, providing you unparalleled communication and attention you deserve.
Update timetable for trains Hanoi Lao Cai 2015
On 21st January 2015 we have the announcement from Vietnam Trails Cooperation 10/CĐ VTHN that the SP 7 and SP 8 train will stop their services from Hanoi to Lao Cai and return.
So, the previous train timetable will be only on the SP 3 and SP3 trains.
Hanoi- Lao Cai: on SP 3, departing Hanoi at 21:50 and arriving Lao Cai at 6:25
Lao Cai- Hanoi: on SP 4, departing Lao Cai at 20:20 and arriving Hanoi at 5:20
So, if any of the passengers who have the vouchers for SP3 and SP4 will get the new departure and arrival as this notice. The services and seating will keep unchanged.
Trusted hill-tribe tourist guide in Sapa
One of the best experiences you can have is to by-pass all the hotel and travel agency organised treks and go straight to the source – the local hills-tribe women. By doing this, you will not only be able to choose your own itinery, have a small group (just you and your friends) and be able to set your own time-table, you will also be assured that all the money you are spending will go directly to the people who need it most – your guide and her family. Many of the trekking companies pay their guides a flat fee of around $12 USD irrespective of the size of the group – often charging each tourist over $25 USD.
Giang Thi Lan – Tour Guide
It is pretty easy to meet a local guide if you are in Sapa and willing to be mobbed by very persistent handicraft peddlers – just sit in the square, and it won’t be long before you are approached by a hills-tribe woman offering to take you to her village for a day trek. The guide may be able to offer multi-day treks and home-stays as well. Most guides will speak a bit of self-taught English. If you meet (or find) the right guide, she will also suggest lesser known villages without any tourist shops at all or indeed any other tourists. You will have to negotiate with your guide for the right price. Remember that most of the hills-tribe people are very poor by developed world standards and your money will be given directly to her family and extended community.
Many of the older hills-tribe women are not literate but they will have a phone number. Younger hills-tribe guides are likely to have an email address as well. There’s even one in Sapa with a website and tripadvisor listing! However for the majority of hill-tribe guides, its pretty difficult to get to them outside of Sapa. You are likely to meet tourists who will give you the number of their guide – your guide will ask you to recommend her to your friends and other tourists. But that’s about the only way outside of Sapa.
Sept 2014 For a wonderful 1/2 day Meme will guide tourists on the trek for 1/2 the price the agents charge and even arrange a taxi back to Sapa. Meme speaks great English (self-taught) and is full of information. She has2 daughters studying at the village school and can explain and demonstrate every aspect of how the women make their clothes from raw hemp to the finished product. She can even find some fresh local herbs which cured an upset stomach. Ask the Hmong women for Meme from Lai Chau village.
Ly Za Za – Sapa Guide
One of the many guides in Sapa is Chu, she speaks English and French and her phone number is 01657256913. Feel free to add your recommended guides on this page!
If you wish to have a lovely experience around Ta Phin village, with local red Daos guides you can contact Mrs Ly Ta May Quang at 01676098581. She and her friends can guide you for 1 or 2 days tours. Even more if you wish to spend nights with local people.
Another option for a guide and overnight homestay is Mao (http://sapamaohomestay.tumblr.com/). She speaks English and her phone number is +84 01645371770. Mao is lovely and the trek to her village was generally free of people hasseling you!
If you cannot call these guides, please contact Sapa Travel Company for supports
Company: Sapa Travel
Website: http://www.travelsapa.com
Person in charge: Mr. Tran Quoc Long
Email: info@travelsapa.com
Mobile in Vietnam: 0912217448
Buying Vietnam train tickets online
As per the announcement of Vietnam Railway, the tickets will be sold online at the following websites:
https://www.facebook.com/muavetau
Hotline 19006469
Video how to buy train tickets online
From 21st November 2014, Vietnam Railways will start to sell train tickets online via website www.dsvn.vn and you can buy train tickets like you do with the flight tickets.
The method of selling train tickets on the website www.dsvn.vn of Vietnam Railway Coporation is applicable for individuals only. After holding tickets, you can choose the methods of payment: in cash or bank cards.
The system is developped by FPT IS. Mr. Pham Minh Tuan, GM of FPT IS said that the system will be in used from 21st November 2014.
Wifi free on train Hanoi Lao Cai
Victoria Express train with wifi
The elegant Victoria Express Train is known as one of the most deluxe trains on Hanoi-Lao Cai route, offering every visitor a wonderful travelling experience.
The management constantly improves the service in order to offer the best outcome to customers; therefore, several added-services have been launched recently on the effort of improving passengers’ convenience during the trip.
Passengers now can enjoy the freedom to read your email, surf and listen to online music thanks to the new Wi-Fi access on board throughout the whole trip. Moreover, a tasty crunchy French croissant as pre-breakfast treat is also offered for every passenger. Last but not least, passenger can sip on a cup of espresso while relaxing in the brand new mini library for their own leisure.
With these latest offers, the journey with Victoria Express Train promises to be an unforgettable experience with exotic landscapes of North Vietnam and world-renowned services.
For further information and booking please contact us at
Sapa Travel
Website: http://www.travelsapa.com
Add: 18 lane 32 Chua Ha street, Hanoi
A Christmas homestay experience in Sapa
Livitrans Express Tourist Train
We booked the Livitrans Carriages for our trip to Lao Cai (Sapa) and were quite impressed with them. We paid for 4 tickets so we wouldn’t have to share our cabin with strangers- I’d imagine it would be quite cramped with 4 people + luggage (as I’m sure would be the case for any of the private carriages). The toilets were always quite clean and well maintained. The beds were, well, hard, but we both managed to get some decent sleep during the trip. One thing- on the way to Sapa, the carriages are at the back of the train, so the trip was relatively smooth. But on the return journey, you’re at the front of the train, and at times, you felt as though you were in the spin cycle of a washing machine!
We arrived in Lao Cai via train around 5am and had our pre-arranged guide waiting for us who took us via car to Sapa. We had breakfast at our hotel (Sapa Boutique- review written), a quick early morning exploration around the town (where we had our 1st taste of the determination of the local minorities to sell you something!), before we left on our trek to the village of Ta Van where we were having a home stay. We were able to leave the majority of our luggage at the hotel, and only had a small backpack for our 1 night at the homestay.
Although we weren’t looking for it, the Sapa market was the only time in Vietnam that we saw dog meat being butchered/ for sale.
So, at around 10am in the mist and fog, we set out on our trek which initially followed a main road out of Sapa. We had 4 women from the Black Hmong minority following us at one point until finally it dropped down to one. I suggested to my wife that we give her some money, get a photo and then tell her to go – so gave her 20,000 dong, took a photo…. and then discovered she was going to her village (Lao Chai) – which is where we were also going! We’re still laughing about this!
Hmong Sapa
Just before we turn off the road and started trekking through the hills and rice terrace we were again ‘picked up’ by four women and girls in traditional Black Hmong dress who walked with us to Lao Chai. They were most helpful in getting us through some of the ‘trickier’ spots although we probably didn’t really need their help- but they were also good company. The trek went through some beautiful landscape and we were the only ones out there walking at that point. By this stage, the weather had also started to clear, and we found ourselves in the most beautiful scenery, walking with these amazingly dressed minorities- just a fantastic experience!
When we finally got to the Lao Chai where we were to stop for some lunch, we went to buy some of the local wares from our 4 ‘hitch-hikers’- when suddenly we were flooded with others all wanting to sell to us. It was all rather overwhelming and very full-on. But we did manage to buy some embroidered handbags and traditional headscarf’s from the 4 who had been walking with us before we fled to the safety of our lunch cafe.
After lunch, we went on the main path through Lao Chai and on to Ta Van– the destination for our homestay (Red Zhao minority). It was Christmas Eve, but in the foothills, surrounded by this beautiful mountains bathed in sunlight, with mountain streams, rice terraces etc as far as the eye could see, it was almost like we were on another planet!
The homestay was a terrific experience, and the memory of being able to wake up on Christmas day in the middle of no-where with a Red Zhao family was one we’ll always treasure. Homestay is not like a ‘bed and breakfast’- but as such was exactly what we were looking for. They did have hot water, a hand-held shower, and toilets. But we were sharing their house (our beds were upstairs where the grain would normally be stored), and the Vietnamese Minorities (when they’re not trying to sell to you!), were quite shy- although, as I experienced, they did take great delight in laughing at me when i managed to break one of the flimsy plastic chairs while sitting in it!!
During our stay we watched as dinner was traditionally cooked on an open fire (buffalo stir-fry, bbq pork, spring rolls, tofu. Awesome!), had some local ‘fire water’, and at about 8pm, went to bed quite exhausted.
Christmas day, and after a breakfast of pancakes, banana and honey, we left the homestay and continued on with some more trekking- from Ta Van to Giang Tachai via rice paddies and trail – went through the Bamboo Forest and saw the Waterfall. It was very muddy trekking and tough to stay clean but it was really great. We had two Zay women follow us (one from the day before) a fair part of the trek. We visited a number of H’mong houses along the way – some were very poor with the absolute basics for living. One house in particular had children barely dressed, were smeared in dirt and in need of a good bath.
We finished trekking in the village of Giang Tachai – on the way up, we saw a lot of children and gave them some toys, crayons, balloons and lollies we had bought with us – very funny seeing them hold out one hand for a lolly then stick it behind their back and put out their other hand for more.
We then were driven back to Sapa- had a great late lunch at the Gecko Restaurant, after which my wife had a foot massage and a visit to a silver shop (across the street from our hotel) where she bought some jewellery based on Flower H’mong and Red Zay traditional jewellery design!
logo sapa travel
The following day (Sunday- 26/12) was our last in this part of Vietnam, and on the trip back to Lao Cai we travelled to Bac Ha markets and saw the Flower H’mong women dressed in their traditional outfits. The markets were such a sea of colour and a real highlight of our entire trip- if you have the chance, these markets are a ‘must do’ on any trip to Vietnam.
Travel Sapa with First Choice Company
Hanoi Lao Cai Highway is open to the public
Vietnam’s longest Noi Bai-Lao Cai highway is finalizing the final stages before officially opening to the public on September 21st.
The highway is expected to help shorten travel time from Hanoi to Lao Cai from the current 7 hours to only 3.5 hours.
Vietnam Expressway Corporation (VEC) Vice Director General Nguyen Van Nhi said his corporation is urging contractors to finish their final punch lists and supporting work on the roadside.
Some images on the highway before opening to public
Hanoi- Sapa by bus in the new highway
Advantages of travelling from Hanoi to Sapa by bus
Route: Ha Noi- Vinh Phuc- Phu Tho- Yen Bai- Lao Cai
Type: Highway A
Hanoi- Yen Bai with 4 lanes, maximum speed 100km/h
Yen Bai- Lao Cai with 2 lanes, maximum speed 80km/h
Distance: 245 km
Hanoi Lao Cai Sapa by express way
Hanoi – Lao Cai Highway start from the first intersection Thang Long – Noi Bai which belongs to Hanoi. The driver can choose ways by the entrance to the intersection of roundabouts in the road and then turn right after passing over charging station at North Thang Long – Noi Bai, then turn left over the Thuy Huong 2 overpass and enter the highway.
The second way is to go to the intersection of Highway 2 and the North Thang Long – Noi Bai Highway turn left into Highway 2, go straight about 0.5 km, turn right to enter the highway in the right branch of the intersections between the highway and Highway 2.
After opening on 21st September, the travel time from Hanoi to Lao Cai will be shortened from 7 hours to about 3.5 hours
Due to the hilly terrain and many other factors, it is difficult for drivers to ensure arriving on-time as theory.
The Hanoi – Lao Cai Highway project was built according to standards for highway type A. The route from Hanoi to Yen Bai has 4 lanes, 2 lanes with emergency stops and designed for speed of 100km / h and the route from Yen Bai to Lao Cai has 2 lanes of vehicles and emergency stops designed for speed of 80 km / h.
Two sides of the road from Phu Tho to Vinh Phuc, Yen Bai are covered by enclosed fence system to prevent people and animals cross the road
In fact, building the bridges and roads over the rivers and passes are pretty much reduced the distance from the capital to the regions of Lao Cai (only 190 km).
Phone number signs of 24/24-hours rescue and aid organization is quite popular and big. The drivers will be promptly rescued in emergency or accidents
Book hotels at our First Choice travel agency, address at 18 lane 32 Chua Ha street, Cau Giay district, Hanoi, Vietnam
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- Lao Cai Hanoi highway 21 Sep 2014
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- about to open
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- finalize the work Lao Cai Hanoi highway
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- first drivers
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- Lao Cai Hanoi HW
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- Motor Bike on the new road
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- some trucks in new highway Hanoi Lao Cai
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- the Hanoi Lao Cai Highway
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- work Lao Cai Hanoi Highway
A real story about ETHOS Adventures in Sapa
Ethos (on their site and forum) states themselves as an ethical travel group strives to offer tours while supporting local minority tribes. Their guides are committed to have “vast knowledge and skills to support you (the travelers). But what are behind the screen?
Ethros have lots & lots of excellent reviews on Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor reviews: can we trust them?
On Telegraph, Charles Starmer Smith has pointed out that “Tripadvisor’s online reviews now shape the way we plan our holidays but, as Charles Starmer-Smith discovers, they are not always what they seem
See the reviews for Ethos
“Highlight of our Vietnam Trip”- from CaffreyFamily- Briagolong, Australia. CaffreyFamily has only one review on Tripadvisor so far. Is this the first time CaffreyFamily travelled and reviewed? Or is this a fake review on tripadvisor for Ethros?
Another title from the review “Fantastic experience!” from the user Spencer_Knight on tripadvisor with only one review in the tripadvisor history.
TripAdvisor is not the only site to have built a business around user-generated reviews – Holiday Watchdog and Holidays Uncovered are among its rivals – but it is by far the most influential.
Holidaymakers are increasingly aware of the power they have at their fingertips. Privately, hoteliers admit that guests and corporate groups have tried to use the threat of a bad TripAdvisor review or the promise of a series of good reviews to secure discounted room rates or upgrades. Hotel and b & b owners also complain that it is difficult to have a review changed or removed even when they present proof that it is untrue. They claim that TripAdvisor adopts a “guilty until proven innocent” policy with hotel management. McCready said: “The process involved in posting a management response is arduous, and I have found it almost impossible to have a response posted without censorship.”
I want to ask Phil Hoolihan if the Ethos is a real group of ethnic travel group?
