Hanoi to Sapa Vietnam: how to get there and how far

From Vietnam capital, where I am living, I’ve been to Sapa about 8 times, at many different times a year. Each time gives me different feelings about the magic beauty of this small town - Sapa.

Sa Pa - How to get there
Sa Pa - How to get there. Photo: Viet Ha

Sapa is a small town and located about 340 kilometers from Hanoi to Northwest of Vietnam. Please read more: Distance from Hanoi to Sapa and How long does it take from Hanoi to Sapa. Every time I come back here, I also try to find something new and exciting.

I will meticulously recount the times I have been to Sapa for you. However, I understand that you're looking for the most basic information about Sapa, example what compelling is? How much total cost is? Or how to be able to get there without any travel company, ect…

So, before telling you the journey of discovery Sapa, I want to share to you the most important information so you can plan for your trip.

Night bus (sleeper bus) to Ha Giang from Hanoi

How to go to Ha Giang Province by night bus (or sleeper bus)

Night bus (sleeper bus) to Ha Giang from Hanoi
Night bus (sleeper bus) to Ha Giang from Hanoi. Photo: Ngoc Hang

In my previous article on this website, I shared some informations about how to move from Hanoi to Ha Giang by motorbike (you should read it). However, you can also go to Ha Giang Provice by bus, especially night bus from Hanoi.

So, how do you go to Ha Giang Province by night bus? Where do you get bus tickets in Hanoi and Hagiang?

Hanoi Train Station Map & Address

If you take a taxi from Hanoi Old Quarter to Hanoi Train Station, you need to ask clearly to the taxi driver that you need to go to the north gate or south gate of Hanoi Station. 

Hanoi Train Station Map & Address
Hanoi Train Station Map & Address

#Where is Hanoi Train Station?


Hanoi Train Station is a central position located right in the center of Hanoi capital. From Hanoi old quarter, you can walk to here. It is about 2km from Hoan Kiem Lake and Hanoi Turtle Tower and very near Hanoi Hilton Prison

Best street food in Hanoi Vietnam & Hanoi street food blog

Vietnam has thousands of unique foods and in Hanoi alone, there are also so many strange mouth dishes which I am sure you will enjoy.

Hanoi best street food
Hanoi best street food: Phở cuốn

When you come to Hanoi Vietnam, you can try and enjoy many different foods in the luxurious restaurants or hotels in Hanoi Old Quarter and around Hoan Kiem Lake.

But it would really regret if you do not try to eat the street food and exploring the unique distinctions of Hanoi street food.

Train - buses - flights & distance from Hanoi to Nha Trang

Yes, Hanoi is a capital and located in the north of Vietnam but Nha Trang is a beach city which is situated in the end of Southern Central region, it is very near Ho Chi Minh City

Flights from Hanoi to Nha Trang
Flights from Hanoi to Nha Trang. Photo: Jane Tran

There are so many beautiful sea tourism areas in Vietnam but in my mind, Nha Trang is number one. I just want to say that it is the most wonderful and much more interesting than Halong Bay

From Hanoi to Sapa by bus or train, best overnight train reviews

What transports should I choose to go to Sapa from Hanoi (Vietnam capital city) and which one should I choose, bus or train?

From Hanoi to Sapa by bus or train
From Hanoi to Sapa by bus or train

Almost foreign tourists, who go to Hanoi, are taking advantage to visit two famous sites in the northern of Vietnam are Ha Long Bay and Sapa Town in Lao Cai Province (where has Fansipan Peak is highest mountain in Indo-China).

This is an article about Ha Long Bay that you should check more. And in this article, I’d like to give you some useful information about the Sapa tourist attraction where is located about 340km from Hanoi on the Northwest.

Hanoi - Things to do in the rain

What should I do in Hanoi in the rain and if it rains in the rainy season?

Hanoi - Things to do in the rain
Hanoi - Things to do in the rain

Everybody all hope it's a beautiful day and sunny day when traveling to Hanoi Vietnam. But unfortunately if you go to Hanoi on a rainy day or rainy season. Please read more: Hanoi rainy season to understand more about Hanoi weather

Hanoi must eat & Hanoi Old Quarter must try food

Every country has the different foods and it's great that countries have so many different dishes. Our Vietnam is also same and every city or each region in Vietnam also has some signature dishes.

hanoi must eat
Hanoi must eat - banh cuon. Photo: Khenh

There are many dishes in Hanoi and many of them you can not find in the ancient capital of Hue, Nha Trang City, Hoi An or Ho Chi Minh city.

Hanoi weather in January

Hanoi weather in January

January is month to start a new year but it is the middle of winter in Hanoi Vietnam. The winter season in Hanoi usually begins from November of last year to March of next year. But it is really cold in December and coldest in the January and February.

Hanoi weather in January
Hanoi weather in January. Photo: Hong Thao

The temperature in Hanoi in January usually drops to below 15-18 degree Celsius, even below 9-10 degree Celsius on the days with strengthening cold air from the Northen of Asian continent to North Vietnam.

Trung Nguyen coffee shops in Hanoi airport

I am very glad when you come to Hanoi Vietnam. Hanoi airport may be the first place you put your foot down in Vietnam capital city.

Trung nguyen coffee hanoi airport
Trung Nguyen coffee Hanoi airport

Hanoi airport can also be a place for you to move to a different attraction which located on the territory of Vietnam or some countries in Asia.

The cheapest beer (prices) in the world

If say about the cheapest beer in the world, I think it is just "bia hoi Hanoi" in Vietnam.

cheapest beer
The cheapest beer in Vietnam and world

That's so right. Because its price is only about 8.000-10.000 VND per a glass of beer, it has the equivalent value as 40-45 cents. It is the beer price in Hanoi Old Quater, especially the fresh beer in International Bia hoi Corner.

Vietnam Hanoi must see and do around Hanoi attractions

Vietnam Hanoi must see

Hanoi is a small capital city which located in the north of Vietnam. Please read more: Where is Hanoi located on the map and Vietnam capital city to understand more about our Hanoi.

Hanoi must see
Hanoi attractions on flycam. Photo: Tu Oanh

Many tourists and travelers said that Hanoi is a city with many green trees in the world. Hanoi streets look like an old and with moss, ancient city in the early 20th century or late 19th century in the world (see more Vietnam Hanoi Old Quarter).

How to cross the street safely in Hanoi Vietnam

How to cross the street in Vietnam

Probably you are standing on the sidewalk of a certain street in Hanoi and you are wondering how to cross the street in Hanoi, Vietnam...

How to cross the street in vietnam 1
How to cross the street in Hanoi. Photo: Thomas Fuller

Yes, the traffic in Hanoi as well as any other city in Vietnam like Ho Chi Minh city, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Halong, Hue, Can Tho city... is very bad, you even can say it is very disordered.

Best things to do in Hanoi Old Quarter

Best things to do in Hanoi Old Quarter

Hanoi is the capital city of Vietnam. And old Quarter is an area which located in the center of Hanoi city. Access here to exploring Hanoi Old Quarter.

Best things to do hanoi old quarter
Best things to do Hanoi old quarter

We have the honour of welcoming you to Hanoi and Vietnam. If you travel to Hanoi, you should choose a hotel in the old quarter to book a room because this is the most especial place to you discover the ancient beauty of Hanoi city.

Train - bus - taxi from Hanoi to Ninh Binh

Distance from Hanoi to Ninh Binh is really short and easily to move. From Hanoi, you can go to Ninh Binh and the destinations which located in around by many ways, but main ways are by train, bus or taxi if you like.

Train - bus - taxi from Hanoi to Ninh Binh
Taxi from Hanoi to Ninh Binh: Hoa Lu ancient capital

If you go to Ninh Binh by train, I think this is the best way and it is very cheap too. From Hanoi Old Quarter where you have booked a hotel, you have to move to Hanoi Railway Station at Le Duan street (about 2km from Hoan Kiem Lake and Hanoi Turtle Tower).

Distance from Hanoi to Ninh Binh

Ninh Binh is a small province which located in the south of Hanoi capital city. I think the distance from Hanoi to Ninh Binh is quite short if compare with other destinations.

Distance from Hanoi to Ninh Binh
Distance from Hanoi to Ninh Binh

How far is it from Hanoi to Ninh Binh Province?

It is about 90km from Hanoi to Ninh Binh. The "Ninh Binh" word I have just said here that is a city located in the center of Ninh Binh Province.

Gateway to the temple of literature (Van Mieu) in Hanoi

Gateway to the temple of literature (Van Mieu) in Hanoi

Gateway to the temple of literature (Van Mieu) in Hano
Hanoi Vietnam temple of literature

The truth is, not only foreign tourists but many Vietnamese tourists also unknown where the gateway to the Temple of Literature located is?

Temple of Literature in Hanoi is called Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam (or Văn Miếu) in Vietnamese language. If you have not known anything about this cultural relics, please read my article about: Temple of Literature in Hanoi 

Bia hoi Corner (beer) in Old Quarter Hanoi Map

We usually call Bia hoi Corner is a popular and very cheap beer in the Hanoi. If you have not known what "bia hoi" means, please read this article: Bia hoi Hanoi

Bia hoi Corner
Bia hoi Corner (beer) in Old Quarter Hanoi Map

Bia hoi junction

The address of Bia hoi Corner is at Hanoi Old Quarter. That is junction of Ta Hien street and Luong Ngoc Quyen street, which located in the center of Old Quarter Hanoi. Initially, it was just a beer restaurant to serve the needs of poor people in Hanoi.

How long does it take from Hanoi to Sapa Vietnam (train and bus)

How long does it take from Hanoi to Sapa (Vietnam) by train and bus?

I live in Hanoi but every year, I have often gone to Sapa for several times. Off couse, Sapa is not as beautiful as Dong Van Kasrt Plateau in Hagiang Province (read more at From Hanoi to Hagiang) in my eyes but many my friends like going to Sapa.

How long Hanoi to Sapa
How long Hanoi to Sapa. Photo: Nguyen Thanh

Some times we go to Sapa by bus - sleeper bus but I really like going to by trian. The Hanoi Sapa trains have become my memories.

Hanoi winter season and winter temperatures in Hanoi

Hanoi winter season and winter temperatures in Hanoi

I am very glad  to know that you are interested in traveling to Hanoi Vietnam. One of the things that always makes me curious, interested as to why foreign tourists, especially tourists from the Americas, Europe and even South Korea, Japan ... usually want to Vietnam and Southeast Asia in the winter?

Hanoi winter season
Hanoi winter period. Photo: Van Ha

Most Hanoi people we often afraid the Hanoi winter weather because it is very cold. The winter season in Hanoi often come early and is not harsh as Japan, Korea and somewhere in Northern Hemisphere. But winter temperatures in Hanoi is also very low and somewhere in the northern of Vietnam like Mau Son (Lang Son Province), Sapa (Lao Cai Province) may be appear snow in December, January, February...