Is it a good idea to purchase normal + day trip train to Sapa?

Question

How is the condition of the normal train which depart in the morning from Hanoi?

How much is the train ticket?

Is it "ok" to buy the train ticket at the railway station and then plan my own trip at Sapa?

Answer 1

Hi !

you should book the ticket from travel agent, and the cost will be : 20$ for hard sleep ( 6 people 1 cabin) and 23$ for short sleeper ( 6 people 1 cabin) and 26$ for short sleeper( 4 people 1 cabin)

there are 3 trips from Hanoi to Lap Cai ( from Lao Cai to sap you just catch the car or bus or taxi, it'scost about 5$) :

- from Hanoi at 8.30pm and get Laocai station at 6am (morning)

-from Hanoi at 9.15pm and get laocai station at 8am

-from 11pm ( this is good quality train, it's more espensive , around 45$ ) get Laocai station at 8am as well.

You can buy the ticket from railway station but not sure have available ticket for you or not, becasue sometime , over booking so you have to buy from others ( who bought the ticket from railway station and sale for customer and treat them when they don't have ticket in hurry case.)

But you can do your own trip to sapa. the room rate just 15$/1 night ( 1 or 2 person).and the food very cheap too

.......hope you will be enjoy wit your trips to Vietnam.....

Answer 2

Normally you can buy the ticket at the railways station. But not sure there are always available (specially on Vietnamese holidays) . If possible book by Travel Agent first. It seems to me that it is only the night train and no ones in the morning.

The stop station to Sapa is at Lao Cai (40Km from Sapa), so you should continue by bus or car to get there.

Here is the train schedule for your info http://www.bumblebeevietnam.com/engversi...

Answer 3

The morning train is actually more a cargo/local train with a few hard & soft seats carriages.  It is actually quite a long journey, departing Hanoi at 6.05am and getting into Lao Cai around 4.30pm or so (10 hours or more).  

Most travellers to Lao Cai take the night train which is about 8 hours in journey (and you save time for sightseeing and 1 night of hotel accommodation).  There are nice sleeper carriages with soft beds in wooden interior carriages.  However, these nicer carriages are operated by private companies and are not available at the railway station ticket counter.      

You can plan your own Sapa trip, but as English is not a first language here, having an accompanying guide may be quite useful and educational if you want to understand the local lifestyle.