| Distance | 320 km (200.0 miles) |
| Price range | $13-$311 |
| Ride Duration Range | 6h 40m-10h |
| Earliest Departure | 21:30 |
| Latest Departure | 23:00 |
| Most Popular Operator | Grouptour |
Find up-to-date information on departure times, schedules, and prices so you can easily compare and book your tickets.
Fastest bus: 6h 40m
Cheapest bus: $13
Ninh Binh is where you'll find some of Vietnam's most extraordinary landscapes. Its towering limestone karsts and winding rivers are otherworldly.
Believe it or not, Sapa rivals the beauty found there.
Famous for its endless vibrant green rice fields and lush mountains, this town is also home to five ethnic minority groups who welcome visitors into their way of life.
One of the most popular activities in Sapa is trekking through the rice fields with the women of these communities before staying the night in their homes.
It's a unique experience that you'll treasure forever!
There are three ways to cover the 400 km (248 miles) between Ninh Binh and Sapa:
Bus
Minivan
Car
After seeing the distance between these two cities in Vietnam, you've probably already figured out that this journey will take a while. Expect to travel for 7-10 hours.
With seats starting at $12, the bus is the cheapest and most popular mode of transport.
If that's got you excited, continue reading to learn how to get from Ninh Binh to Sapa and the essential information to start planning your trip.
Sapa is all about nature and culture! It's the ideal place to hide amongst the mountains and escape the busy cities of the rest of Vietnam. The area also provides a unique experience to immerse yourself in a culture and community so different from your own.
Check out our favorite things to do in Sapa and how you can spend your time there:
Trek through rice fields. Google Sapa, and 90% of the images will be of its incredible rice fields. They are breathtaking! You can take on these treks by yourself, but the best way is to be accompanied by women from the local communities who can teach you about their culture and nature. Treks vary in length from a few hours to a couple of days.
Stay with a local family. Want to learn about one of the ethnic minorities? Staying in their home is the perfect way to immerse yourself. Enjoy delicious home-cooked food, play with the kids, and spend the night chatting and sipping happy water (rice wine).
Hike Fansipan Mountain. Standing at an impressive 3,143 meters (10,311 feet), it's the highest mountain on the Indochinese peninsula. You have two options to reach the summit: hiking or taking a cable car. If you're up for the challenge, it's a multi-day trek where you'll witness a golden sea of clouds at sunrise.
Visit Cat Cat Village. Not into hiking so much? Cat Cat Village is only a short walk from Sapa Town. Wander through this traditional H'mong village, visit a waterfall, and learn about H'mong culture and craftsmanship at the local museum.
Explore Silver Waterfall and Heaven's Gate. Marvel at the cascading Silver Waterfall, just a short drive from Sapa Town. Then, continue on to Heaven's Gate (Tram Ton Pass), the highest mountain pass in Vietnam, for stunning views of the Hoang Lien Son mountain range.
There are three ways to travel between Ninh Binh and Sapa: by bus, minivan and private car.
The bus is the most popular and cheapest way to get from Ninh Binh to Sapa. Tickets start at $12.
The journey takes 7-9 hours and can be very comfortable, depending on the bus you choose.
Look for a sleeping bus or a VIP sleeping cabin bus for the most comfort.
A sleeping bus generally has two levels of seats reclined to a sleeping position. Usually, it provides a blanket, water, and air conditioning.
A VIP sleeping/cabin bus has a bit more privacy with a curtain or your own little nook. The seats are fully reclinable into a comfortable bed. Usually, it has a blanket, water, air conditioning, a charging port, and WiFi, subject to availability.
There are plenty of departures both day and overnight for those who want to save on accommodation.
Buses leave from various departure points in Ninh Binh, generally from the bus company's office. The arrival locations in Sapa also vary.
If you're looking for a more private option tailored to your schedule, hire a minivan with a driver.
With a capacity of 10 people, once you split the cost of the minivan, it can be an affordable way to travel from Ninh Binh to Sapa. Van prices start at around $308.
The journey takes eight hours and includes hotel pick-up and drop-off.
The standard minivan offers air conditioning and reclining seats but less space than the VIP and sleeper buses.
Don't need a whole minivan but still want a private trip? A car can fit a maximum of five people and includes a door-to-door service as well.
The cars are spacious and offer a comfortable journey. Prices start at $207 for the car.
What to expect from the journey from Ninh Binh to Sapa
The journey from Ninh Binh to Sapa will make you wish teleportation already existed. It's pretty long, taking 7-9 hours and sometimes even more depending on traffic.
Luckily, Vietnam's buses are some of the nicest you'll have seen, especially the VIP sleeper bus. Take the bus overnight, and time should pass a lot faster. You fall asleep in one city and wake up in another.
Most buses don't have toilets onboard, nor will you have one if you take a car or minivan. The drivers will make stops along the way for you to grab a snack and use the restroom.
This route is safe for solo and female travelers.
The absolute best time to visit Sapa is in September. This is when the rice is ready to be harvested, and the terraces are a stunning blend of yellows and vibrant green.
If you can't make it in September, March to May and October are great times to visit. These are the driest months, meaning the rain shouldn't ruin your trekking adventures. The landscapes are still pretty green during this time, too.
Those brave enough to tackle winter in Sapa should bring warm clothes, as temperatures can drop below freezing, and it's not uncommon for the rice fields to be covered in snow. You can probably guess this isn't the best time to visit.
The answer to how many days you should spend in Sapa depends on whether you stay with a local family.
If you are, the 2 nights/3 days option gives you an ideal amount of time to lose yourself in mountain life, eat your body weight in home-cooked food and learn about the ethnic minority's culture.
Those not pushed for time may want to enjoy a day or two on either side of their trekking experience to relax.
Not looking to go trekking? Two days should be enough for you to see the rice fields, visit a waterfall and head to a local village.
While you're in the north of Vietnam, it would be rude not to visit Ha Giang, a region famous for its adrenaline-fuelled motorbike loop.
The best thing to do is hop on a motorbike for three to four days, cruising through the phenomenal landscapes and tiny villages.
The journey from Sapa to Ha Giang takes 5-7 hours and can be done by bus, minivan and car.
The Long Hotel, Tam Coc
Mike's Travel Agency
207 Le Dai Hanh
Tam Coc 0Km Restaurant
Ninh Binh - Any hotel
Sapa Bus Station
TBUS Sapa Office
Ket Doan Bus office (Hey Hotel)
Grouptour - Sapa
Sapa - Any hotel in the city center
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