Sapa to Halong Bay

About the ride from Sapa to Halong Bay

After exploring the mountainous, lush green nature of Sapa, it’s time to continue your adventure in Vietnam and visit one of the most popular tourist spots in the country. Halong Bay attracts more than 6 million visitors every year, and there’s a strong reason for that. It’s gorgeous!

When traveling the 480 kilometer (298 mile) distance between Sapa and Halong Bay, you have three options to choose from:

• A cozy sleeper bus that will take you to Halong Bay in 9-10 hours
• A luxurious private minivan ride for 9 passengers that takes less than 8 hours to arrive in Halong Bay
• A comfortable private car for groups of 3 to 5 passengers that will transfer you to Halong Bay in less than 8 hours

 

The best time to visit Halong Bay is between October and December when the chances of rainfall are the lowest. While the weather is the nicest at this time of the year, you might also come across lots of crowds. If you want to avoid them, you can also visit between June and September, but the chances of storms and typhoons happening while you’re there are at their highest.

What to see when traveling from Sapa to Halong Bay

If you’re traveling on a sleeping bus, there won’t be much to see outside of your window. Use this time to rest, sleep, or just relax in your seat. Once you arrive in Halong Bay, you’ll need all that energy to explore the area.

Those who booked a private ride and chose to leave during the day will have a chance to say goodbye to the lush green scenery of the Lao Cai province through their windows.

Halong Bay has more than 2,000 gorgeous lush islands. There are many ways to explore the nature of the bay. You can take a boat to some of the islands and hike the trails of uninhabited and secluded spots, or you can take a multi-day cruise that will glide between these small pieces of heaven. If you want to experience the water from a different perspective, you can rent a kayak, go diving, or take a night squid fishing trip!

Halong Bay is also famous for its magnificent caves, and some of the most interesting ones you should visit are Hang Sung Sot Cave, Me Cung Cave, Virgin Cave, and the Hospital Cave.

How to get from Sapa to Halong Bay

Taking a sleeping bus

For travelers on a budget, taking a Local Sleeping bus between Halong Bay and Sapa is one of the most popular ways of traveling between two cities. When booking a sleeping bus, you’ll save money on both transport and the accommodation. The buses usually take between 8 and a half hours and 10 and a half hours to arrive in Halong Bay.

All buses are well equipped with A/C, reclining seats, and blankets. Some buses might have WiFi and snacks. Buses don’t have toilets on board, but they will make frequent stops during your ride. The luggage policy is 20kg per passenger.

Taking a private minivan

Groups of up to 9 passengers who want a faster, more comfortable, and private ride, taking a minivan from Sapa to Halong Bay is the best choice.

The minivan takes around 7 hours and 30 minutes to arrive in Halong Bay. Minivans are well equipped with comfortable reclining seats, A/C, and WiFi. The driver will make several stops during your journey for rest and toilet. You can also choose your departure time, as well as pick up and drop off locations.

Driving with a private car

Did you know that you can’t drive a car in Vietnam if you’re not a citizen of the country? Well, now you do. If you want to rent a car in Vietnam, it will come with a private driver too. 

Driving to Halong Bay from Sapa with a private car is a great choice for groups of travelers or families that need privacy and more comfort during their journey. There are options available for groups of up to 3 and 5 passengers. This is the priciest transportation available, but the most comfortable one.