About the ride from Halong Bay to Sapa
After exploring the beautiful Halong Bay, it’s time to head to the northern parts of Vietnam. There’s no better place to start your trip off than Sapa, one of the country’s most popular tourist spots. Here, you’ll find the beautiful nature, rice terraces, cozy bars, and so much more.
When traveling the 480 kilometer (298 mile) distance between Halong Bay and Sapa, you have three options to choose from:
- A cozy sleeper bus that will take you to Sapa in 9-10 hours
- A luxurious private minivan ride for 9 passengers that takes less than 8 hours to arrive
- A comfortable private car for groups of 3 to 5 passengers that will transfer you to Sapa in less than 8 hours
Thanks to the moderate climate, you can visit Sapa year-round and have an awesome time.
What to see when traveling from Halong Bay to Sapa
What you’re able to see out your window on your journey between Halong Bay and Sapa depends on what time of the day your ride leaves. Of course, if you’re taking a sleeper bus, there won’t be much to see outside, so you can relax, sleep, or read the book you only opened once on your plane ride to Vietnam.
If you booked a private ride and chose an earlier departure, you’ll be traveling through the magnificent Lao Cai province. This entire area sits among mountains, lush green forests, and never ending valleys.
As soon as you arrive, you’ll learn that Sapa is a network of several local villages dotted around the mountains. Once you decide to get out of the cities of Vietnam and explore something more rural, you’ll see why Sapa is the perfect place to do so. If you want to experience the unique lives of locals, you can stay at some of the guesthouses with local families.
Sapa’s main town is quite small, with a few interesting attractions. One of them is the Sapa museum that showcases the history and the rich culture of the region. If you love to hike, you’ll enjoy staying in this region. Sapa is surrounded by mountains with numerous hiking trails all around the main town that will take you through local villages to magnificent viewpoints. You’ll have a chance to see rice terraces, lush green scenery, waterfalls, and stunning valleys. On your way back home, make sure to stop at some of the villages and buy some unique handicrafts made by the locals.
If you don’t like to hike, but still want to enjoy a nice view, you can have a coffee in the famous Cafe in the Clouds. This is also one of the rare spots in the area that has WiFi, and you’ll probably run into a fellow traveler or two.
How to get from Halong Bay to Sapa
Taking a bus
One of the most popular ways to travel between Halong Bay and Sapa is on a Local Sleeping Bus. These buses usually take between 8 and a half hours and 10 and a half hours to arrive in Sapa. 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. Traveling on a sleeping bus is a great choice for those who want to save money on transportation and accommodation. The luggage policy is 20kg per passenger.
Taking a minivan
If you’re traveling in a group of up to 9 passengers, and you want a faster, more comfortable, and private ride, taking a minivan to Sapa from Halong Bay is the perfect choice for you. The minivan takes around 7 hours and 30 minutes to arrive in Sapa. 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.
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 Sapa from Halong Bay 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.