Establishing a journey from Ha Long Bay to Sapa allows you to explore the magnificent beauty of North Vietnam, from the tranquil golden coastlines and balmy winds that encircle Ha Long Bay to the vast undeveloped mountainous areas in Sapa. Ha Long Bay and Sapa have been paramount attractions for travelers across the world, offering two distinctly different natural and ethnic experiences. While Sapa amazes with its iridescent turquoise waters and immense karst silhouettes, Ha Long proudly displays its alluring sun-bleached coastlines and surrounding lush mountains, leaving all visitors with eternal memories.
1 – Travel by bus from Ha Long Bay to Sapa
Buses are the most suitable mode of transportation for traveling from Ha Long to Sapa, giving you the chance to experience many interesting things along the way. The outstanding advantage of this vehicle is that it is economical and convenient, saving travel time with a straight road and no route changes – the average travel time is 8-9 hours. Here are some suggestions for reliable buses from Ha Long Bay to Sapa that you can choose from:
Phuc Xuyen Bus
– Pickup Point 1: Bai Chay Bus Station – No.17 Street 279, Bai Chay District, Ha LongCity at 12:00 pm
– Pickup Point 2: Ha Long Office – Giao Thong Slope, Cau Trang Intersection, Column 8, Ha Long City at 11:30 am, 8 pm, and 8:15 pm
– Drop off point: Sapa Bus Station – No.571 Dien Bien Phu Street, Sapa City
– Ticket price: 370,000 – 420,000 VND / ticket/person ($16.2 – 18.4)
– Hotline: 1900 6799
– Website: https://phucxuyen.com.vn/
Cuong Lan Bus from Ha Long Bay to Sapa
– Pickup Point: Group 3, Zone 3, Bai Chay District, Ha Long City, at 6:00 PM and 10:00 PM
– Drop off Point: Minh Khai Road, Pho Moi District, Lao Cai City
– Ticket price: 400,000 VND / ticket/person ($17.5)
– Hotline: 0963 856 856
– Website: https://xedemquangninh.com/
Hai Van Bus
– Pick up point: Bai Chay Bus Station
– Drop off point: No.10A Cao Ba Quat Street, Coc Leu Ward, Lao Cai Province
– Travel time: departure at 10:50 pm and arrival at 8 am
– Ticket price: 730,000 VND / ticket/person ($32)
– Hotline: 1900 6776
– Website: https://haivan.com/
In addition, many tourists do not choose to go directly from Ha LongBay to Sapa but go to Hanoi first and then rent a limousine to continue their journey. Although it is time-consuming, there will be many more routes to choose from and the opportunity to explore the capital of Vietnam.
2 – Travel by train from Ha Long Bay to Sapa
Although you can go by train to Sapa from Ha Long Bay, this is not a good way because there is no train station. It would be best to go from Ha Long Bay to Hanoi railway station, usually by motorbike, bus, or limousine, then take the train to Lao Cai City and a taxi to get to Sapa.
From Hanoi to Lao Cai City, many trains have various types of seats: hard seats, soft seats, and VIP beds. They usually leave the train station daily from 9 pm to 10 pm and arrive in Lao Cai City early the following day at 6-7 am. The ticket price is about VND 150,000/hard seat ($6.6), VND 280,000/soft seat ($12.3), and up to VND 500,000 – 1,000,000/deluxe seat ($22 – 43.8).
– Hanoi Train Station: 120 Le Duan Street, Hoan Kiem District
– Book online: https://dsvn.vn
3 – Ha Long Bay to Sapa Travel Experience
From about April to September, summer is probably the ideal time to go on an attractive Ha Long Bay – Sapa tour. It is mainly for your stay in Halong because Sapa’s weather is nice and cool all year round, fluctuating between 17-19°C. If you decide to go to Sapa, then every season, this place has its beauty, with various interesting activities and attractions waiting to be discovered.
The old stone church of Sapa
After traveling from Ha Long Bay to Sapa, Sapa Old Stone Church is a must-see tourist spot. Built during the French colonial period in the late 19th century, this is a unique religious architecture, the only one left with the remaining ancient imprint from this period in Sapa. With a total area of more than 6000m2, this Roman-Gothic style church is located in the center of the village, becoming a beautiful symbol of Sapa’s romance and poetry.
Ham Rong Mountain
Only about 3 km from the city center is Ham Rong Mountain, which is considered the best place for sightseeing here, where you can see the whole of Sapa City, Muong Hoa Valley, and Ta Phin Village,… This is the meeting place of mountains, sky, clouds, and thousands of colorful flowers, making you believe you are lost in a fairyland.
Cat Cat village
Cat Cat Village is a prominent tourist spot on a drive from Ha Long Bay to Sapa. Formed in the 19th century, this former village of the Hmong people in Sapa is one of the famous tourist villages that attracts many people to visit and explore the unique ethnic culture here. It still preserves a large part of the traditional crafts, such as the cultivation of cotton and linen, the weaving of cloth, the embroidery of brocades, etc.
Sapa Love Market
Held once a week on Saturday nights in the area in front of the Sapa Stone Church, this is considered a meeting place for ethnic boys and girls amidst the music of the trumpet and flute. You can freely buy brocades, jewelry, hats, towels, shirts,…as souvenirs and try the specialties here like grilled food, Thang Co hot pot, etc.
Ta Van Village
After a long journey from Ha Long Bay to Sapa, Ta Van Village is a good place to relax. About 7 km from the city center of Sapa, this place is located in the middle of a valley between the Hoang Lien Son mountain range and Ham Rong Mountain, surrounded by terraced fields that stretch to the top of the mountain. Ta Van Village is home to the Mong, Giay, Dao, and Tay ethnic minorities, who have created a wonderful and majestic natural picture with diligence and hard work. If you come here in the peak water season (April) or ripe rice season (September), you will have a chance to see the most beautiful and splendid scenery.
Fansipan Mountain
Known as the roof of Indochina, this legendary mountain is a place to show the bravery and will of climbers. However, if you only stay for a short time or are not healthy enough to participate, you can reach the top of Fansipan by cable car. From an altitude of 3,143m above sea level, you will experience the wonderful feeling of being next to the clouds and seeing the entire enchanting Hoang Lien Son mountain range.
Ha Long Bay and Sapa are two very different tourist destinations, one in the mountains and one under the sea, each with different characteristics. Due to its attractiveness, more people choose the route connecting both points. Following this need, the plan to build an airport in Sapa was launched to facilitate travel from Ha Long Bay and Sapa City.
