Day train to Sapa
Travel
to Sapa by train is the most convenient mode of transport, there
are several trains running between Hanoi and Lao Cai every day
and most of them depart in the evening. Are there any
day
train from Hanoi to Sapa and vice versa? The answer is yes
however day train is not recommended unless your time is limited
and have to choose Sapa day trains.
Trains to Sapa in the day time is not as good as
night
trains. The night trains (actually they are seperate
compartments) are owned by travel companies and their service is
very good with all necessary bedding facilities plus basic items
such as some complimentary bottles of water, toothbrush,
lighting system...However the day train is run by state owned
Vietnam Railways, there are only sitting carriages and cargo
compartments, passengers can't have a good sleep in their own
cabins, the passenger carriages are equiped with basic
facilities like fans, squat toilets. Although facilities on the
day trains cannot compare to the night trains however the
passengers will have a chance to enjoy the spectacular scenery
in the northern mountain of Vietnam through the windows. Since
the completion of highway Hanoi
Lao Cai that shorten travel time
to approximately 4 hours more and more people choose express bus
for their journey instead of day trains to Lao Cai.
As the online selling service is not well attended passengers
find it hard to book tickets directly from Vietnam Raiways
website and usually purchase tickets at the train station,
address 120 Le Duan street, about 2 km from city centre, if your
time is short and want to have the tickets ready before you
arrive in Hanoi my advice is to arrange the tickets through your
hotel in Hanoi or Sapa
adventure tours with a small fee, that will save your
time and make your plan smooth because on big holidays like
National Day 2nd September or Reunification day 30th April it is
very difficult to purchase tickets as the high demand of
domestic tourists, travel to Sapa this time visitors
often have to pay 3 times more expensive to get a ticket.
Passengers can also buy tickets by calling the booking office at
84439423697, remember to check the train timetable carefully
before you buy. Train times is not always fixed and passengers
need to consider this when you plan the trip long time in
advance.
There are many types of seats on the day trains to Sapa
and prices are also different, you can choose soft seat, hard
seat, with or without air conditioner, cheapest choice is hard
seat only 6 usd/way however foreign visitors are not recommended
if you don't want to torture your body throughout the long trip,
soft seats with air-conditioner is the best class on the day
train to Sapa, fares is 10 usd each way. It is pretty easy if
you buy tickets yourself at the train station however at
weekends is more difficult and you may have to wait in the long
line, avoid being ripped off by staying away from street dealers
who hang around at the Hanoi train station.
