by Bradley
We decided to take the bus to Sapa (Sapa Express) rather than the overnight train. The bus ride was advertised as 6 hours but the bus is fairly cheap ($17 each way), really comfortable and really spacious (plenty of leg room!) and you arrive midday. It's great to get there midday because that's when you can check into your hotel and if you take the train you get in at like 4am...ugh. Also, when you take the train you get dropped off at Lao Cai and have to take an hour long bus ride anyway (after the 8+ hour train ride, of course)! A lot of people also complain that the overnight train (which do have sleeper cars) is a wasted night of not getting much sleep. It seems like most people take the train, but the bus is (in our opinions) a much better alternative!
One of the best parts of taking the day bus is that you get to see the beautiful countryside full of rice fields. And when you're close to Sapa you get great views of the terraced mountains. Katherine had originally wanted to hire a private car to ride around the countryside on the way to Sapa, but she was satisfied with the views from the bus. Yes, you are on a highway, but it more like a paved mountain road because you see a lot. Oh yea, they also give you snacks on the bus (something like a twinkie, coconut covered peanuts, and water).
On our way to Sapa, it actually only took 5 hours (after everyone was picked up in Hanoi, which does add up to an hour). That time also included two bathroom stops, which totaled 3o minutes. Keep in mind, these stops are out in the country; the first stop is holes in the ground and not very clean. And the second stop is literally just a field. On the way back to Hanoi, you only make one stop (you skip the field stop because it's dark out). It also took the full 6 hours to get back and they don't drop you at your hotel. It was only a 10 minute walk back, though, so not bad.
On our way to Sapa, it actually only took 5 hours (after everyone was picked up in Hanoi, which does add up to an hour). That time also included two bathroom stops, which totaled 3o minutes. Keep in mind, these stops are out in the country; the first stop is holes in the ground and not very clean. And the second stop is literally just a field. On the way back to Hanoi, you only make one stop (you skip the field stop because it's dark out). It also took the full 6 hours to get back and they don't drop you at your hotel. It was only a 10 minute walk back, though, so not bad.
Thanks to Laura for letting us use some of her photos!
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