Sapa is a comprehensive travel guide about private car hire, car rental with driver, easy bus, train station pickup, transfers, transport from/to Sapa Vietnam. Rent a car with driver and make the most of your trip to Sapa district, Lao Cai province, Vietnam.
Located 38km from Lao Cai city, Sapa is a mountainous district of Lao Cai Province. The district covers an area of 677 km², and is subdivided into 6 wards and 10 rural communes including Cau May, Ham Rong, O Quy Ho, Phan Si Pang, Sapa, Ban Ho, Hoang Lien, Lien Minh, Muong Bo, Muong Hoa, Ngu Chi Son, Ta Phin, Ta Van, Thanh Binh, and Trung Chai.
Sapa district is very well-known with Sapa town, a beautiful and romantic resort. It is one of the main market towns in the area, where several ethnic minority groups such as Hmong, Dao (Yao), Giáy, Xa Pho, and Tay live.
Sapa map
Top things to see in Sapa Vietnam?
Sapa has many natural sites such as Ham Rong Mountain, Silver Waterfall, Rattan Bridge, Bamboo Forest and Ta Phin Cave. Sapa is also the starting point for many climbers and scientists who want to reach the top of Fansipan Mountain, the highest mountain in Vietnam at 3,143m. Hoang Lien Mountain Range is also called the Alps of the North Sea area since Fansipan Mountain is not only the highest peak in Vietnam, but also in the Indochina Peninsula. The pyramid-shaped mountain is covered with clouds all year round and temperatures often drop below zero, especially at high elevations.
The first thing you notice when approaching the resort town are some detached wooden mansions and villas perched on a hill top or hillside, behind thick pine forests and almost invisible on this foggy morning. Old and new villas with red roofs now appear and now disappear in the green rows of pomu trees, bringing the town the beauty of European towns.
Sapa is home to various families of flowers of captivating colours, which can be found nowhere else in the country. When Tet, the Lunar New Year Festival, comes, the whole township of Sapa is filled with the pink colour of peach blossom brought from the vast forests of peach just outside the town. Sapa is regarded as the kingdom of orchids. Here, orchid lovers are even amazed by the choice, when trekking in the forest filled with several hundred kinds of orchids of brilliant colours and fantastic shapes, such as Orchid Princess, Orchid of My Fair Lady’s Shoe. Some orchids are named after lovely singing birds such as the canary, salangane’s nest, and more.
How to get to Sapa?
There are several ways for getting to Sapa. You can get there by train (Hanoi – Lao Cai), private car, limousine shared transfer, shuttle, local bus, motorbike, or bicycle. Your choices are diverse. This depends on your departure location, preferred means of transport, your trip duration, your personal interest and budget. There is no airport in Sapa district.
Getting to Sapa from Hanoi
The best way to get to Sapa from Hanoi is to rent a car with driver. Booking a private transfer from Hanoi to Sapa offers you the chance to make as many stops on the way as you wish for coffee breaks, side-road visits, or just shooting pictures.
There are also public buses going to Sapa from Hanoi. Taking local public bus or limousine shared transfer are low cost options for getting from Hanoi to Sapa. Most of Limousine service and shuttle buses depart from My Dinh bus station in the west of downtown Hanoi. While most of overnight buses leave from My Dinh bus station, you may find some day buses departing from Gia Lam or Giap Bat bus station. Please bear in mind local buses are usually full at weekend and/or during school holidays in summer.
Lots of visitors travel by a night train from Hanoi to Lao Cai city. It takes about 8 hours by train and you will arrive to Lao Cai train station at about 5–6.30 am. From Lao Cai city, they connect a local bus or book a private car for Sapa.
Local taxis, Uber, and Grab car, motorbike rental, bicycle hire service are also available in Hanoi.
Sapa when to go?
At the height of 1,600m above sea level, the average temperature of the area is 15-18oC. It is cool in summer and cold in winter.
Visitor to Sapa in summer can feel the climate of four seasons in one day. In the morning and afternoon, it is cool like the weather of spring and autumn. At noon, it is as sunny and cloudless as the weather of summer. And it is cold in the evening. With no advance warning of a thunderstorm short and heavy rains may come at noon on any summer day. Subsequently, a rainbow appears, transforming Sapa into a magic land, which for years has been a constant source of poetic inspiration, lights up the whole region.
Fresh and cool air in Sapa is an idea climate condition for growing temperate vegetables such as cabbage, chayote, precious medicinal herbs, and fruit trees such as plum, pear…
Best time to visit
The best time to witness the scenic beauty of Sapa is in April and May. Before that period, the weather might be cold and foggy; after that period is the rainy season. In April and May, Sapa is blooming with flowers and green pastures. The clouds that settle in the valley in early morning quickly disappear into thin air.
Sapa is most beautiful in spring. Apricot, plum and cherry flowers are splendidly beautiful. Markets are crowded and merry, and are especially attractive to visitors. Minority groups come here to exchange and trade goods and products. Market sessions are also a chance for locals to promenade and young men and women in colorful costumes to meet, date or seek sweethearts.
Car and driver for Sapa Vietnam
The best way to explore Sapa as well as its surrounding areas is to rent a car with driver. The option offers you the flexibility to discover the district at your own pace. Booking a private car with driver is recommended for a car trip, family holidays, and photography tour.
We have a big fleet of vehicle including 4, 5 seat Sedan, 7, 8 seat MPV, SUV, 4WD, 15, 16 Minivan, Minibus, 29, 35, 45 Coaches offering a wide selection of car rental packages. Options include easy bus station pickup, private transfers, car rental with driver, private car hire. We also have pickup trucks and box trucks to rent out (with driver) for overland trips, self-guided bicycle, motorbike tours to Sapa district, Lao Cai province, and the northern region of Vietnam.
No matter if in Sapa for travel, business, or pleasure you can find the right rental vehicle to match your budget and plans. Get around with more ease with a top quality car rental in Sapa district from Vietnam Car Hire!
Sapa car rental packages
The following packages are only sample car rental packages, private transfers we design for travelers to travel to Sapa Lao Cai or from this place to other destinations in northern Vietnam. Please contact us for personalized routes, tailor-made travel plans, car rental options, best rates, deals, specials, discounts, seasonal promotions, and service’s availability.
Private transfers to Sapa district
Private transport from Sapa district to other destinations in Vietnam
Hanoi to Sapa bus
We at vietnamcarhire.com don’t provide bus ticket from Hanoi to Sapa. Therefore we can help you with updated information about Hanoi – Sapa local bus, timetable, schedule you may need for planning your perfect trip to Sapa, Lao Cai province, Vietnam. More details about this budget option can also be found online at our partner’s site: 12go.asia
Other routes
- From Bac Giang to Sapa or v.v
- From Bac Kan to Sapa or v.v
- From Cao Bang to Sapa or v.v
- From Lang Son to Sapa or v.v
- From Phu Tho to Sapa or v.v
- From Quang Ninh to Sapa or v.v
- From Thai Nguyen to Sapa or v.v
- From Tuyen Quang to Sapa or v.v
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to rent a car for Sapa?
Sapa car rental rates vary much depending on your travel plan, rental cars, routes, date of travel, as well as your trip duration. Please let us know your working agenda (business trip) or day-to-day itinerary (travel itinerary), we will provide a quote.
What is the most popular rental cars in Sapa?
7 seat SUV Ford Everest, Isuzu Highlander and Toyota Fortuner are the most popular rental cars for individual travel in Lao Cai, Vietnam. For small group tours (3-6 people), Ford Transit and Mercedes Sprinters (Minivan and Minibus) are also popular rental cars. 4,5 seat Sedans and 45, 50 seat coaches are only recommended for driving to and in Sapa Vietnam. Many places neighboring Sapa district might be inaccessible by sedan and/or big coach.
Why should I book Sapa private transfer with Vietnam Car Hire?
When booking Sapa car hire via vietnamcarhire.com, all your car rental options will be suggested by senior car rental agents who live in Vietnam. They are drivers, tour guides, and local people who have been to Sapa district, Lao Cai province. They can provide practical, updated information about this destination. There are no extra costs and no hidden fees involved in booking a rental car with Vietnam Car Hire.
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Still have questions about Sapa car hire? Contact us for top car rental options, best rates, prices, deals, experienced drivers, and the freedom to explore Sapa district at your own pace.
