Not a good journey. Had to share a cabin between 2 us for the majority of the journey, then had to get off at 5am and wait on the side of the road for about 40 minutes before being picked up and then having to lay in the aisle for the rest of the journey.
Bus VIP 34, Sapa Ethnic Travel (Công Ty TNHH Một Thành Viên Du Lịch Thiểu Số), Apr 20, 2024
CF
Christian F
My spouse, three sons (10 months and 3 and 6 years old) took the night VIP Bus from Sa Pa to Cat Ba. In Hanoi we had to change to another bus. The staff was stressed and not that friendly and attentive. However, the prices are super fair, the busses were clean, we found some sleep and we arrived safely and in time in Cat Ba.
I was nervous to take this bus considering some people's reviews but it was actually a very smooth pain free process. The bus did leave about 45 minutes late but still arrived on time with no issues.
The beds were curtained and have a USB port and a blanket. Just like all busses I've taken in Vietnam there were a few stops along the way to pick up and drop off things but I don't find this to be out of the usual.
There was 2 stops throughout the journey for bathroom breaks and in the morning one of the workers went around and asked where people were staying so that you can be dropped off nearby (eg at Buffalo hostel which is like 10 minutes from the main stop in town).
Bus goes on the ferry so you go all the way to the island without having to transfer at any point.
Bus VIP 34, Sapa Ethnic Travel (Công Ty TNHH Một Thành Viên Du Lịch Thiểu Số), Mar 22, 2024
NS
Nicolas S
Bus was 2.5 hours late. The company (full moon) buys tickets from other bus company. Pros: they answer to Whatsapp quite fast. Cons: they get little information from actual bus company. They don't really know when the bus comes. When bus comes, they don't really have a list or check your ticket. You just run and hope it is the correct bus and there is place for you. A poor girl had to sleep on the floor because they oversold (or someone sneaked in and they didn't check). On the way they picked up a passenger who also slept on the floor. Get in quick because you really don't want to sleep on the five seater at the very back. They stopped a couple of times for toilet break. They didn't honk that much during the night. The single cabins are ok, a bit tight if you're an average built person. I slept ok. Honestly there isn't much alternative, I been told the two person cabins are worse because you end up sleeping next to a stranger or sometimes they want to make you sleep three people in a two person cabin. So just be patient and be quick when the bus arrives as to not sit near the drivers or at the back.
Bus Sleeper 40, Full Moon Party Tour (Full Moon Party Tour), Mar 8, 2024
KS
Karlijn S
We booked the VIP20 bus which was super comfortable and had a toilet & WiFi.
You can adjust the seats automatic but the first 5 hours, that didn’t work.
At one point we were transferred to another bus, which was not a VIP bus. The bus wasn’t even cleaned up, used blankets everywhere, really cold and not comfortable at all.
We had to wait almost 2 hours until this bus finally left.
Bus VIP 20, Sapa Ethnic Travel (Công Ty TNHH Một Thành Viên Du Lịch Thiểu Số), Feb 4, 2024
AS
Axel S
Ba and it was the quickest option with a journey time of 10 hours.
The bus was supposed to start at 07:30, the bus was at the depot, but it didn't leave until 08:00.
The driver and a helper spent a long time discussing what to do with my ticket, Ha Long was on the bus, at least the direction was right.
There were 2 breaks until Hai Phong, which was ok. But it took 9 hours, there were constant stops to get on and off.
In Hai Phong we changed to a simple city bus that went to the ferry. The conductor knew where to get off. And she spoke to a fellow passenger who took me to the ferry and had the money for the ferry ticket and the next bus. On Cat Ba there was another simple city bus. After 13 hours I arrived at my destination in the city of Cat Ba. It was a great experience with friendly Vietnamese people.
But not what I had booked.
This review was autotranslated
Ba und es war die schnellste Option mit 10h Fahrtzeit.
Start sollte 07:30 sein, der Bus stand im Depot, los ging es aber erst um. 08:00.
Der Fahrer und ein Helfer diskutierten lange, was sie mit meinem Ticket machen sollten, Ha Long stand am Bus, zumindest die Richtung stimmte.
Es gab 2 Pausen bis Hai Phong, das war ok. Es dauerte aber schon 9h, ständig gab es Stopps zum Ein- bzw Aussteigen.
In Hai Phong dann umstieg in einen einfachen Stadtbus, der zur Fähre fuhr. Die Schaffnerin wusste, wo aus aussteigen musste. Und sie sprach eine Mitfahrende an, die mich zur Fähre brachte und das Geld für das Fährticket und den nächsten Bus hatte. Auf Cat Ba dann wieder ein einfacher Stadtbus. Nach 13h war ich dann am Ziel in der Stadt Cat Ba. Alles eine schöne Erfahrung mit freundlichen Vietnamesen.
Aber nicht das, was ich gebucht hatte.
Bus Sleeper 38 Express, Grouptour (Công ty du lịch quốc tế Grouptour), Jan 17, 2024
TS
Thanushan S
On thé ticket thé départure was at 8 pm We arrived at thé bus station they Said now it s 10 pm. After We had a problèm with thé bus We had to change thé bus but they were speed an other bus came take us in mess than 1 our
Bus VIP 34, Sapa Ethnic Travel (Công Ty TNHH Một Thành Viên Du Lịch Thiểu Số), Dec 7, 2023
M
Maria
The bus left 1.5 h late. The sleeper bus wasn't very comfortable, the seats were really small but we made it eventually on time.
Bus VIP Sleeper 34, Techbus VN JSC (Techbus Vietnam Joint stock company), Dec 4, 2023
IM
Ignacio M
It was so small, full of people even in the corridor.
The stops wasn’t advertised.
You have your own seat to sleep confy.
Bus Tourist Bus + Ferry, Sapa Ethnic Travel (Công Ty TNHH Một Thành Viên Du Lịch Thiểu Số), Dec 2, 2023
AS
Amelia S
The first bus was good and made a few toilet break stops but they suddenly dropped us off in Haiphong and transferred us to a small public bus without explaining what was happening. Very poorly organised
Bus Sleeper 38 Express, Grouptour (Công ty du lịch quốc tế Grouptour), Nov 20, 2023
When you want to get from Sapa to Cat Ba, you have a few options to consider. Traveling between these destinations is possible by different means of transport:
Bus
Taxi
If you’re looking for a quick trip, it’s recommended that you use Taxi. However, if you’d rather take your time with a slower, more affordable travel option, you can book a Bus ticket.
The cost of travel will depend on the means of transport you choose for your trip. A taxi ticket is the most expensive option - it will cost you about USD 305.70. If you want to save on transportation, it’s better to take a taxi as a taxi ticket costs as low as USD 241.62.
How far is Sapa from Cat Ba?
If you’re traveling by land, it’s important to know the distance from Sapa to Cat Ba. Your trip will be a total of 244 miles (392 km). The flying distance is 244 miles (392 km).
How long does it take to get from Sapa to Cat Ba?
The travel time from Sapa to Cat Ba can vary depending on the mode of transportation you choose. All things considered, the whole journey should take from 8 to 12 hours.
How much does it cost to get from Sapa to Cat Ba?
The cost of the trip from Sapa to Cat Ba varies according to what means of transport you choose for your journey. The most affordable operator is OUROS Travel: travelling by taxi expect to pay as low as USD 241.62 for your ticket.
However, if you’re after more upscale travel . The most expensive variant is to opt for a taxi - a one-way taxi ticket can cost as much as USD 305.70.
Here is a chart of the average ticket prices and transportation options available from Sapa to Cat Ba:
Bus+Train price: USD 10.72 - USD 110.17. From Sapa to Hai Phong starting from 20:55 Hanoi until 21:40 Hanoi
Bus tickets - USD 24.95 to USD 24.95;
You can order a taxi, too - an estimated cost of the ride is from USD 241.62 to USD 305.70.
How many trips per day are there between Sapa and Cat Ba?
Depending on your choice of transportation, the number of daily trips varies.
2 by Bus+Train from Sapa to Hai Phong starting from 20:55 Hanoi until 21:40 Hanoi
Taxis are a good option to consider for this route, too. Book a cab to take you from Sapa to Hai Phong any time of the day.
Which means of transport is the best for the route?
Buses
Taking a bus from Sapa to Hai Phong is cheaper than flying. Quite often, a long-distance bus is the cheapest transportation option. Buses normally make bathroom and/or lunch stops along the way.
Things to remember before opting for a bus ride:
If possible, make sure to choose higher-class buses for a more comfortable travel experience. Such buses often have an air conditioning system, soft reclining seats, Wi-Fi, bathrooms, etc.
As with plane tickets, buses are better booked in advance so that you can secure a good seat.
While booking a bus, keep in mind that delays are possible. Yet it still pays to get to the bus station at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled departure.
Taxi
Catching a cab is the easiest way to get from Sapa to Hai Phong. It allows you to tailor-make your trip, plan all the detours and see all the places you want. You can choose the type and the size of your car as well to be as comfortable as you'd like to.
Depending on the route, it might cost as much as USD 241.62.
Things to remember: It's a good idea to follow the route on Google Maps or any other GPS navigator..
The most popular transport from Sapa to Cat Ba
How to choose the most convenient way of travel from Sapa to Cat Ba? In order to make your choice of transportation easier, we asked 1000 users to range their preferences for this route. Here are the results of the poll:
