Sapa was a breath of fresh air after the chaos of Hanoi. I caught the overnight train from Hanoi to Lao Cai in a 4 berth cabin. As we left Hanoi the train was bouncing all over the tracks and I thought I could actually get sea sick on land! Luckily the ride calmed down and I was able to enjoy the ride.
I was glad when we arrived at the platform that I had pre-booked a pick up from the hotel as the entrance to the station was a little bit of madness. It takes about an hour to drive from Lao Cai to Sapa and, if you can stay awake, the views are gorgeous.
I had 3 nights in Sapa and I could’ve happily stayed longer.
I explored the hillside gardens within the township…
Went on a day long trekking trip…
And enjoyed the delights of Le Gecko restaurant and its dessert cabinet.
Travel Tips
- The air conditioning on the trains is turned up high. Even though each bed is supplied with a blanket I was grateful to have a merino top to put on. If you are on the top bunks you’ll definitely need another layer.
- If you are wondering what to do for dinner on the return trip from Sapa to Hanoi then look out for restaurants that do you a takeaway sandwich. I got my from Le Gecko and it was the easiest way to eat.
