Hanoi - Lao cai train stop at valley Lao cai, just 40 km from Sapa, so to reach Sapa you need to travel more 1 hour and a half by a public bus or private car. The bus stops at Sa Pa's main post office leaving you with a couple of minutes walk into town. From Sapa town it is about 5' or 15' walk to your hotel pending on which hotel you will stay. Ticket prices for a bus connecting to Sapa is $5 per person one way.