Review Author: Jacquie Keelan

Review Date: 20 Aug 2026

Review Body: The great service and wonderful décor of the first class suites help to make this a very lovely and luxurious mode of transport for the journey to Sa Pa. Sleeping is tough as the train is old and noisy but in many ways this added to the authenticity of the the journey. - It's a unique experience that both I and my daughter felt was unmissable. Wear ear plugs and don't have any expectations on sleep and you will have a wonderful time, watching Vietnam pass by and experiencing a little piece of living history - Top tip - book a hotel for a shower and power nap on arrival!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Kathleen Wong

Review Date: 28 Sep 2023

Review Body: 1. Great service and arrangements provided by Ms Fang through email with clear instructions from issuing e tickets to hotel shuttle bus arrangements. 2. Smooth check in with e-ticket at Chapa booth located right in front of boarding gate at second floor of Hanoi Train Station. 3. Clean and comfortable cabin with nice decorations. Light snacks, fruits and drinks provided for free. Me and husband had very good sleep despite the train was shaky and noisy. 4. Shuttle bus driver waited us once we arrived at Lao Cai Train Station. Polite and friendly driver.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Esther

Review Date: 19 Oct 2025

Review Body: We booked VIP cabin for 2 adults & 2 children to Sa Pa. Fuss free collection of tickets, access to VIP Lounge before entering Chapa Express. Very comfortable experience and great to see Hanoi Train Street from inside the wagon. Pack the PJ’s into the handluggage for quick and convenient change of clothes. 2 large luggages and 2 cabin bags fit comfortably underneath the lower beds. Highly recommend and would do it again!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Tracey

Review Date: 20 Sep 2026

Review Body: This was so much fun! Especially leaving Hanoi and going down train street with a different perspective. It’s loud. It rattles, but we splurged on a queen bed room so we were nice and comfortable. Ear plugs provided but didn’t do allot so my suggestion would be to invest in your own. A great adventure. Highly recommend

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Wei Quan

Review Date: 02 Apr 2025

Review Body: Booked the suite, 2 person in one room. Was given free upgrade to premium suite which was a wonderful experience. Had a queen sized bed and a small living room area to put luggage, sit down, have some snacks. Very unique experience. Also thoughtful, given ear plugs in anticipation of noise.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Charlotte

Review Date: 18 Dec 2023

Review Body: Unique and fun experience on the overnight train from Hanoi to Sapa. The check-in process was smooth, and the train cabin clean and comfortable.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Louise

Review Date: 10 Jul 2026

Review Body: Beautiful customer service, delightful cabins and super clean washrooms. This is such a great way to travel. Chapa make it very special!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Anonymous

Review Date: 28 Mar 2026

Review Body: Antique train updated to modern standards with clean and comfy bedding and a picturesque ride from Hanoi to Sapa.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Sally

Review Date: 24 Sep 2026

Review Body: Very clean and comfortable. Great way to travel!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Gemma

Review Date: 08 Nov 2024

Review Body: Great fun!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Alexandra Pego

Review Date: 29 Jun 2021

Review Body:

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Mark Johnson

Review Date: 08 Oct 2024

Review Body: The experience was seamless - all you need is your Seek Sophie email to be given all your details at the train station. The train itself was clean and so were the beds. I was placed in the room with a very nice couple, which was a bonus. It was also nice to have the shower option at the station when I arrived at my destination. Only downside is someone was smoking on the train and that meant occasionally cigarettes could be smelt. However, it was only minor.

Review rating: 4

Review Author: Cato

Review Date: 23 Oct 2025

Review Body: The train ride itself is very loud. But you will experience this on every night train. We booked the deluxe cabin 4 beds and the beds were better than expected! Good mattrass (thick) and blanket. They provide earplugs, which are really necessary. Toilet was clean. Wifi on board worked most of the time.

Review rating: 4

Review Author: Ed Arata

Review Date: 28 Apr 2026

Review Body: Good overnight trip from Hanoi to Sapa…. The sleeper cars are in good condition

Review rating: 4

Review Author: Peter & Tara

Review Date: 28 May 2026

Review Body: We had the twin cabin and loved the experience, beds were really comfortable.

Review rating: 4

Review Author: Tal

Review Date: 22 Sep 2026

Review Body: The deds were comfortable and we slept well

Review rating: 4

Review Author: Room for improvement

Review Date: 21 Sep 2026

Review Body: The twin cabin is super comfortable, and we slept really well. The snacks and complimentary drinks were much appreciated. Just be aware that there is only one toilet for the whole carriage, so there can sometimes be a queue. It is also quite noisy, mainly because people slam the doors like there’s no tomorrow, so earplugs are definitely mandatory. There is a window looking outside at the landscapes. Of course, you can’t see much at night, and there are only about 30 minutes of daylight before arriving in Lao Cai. Unfortunately, there was zero visibility in the morning because of the fog. Still, it was lovely to see the city lights as we left Hanoi. The lounge at Hanoi train station was disappointing. It was uncomfortable, there were no complimentary drinks or even a glass of water, and there was no assistance with luggage or trolley service. We were extremely loaded with luggage and, considering the price, we expected some kind of VIP assistance, which we simply didn’t receive. Overall, though, we think it was worth it. The journey went by very quickly, and the train itself was comfortable despite being noisy. The shuttle transfer to Sapa upon arrival was a completely different story! It was chaotic: you have to leave the station to find your name on a sign, and then you are packed like sardines into a tiny minivan. It was extremely uncomfortable. However, it did drop us directly at our hotel, which was convenient and ultimately much cheaper than taking a taxi.

Review rating: 3

Review Author: Khanh

Review Date: 25 Jun 2026

Review Body: Cabin was clean, and the train run smoothly. However, toilets were not the best.

Review rating: 3

Review Author: Anna McDonnell

Review Date: 21 Mar 2026

Review Body: I booked a 4 x berth and paid in advance. On the night of when we were getting on the train, we were asked to share with a stranger. I specifically booked for 2 adults and 2 children. I said no and not willing to have a stranger in our cabin with our 2 young children.

Review rating: 1

Review Author: Kathy K, Winconsin

Review Date: 10 May 2016

Review Body: We took the Chapa Express night train from Hanoi to Lao Cai. I was very concerned about it because of reviews I read about how dirty the bathrooms were, especially towards the end of the trip. We found none of that. Every time I used the restroom it had just been sprayed down, very clean. We very much enjoyed the ride. Both, my son and I slept well. Beds are a little short for anyone over 5'8". We booked the VIP private coach for 2. This was all taken care of by our tour company VietVision. We were picked up at the hotel in Hanoi , tickets were arranged and we were escorted to our cabin. The cabins are very small. Not sure how 4 people would manage. We pulled the top beds down and placed our luggage up there. If you are returning to the same hotel in Hanoi you can leave your big pieces of luggage with them. You may want to bring a snack and extra water. They have a bottle of water and some cookies for you but, we were hungry when we arrived in Lao Cai so took food for return. We had a tour that took care of everything. If you are traveling without a tour be advised that the train ends in Lao Cai, you will need transportation to Sapa.

Review rating: 5

Itinerary Day 1

Itinerary Summary: Travel from Hanoi to Sapa in luxury by train

Itinerary Description: 10 pm - The train departs Hanoi Railway Station (Ga Ha Noi) 6:05 am (the next day) - Train arrives at Lao Cai train station the next morning. You'll then take a minibus from Lao Cai train station 7 am - Arrive in Sapa town