There are 6 ways to get from Chiang Rai to Sapa by plane, bus, train, car, or ferry
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly, bus
best- Fly from Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport (CEI) to Noi Bai International Airport (HAN)plane CEI - HAN
- Take the bus from Noi Bai International Airport to HK Buslines, Sapabus
10h 34m$142–243Bus
cheapest- Take the bus from Chiang Rai Transfer to Huay Xaibus
- Take the bus from Huay Xai - Bokeo Station to Oudomxaybus
- Take the bus from Oudomxay to My Dinh bus stationbus
- Take the bus from Noi Bai International Airport to HK Buslines, Sapabus
36h 55m$67–94Bus, train, drive
- Take the bus from Jed Yod Cafe to Chiang Khong Transferbus
- Take the bus from Huay Xai Transfer to Boten stationbus
- Take the train from Boten station to Kunming Southtrain
- Take the train from Kunming South to Honghetrain
- Take the train from Mengzi to Hekou Northtrain
- Drive from Hekou North to Sapacar
21h 3m$128–229Drive 853.5 km
- Drive from Chiang Rai to Sapacar 853.5 km
12h 13m$100–144Bus, Minivan
- Take the bus from Chiang Rai Transfer to Huay Xaibus
- Take the bus from Huay Xai - Bokeo Station to Luang Prabang - Naluang Stationbus
- Take the bus from Luang Prabang Southern Station to Ha Noi Nuoc Ngam Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Hanoi Airport to Sapabus
2d$119–146Local Bus, ferry, bus
- Take the bus from Chiang Rai to Chiang khongbus
- Take the ferry from Chiang Khong Border to Luang Prabang Slow Boat Terminalferry
- Take the bus from Northern Bus Station, Ban Naluang to Hanoi Old Quarterbus
- Take the bus from Hanoi Hoan Kiem to Sapabus
2d 6h$91–121
Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport (CEI) to Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) flights
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Chiang Rai to Sapa is to bus which costs $65 - $95 and takes 36h 55m.
The fastest way to get from Chiang Rai to Sapa is to fly and bus which takes 10h 34m and costs $140 - $250.
No, there is no direct bus from Chiang Rai to Sapa. However, there are services departing from Chiang Rai Transfer and arriving at HK Buslines, Sapa via Huay Xai - Bokeo Station, Oudomxay, My Dinh bus station and Noi Bai International Airport. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 36h 55m.
The distance between Chiang Rai and Sapa is 931 km. The road distance is 853.5 km.
The best way to get from Chiang Rai to Sapa without a car is to bus which takes 36h 55m and costs $65 - $95.
It takes approximately 10h 34m to get from Chiang Rai to Sapa, including transfers.
Chiang Rai to Sapa bus services, operated by Happy Pocket Tours, depart from Chiang Rai Transfer station.
Chiang Rai to Sapa bus services, operated by Happy Pocket Tours, arrive at Huay Xai station.
Yes, the driving distance between Chiang Rai to Sapa is 853 km. It takes approximately 12h 13m to drive from Chiang Rai to Sapa.
Book your Chiang Rai to Sapa bus tickets online with 12go.asia.
What companies run services between Chiang Rai, Thailand and Sapa, Vietnam?
You can take a bus from Chiang Rai Transfer to HK Buslines, Sapa via Huay Xai, Huay Xai - Bokeo Station, Oudomxay, My Dinh bus station, and Noi Bai International Airport in around 36h 55m.
- Website
- airasia.com
Flights from Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport to Noi Bai International Airport via Don Muang
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 55m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $120–230
- Website
- vietnamairlines.com
Flights from Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport to Noi Bai International Airport via Suvarnabhumi
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 32m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $130–380
- Website
- thaiairways.com
Flights from Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport to Noi Bai International Airport via Suvarnabhumi
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 55m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $170–440
- Website
- ethiopianairlines.com
Flights from Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport to Noi Bai International Airport via Suvarnabhumi
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 15m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $260–1,000
- Website
- vietjetair.com
Flights from Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport to Noi Bai International Airport via Suvarnabhumi
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $90–310
- Phone
- 021-891888
- Website
- facebook.com
Train from Boten station to Kunming South
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 16m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $35–110
- Schedules at
- baolau.com
- Book at
- booking.baolau.com
- Second Class
- $35–70
- First Class
- $55–110
Train from Kunming South to Honghe
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 8m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $12–23
- Schedules at
- chinahighlights.com
- Adult - 2nd Class
- $12–17
- Adult - 1st Class
- $16–23
Train from Mengzi to Hekou North
- Hard Seat
- $3–5
- Hard sleeper
- $7–11
- Soft sleeper
- $12–16
- Phone
- +84 979 252 622
- [email protected]
- Website
- HK Buslines
Bus from Noi Bai International Airport to HK Buslines, Sapa
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 45m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $18
- Schedules at
- HK Buslines
Bus from Noi Bai International Airport to HK Buslines, Sapa
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 45m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $18
- Schedules at
- HK Buslines
- Phone
- +66 2 225 1025
- [email protected]
- Website
- Pai Friendly Tour
Bus from Jed Yod Cafe to Chiang Khong Transfer
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 9m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $23
- Website
- Pai Friendly Tour
- Phone
- +66 2 285 1085
- [email protected]
- Website
- 12go.co
Bus from Huay Xai Transfer to Boten station
- Ave. Duration
- 5h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $41
- Book at
- Yortdoy Travel
- Phone
- +66 2 300 1100
- [email protected]
- Website
- 12go.co
Bus from Chiang Rai Transfer to Huay Xai
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $21
- Book at
- Happy Pocket Tours
Bus from Chiang Rai Transfer to Huay Xai
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $21
- Book at
- Happy Pocket Tours
- Website
- Huay Xai Transport
Bus from Huay Xai - Bokeo Station to Oudomxay
- Ave. Duration
- 5h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $4
- Schedules at
- Huay Xai Transport
- Phone
- +84 91 442 57 88
- [email protected]
- Website
- vietlaobus.com
Bus from Oudomxay to My Dinh bus station
- Ave. Duration
- 21h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $23–50
- Schedules at
- vietlaobus.com
Bus from Northern Bus Station, Ban Naluang to Hanoi Old Quarter
- Ave. Duration
- 26h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $26–50
- Schedules at
- vietlaobus.com
- Phone
- 856071212979
Bus from Huay Xai - Bokeo Station to Luang Prabang - Naluang Station
- Ave. Duration
- 11h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $43
- Book at
- 12 Go
- Website
- 12go.asia
Bus from Luang Prabang Southern Station to Ha Noi Nuoc Ngam Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 25h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $40–65
- Book at
- HTX Van Tai 277
- Phone
- 19001137
- [email protected]
- Website
- interbuslines.com
Bus from Hanoi Airport to Sapa
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 30m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $13–15
- Schedules at
- booking.baolau.com
- Book at
- baolau.com
Bus from Chiang Rai to Chiang khong
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $2
- Phone
- 1900 6746
- [email protected]
- Website
- xesaoviet.com.vn
Bus from Hanoi Hoan Kiem to Sapa
- Ave. Duration
- 6h
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $13–19
- Schedules at
- xesaoviet.com.vn
- Book at
- baolau.com
- Phone
- +66 2 217 1017
- [email protected]
- Website
- Next Step Journey
Ferry from Chiang Khong Border to Luang Prabang Slow Boat Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 17h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $45
- Website
- Next Step Journey
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Booking & Getting There
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