HK Buslines Sapa to Hanoi Airport: Review & Tips (2026)

When we traveled from Hanoi to Sapa, we took a sleeping train.

But on our way back, we needed to get directly from Sapa to Hanoi's

Noi Bai Airport without any transfers, so I decided to try out the

HK (HK Buslines)

sleeping bus.

Having experienced it firsthand, I've covered everything from the surprisingly

comfortable seats to bathroom details, and especially for those of you

getting off at the airport like I did,

⚠️⚠️

I've even included some crucial tips to keep in mind!

(Quick spoiler: I almost missed my stop...)

📌 At a Glance

01 Why I Chose the Sapa Sleeping Bus

The day we were returning from Sapa to Hanoi was also the day we were

heading back to Korea.

We had already taken the sleeping train when we traveled from Hanoi to Sapa.

Hanoi Sapa Sleeping Train Chapa Express: Take it! Satisfying Review and Price Comparisonblog.naver.com

Taking the train means going all the way to Lao Cai Station

and then getting off at Hanoi Station, which felt a bit inconvenient.

That's why I opted for the sleeping bus!

Plus, the bus looked like an interesting experience I really wanted to try! 😄

I was a little worried if it would be comfortable enough for my parents,

but they both said it was perfectly fine!

02 HK Sleeping Bus Price and Booking Method

I booked the HK sleeping bus through Trip.com,

and I chose the lower cabin (berth) option.

The basic fare for 5 adults was

~$110, but with a discount applied at the time,

I ended up paying a total of

~$90. That's approximately

~$18 per person.

Why I Chose the Lower Single Cabin Berth

There's a rumor (?) that the lower cabin (berth) is a bit less shaky

and also supposedly a little more spacious.

Also, I worried my parents might find it a bit

difficult to climb to the upper bunk,

so initially, I booked all 5 of us into

lower single cabins.

However, before our departure, HK contacted me via

WhatsApp to inform me that

lower berths were scarce...

They got in touch!

Since someone in our group isn't comfortable in cramped spaces,

I asked if there was even one lower berth available,

as they're known to be a bit more spacious.

Thankfully, one spot was left!

In the end,

four of us used the upper berths

and one person took a lower berth.

‼️

The prices for upper and lower berths are different!

There was a price difference

of approximately 80,000 VND (about ~$3) per person

between the upper and lower berths. The extra amount we had pre-paid was

refunded in cash at the HK office.

If you're traveling with several people

and want to stay on the same level

or secure lower berths,

it's definitely a good idea to book a bit earlier

before your preferred seats disappear.

03 Upper & Lower Berths and Restroom Review

Seat Atmosphere & Amenities Provided

Each seat had curtains and blinds,

and you could even adjust the recline of the backrest.

There was also a bottle of water provided

at each seat.

I thought there wouldn't be water, so I bought a ton and ended up with a water surplus!

Pillows and blankets were also provided,

which came in really handy!

Upper Cabin Berths

For our petite fairy at 153cm,

the space seemed a bit more generous.

Our companion, self-proclaimed to be 160cm,

could actually sit up straight.

As for me, at 165cm, I could stretch my legs out,

but in the end, I slept lying on my side.

For a 173cm male, this is the feeling—

sleeping on your side is definitely the way to go!

Lower Cabin Berths

Seeing it in person, the lower cabins definitely felt like they had

a bit more spaciousness

than the upper ones.

Two adults could snugly fit...

Honestly, I felt like I could even lie down comfortably.

But, did the ceiling feel a bit close?

The lower bunk felt a bit more spacious in that regard.

If you prefer a seat that's **wider sideways**,

the lower cabin seats might be a better choice.

Restrooms

Before boarding, I was curious if there would be a restroom on the bus,

but on the bus I took,

‼️

There were **no restrooms** onboard!

Instead, during the trip,

we stopped at two rest areas.

Five of us used the restrooms and paid a total of

15,000 VND.

**3,000 VND per person**.

Since we paid in cash,

it's a good idea to keep some small Vietnamese Dong handy

for use at the rest stops.

​

(This was the perfect chance to finally use that small change I couldn't spend anywhere else!)

Also, on the mountain roads descending from Sapa,

there were sections where the bus surprisingly shook quite a bit,

and the **road conditions were actually not that great**.

If you're prone to motion sickness, I highly recommend

preparing in advance!

My family, just in case, ended up taking

all the motion sickness medicine we brought.

04 Actual Travel Time to Hanoi Airport and Important Tips

Pay close attention here...!!!

This was the part that **surprised me the most** this time around.

When I made the reservation, I clearly selected

**Noi Bai Airport as my drop-off point**, not

**Hanoi city center**.

But as I watched on Google Maps,

even when we were getting close to the airport,

the bus didn't seem like it was going to stop.

My heart pounded!

So, just in case,

I mentioned, "**I'm getting off at the airport...**"

and the driver was genuinely SO shocked... ㅠㅠ

The driver called the office to confirm, and then

I was able to get off at Noi Bai Airport as planned! Phew!

Actually, I had read other reviews about people almost missing their stop,

so I stayed awake just in case. Otherwise,

I would have ended up going into the city center and then

**spending more money and time** to get back to the airport!

It's safest to **inform the driver in advance**

that you're going to the airport when you board the bus!

📌

**In Vietnamese**

**Trả tôi về sân bay quốc tế.**

(Cha toy ver sen bai qook teh)

**Please take me to the international airport!**

Actual Travel Time

The actual travel time was

from 1:30 PM departure to 6:53 PM

arrival, taking approximately

**5 hours and 20 minutes**.

We arrived at the airport

**5 hours and 40 minutes before** our flight took off...!

We grabbed a meal at the airport, my parents

got massages, and with all the waiting and resting

because we were tired,

the time actually flew by!

Since the travel time can vary

depending on road conditions,

if you're using this bus on your return day,

and you don't want to feel rushed,

I recommend giving yourself plenty

of buffer time, just like I did,

rather than cutting it too close to your flight schedule.

[Current Price Comparison]

Based on a search for Sapa → Noi Bai Airport

on October 6, 2026

Price Per Person

For upper berths, Klook was about **~$1** cheaper per person,

and for lower berths, Trip.com was about **~$0** cheaper.

Price for 5 People

Prices vary depending on the season and exchange rates,

so checking the current price is the most accurate way.

If you're booking with multiple people,

using a discount coupon is definitely advantageous,

so make sure to grab one!

For this trip, I tried a sleeping train on the way there

and a sleeping bus on the way back.

If you're thinking of romance,

I personally preferred the train a bit more.

However, if you need to go directly from Sapa to Hanoi Airport,

the sleeping bus with no transfers was definitely more convenient.

Especially for those getting off at the airport,

don't almost miss your stop like I did, haha!

Make sure to tell the driver when you board!

©TABIYA

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