Book your train tickets with Chapa Express.
Chapa Express is a Vietnamese private railway company connecting Hanoi and Lao Cai, as well as Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Hue and Da Nang.
Trains operated by Chapa Express
Chapa Express operates their own passenger cars that are attached to the trains hauled by Vietnam Railways locomotives, departing and arriving with the same schedule.
Passenger cars are divided in two classes: Sleeper 2-Berth in compartments for 1-2 passengers and Sleeper 4-Berth in compartments for 1-4 passengers. Customers who wish to enjoy some privacy by reserving the whole compartment can select the maximum number of passengers and purchase all the tickets.
For more information about travelling by train, please read our Train Guide in Vietnam.
Routes
Destinations
Chapa Express serves the following destinations in Vietnam:
Northern Vietnam
Hanoi–Lao Cai railway
The Hanoi–Lao Cai railway line connects Hanoi and Lao Cai, in the Northwestern Mountains of Vietnam. Trains depart from Hanoi Railway Station and return from Lao Cai Railway Station.
Train routes to Lao Cai
Central Vietnam
North–South railway
The North–South railway line connects Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh. Trains depart from Hanoi Railway Station and arrive at Saigon Railway Station stopping in the major stations along Central Vietnam, such us Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa, Vinh, Dong Hoi, Hue, Da Nang, Quang Ngai, Dieu Tri, Nha Trang, Phan Rang–Thap Cham, Binh Thuan and other secondary stations.
Train routes to Hanoi
Train routes to Ninh Binh
Train routes to Hue
Train routes to Da Nang
Change policy
The following change terms apply to the train fares:
| Chapa Express | Change time/date |
| Fare VIP 2-Berth (Private cabin) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Suite 2-Berth (Private cabin) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Deluxe 4-Berth (Shared cabin) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Deluxe 4-Berth (Shared cabin) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Superior 4-Berth (Shared cabin) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Superior 4-Berth (Shared cabin) | Permitted with fees |
If you wish to change your booking with Chapa Express, please Contact Us. This option is available until 120 hours before departure, after that time please contact directly with Chapa Express. Change fees will apply.
- 50% per ticket if 120 hours or more to departure.
- No change if less than 120 hours to departure.
No change for tickets on public holidays.
Cancellation policy
The following cancellation terms apply to the train fares:
| Chapa Express | Cancellation before departure |
| Fare VIP 2-Berth (Private cabin) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Suite 2-Berth (Private cabin) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Deluxe 4-Berth (Shared cabin) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Deluxe 4-Berth (Shared cabin) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Superior 4-Berth (Shared cabin) | Permitted with fees |
| Fare Superior 4-Berth (Shared cabin) | Permitted with fees |
If you wish to cancel your booking with Chapa Express, kindly manage your booking and request a cancellation to proceed with the refund. This option is available until 21 days before departure.
Service fees will not be refunded. Cancellation fees will apply.
- 35% of the ticket fare + 50,000 VND per ticket if the ticket has been issued
- 70% of the ticket fare + 50,000 VND per ticket if 21 to 34 days to departure
- No refund if less than 21 days to departure or departure on public holiday
Reviews
I paid for a suite, and was offered the “vip plus” room. I checked, and it’s the same size as the normal vip rooms. There was a couple who got upgraded to the suite for free on my train, which makes no sense given that I actually paid for it. Michael
I paid for a suite, and was offered the “vip plus” room. I checked, and it’s the same size as the normal vip rooms. Michael
Very handy to have a restaurant in the Chapa lounge, spring rolls were delicious. A little delay with our eticket although it was okay as we were given the opportunity to upgrade for a lower cost to have our own cabin, thank you for this offer and service. The Chapa train more rockier and noisey than the Damitrans but the Chapa beds were more comfortable, thank you for looking after us we enjoyed the sleeper train experience Stella
Très bien à refaire Robert
Train itself was very beautifull, comfy and clean. However, it was extremely hot which made it difficult to sleep. Matresses and also a selection of pillows were very nice and comfy. Julia
Due to circumstances, the correct train was unable to pick us up. We fully understood this. Because of these circumstances, the organisation had to transfer us to another train. The compartment we were given on this train was not at all what we had booked. It also smelled of cigarettes several times. I then contacted the tour guide. He/she informed me that we had been given a similar room. This was anything but true. Our room resembled a prison cell and did not correspond in the slightest with the photos of the room we had booked. These rooms (as shown during the booking process) were indeed available on the train. To complete the poor experience, the tour guide stopped responding and we were left to fend for ourselves. I will NEVER travel with this company again and will not recommend it to anyone. We were really looking forward to our experience on the train and to the cosy decor of the room. We are very disappointed. Jolien
The service at Lao Cai VIP lounge was perfect! We could leave our luggage there safely, when we arrived too early to the train. Nice possibility to use shower before when we arrived. The personal was great there, big thanks to them ❤️ Cabin had an exellent double bed. It would had been nice to have more to eat in the cabin, now there was the same as in the cheaper class, althougt the price was much more expensive. Carita
Hanoi VIP Lounge was very small. Good beds in the cabin, very narrow. Very much noise from the train, but we were prepared for it. And the earplugs and toothbrush was great. Clean train and toilets, very nice. Little more to eat in the cabin would have been greit, we was not prepared with enough food with us on the oneway trip. Carita
THE SERVICE WAS GREAT. THE TRAIN RAN ASNPER SCHEDULE. CABINS WERE CLEAN AND RELATIVELY QUIET. ENJOYED THE TRIP ON Chapa Express. Theshani
Comfortable beds in fresh, clean cabin, and nice clean toilet facilities. Helene
Great service and communication. The customer service is second to none!!! We had some challenges as Hanoi traffic was suspended but we were contacted we'll in advance and all questions were answered swiftly via WhatsApp. On board experience is exactly as described, great mattresses, pillows and duvets, clean and comfortable. Charging sockets and reading lights. Clean toilets all the journey. Highly recommended Andres
Great service and communication. The customer service is second to none!!! We had some challenges as Hanoi traffic was suspended but we were contacted we'll in advance and all questions were answered swiftly via WhatsApp. On board experience is exactly as described, great mattresses, pillows and duvets, clean and comfortable. Charging sockets and reading lights. Clean toilets all the journey. Highly recommended Andres
From WhatsApp contact to checking in at the VIP room, to being escorted to our train car, to having a clean night stay on the Chapa express sleeper train, it was a pleasant journey! Christina
This is not a “luxury” train. WiFi did not work, charging ports did not work, no toilet paper in bathrooms, very hard to sleep as the train was very bumpy. It might’ve been worth it for much less money but considering the price tag, we could have just hired a private driver for a fraction of the cost. This is not what I expected. Emily
Good service, train was on time Hannelore
Clean and well organized travel. Good snacks and provisions in the cabin. Never got morning coffee. Nicola
Cabin was clean. Comfortable sleep Wah
Cabin was clean. Comfortable sleep Wah
I received a converted 4-berth cabin in the first coach — in the middle of a 4-berth cabin coach, clearly, not premium, and definitely not what was advertised. The coach reeked of gas and the standard was far below what I paid for. To make matters worse: True 2-berth cabins were on the same train, proving I was downgraded. At Lao Cai station, the “lounge” was under construction — I was sent to a public waiting area. Coming back I found my luggage unattended with the door largely open. I later learned locals paid 259k VND per berth — meaning I was charged over 4x the actual cabin cost. This is clear misrepresentation. I’m requesting a partial refund for the false advertising and poor service. Please respond within 7 days. Raluca
We booked our trip woth Chapa Express after thorough research expecting soft beds and access to a lounge before departure. In reality Chapa put us in other coaches that were not sapa because of some technical issues with their Coach (understandable but we did not receive that info until we came to the station) also we did not get the access to the lounge in lao cai because of construction (also we did not get notified until couple of hours before departure) that was not very pleasant as we had planned our trip assuming to be able to store our luggage and relax at the lounge. So really we bought “mistery” tickets to lao cai and back wich would have been fun if we we’re looking for being allicated to random coaches. When a complaint was sent to chapa they offered nothing other than free soda at the station and better experience next time that is probably never going to be as we live on the other half of the planet Bergsveinn
Chapa express overnight train to sapa was amazing! Quite luxurious and slept for most of it. We were very fortunate to be upgraded to a private cabin with a queen bed - super comfortable. Laura
Todo bueno Yaiza
Todo muy lujoso aunque el aire acondicionado industrial sin control hace que la estancia se pase mucho frio por eso le he quitado una estrella x lo demás perfecto Yaiza
Très bon voyage. Tout était vraiment propre et les cadeaux de bienvenue était vraiment bien. Merci pour le voyage Pierre
On the return trip, the Chapa attendant made a mistake and gave us the wrong cabin. There was a lot of commotion as other passengers had to pass through the walkway. The train attendant kept demanding that we give her our ticket, even after we showed it to her. She also told us to disembark the train and check with the counter, which we insisted we would not do. She then made a call to verify the issue and led us to the correct cabin.. Shiang
The washroom was quite rundown. Shiang
More than happy with Baolau they’re a great company to book with but the trains are of very poor quality , Chapa is one of the more expensive trains but we found the Laman better . Jennifer
Didn’t get the suite we paid for. Very unsatisfactory. Will we gat a refund? Paul
Paul
excellent! we love it. Ly
We had a great trip on the Chapa Express overnight train. It was a great experience and we were very happy with everything about the trip. Richard
We loved our travel experience on the Chapa Express overnight train. Richard
Everything went perfectly well Bryan
Excellent service Easy to check in Bryan
The coach was quite congested and not as expected as c9mpared with the price charged. Bhalchandra
Lovely cabin with good mattresses for sleeping. Satisfied with VIP extras (drinks & snacks) . Toilet facilities OK. Stephen
Very noisy, something was clamping all the time Soeren
A little noisy and bumpy, but overall a good trip. Cabin and beds were excellent and comfortable. Better than the way to sapa. Ruben
A little noisy and bumpy, but overall a good trip. Cabin and beds were excellent and comfortable. Ruben
Same wifi issue Piero
The return wagon was older and less comfortable than the one we had on our way to SaPa Irene
Wagon 10 looks very new and comfortable. Irene
Servicio puntual y los camarotes muy bien decorados y bastante nuevos. Gloria