I'm looking for some practical info about getting from DBP to Sapa. How did you make the trip? How long did it take? Did you stop at Lai Chau or elsewhere for the night or just go on to Sapa in one day? Are there buses, reliable buses, on the route? Did your trip originate in DBP or were you on the loop?

We did the DBP loop in the other direction from Sapa to Hanoi. We spent a couple of nights in Lai Chau at the Lan Anh hotel (which I would recommend) before moving on to Dien Bien Phu where we were due to stay at Muong Thanh Hotel,for 2 nights but we moved on after one night as soon as we we saw a mini zoo in the gardens containing a6/7 asian bears in the most appaling conditions. (Plus it was a lousy hotel anyway!).
We were short on time so hired a car and driver in Sapa but I am not sure you would be able to do this in DBP as it is not really geared up for tourists.

There were plenty of buses on the loop and, as far as I could tell they seemed well maintained and uncrowded. Given the more time I would have been happy to use them. I would guess that they run 2/3 buses aday in each direction on the loop.

LOOKING into this same sort of route. What are the conditions of the route? I dont mind the bus unless it feels like im on a ship during a hurricane being tossed from side to side.
I see there is a couple of 4WD options of taking over some mtn passes. Wondered if anyone has done this?
thanks
norm

Not sure what you mean by "the conditions of the route" - The roads are tarmac for most of the way although the road is a bit rough in places and we did encounter a few places where the road had subsided etc. but generally it was fine. The buses are like most in SE Asia, not the most comfortable for long distance travel, but ok for distance of less than 4/5 hours. Obviously they are patronised almost exclusively by the local population (we saw about 4 foreigners during the week we were in the area). Be prepared to share your bus with all manner of livestock!

We used a 4WD from Sapa down to Mai Chau and this took us over the passes near Mt Fansipan. It was January and the weather was not good - v.cold and thick fog. I am not, by any measure a nervus traveller, but this journey did concern me mainly because our Toyota Landcruiser was at least 30 years old, had no tread on its tyres, no lights, no instrumentation and the drive was through many hairpin bends. We used Topas Tours (they also own the eco lodge just outside sapa). If you do use a car and driver check the condition of the car (although there may not be a great deal of choice).

Having said all of this, the trip is spectacular and it is important to get off the main road and right into the countryside along way to make the best of the trip. Don't expect too much from the hotels and guest houses along the way. They are clean and reasonably comfortable but certainly not luxurious.

A few photos of this trip can be found at:

http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog...2263/tpod.html