Going by train to go to Sa Pa, tourist have plenty of choice about ticket. There are four main option:
Hard-seat
Hard-berth has three tiers of beds (six berths per cabin). The upper berth is cheapest and the lower is most expensive and their level of comfort ascends by the price.
Soft-seat includes vinyl-covered seats.
Soft-berth has two tiers of beds (four berths per cabin). Within this soft-berth option, the cabin quality also varies, ranging from wood-paneled one to harsh plastic one.
From Hanoi to Sa Pa, there is a supremely luxurious option, which have two berths per room with luxurious facilities as found in 4 or 5 star hotels. This includes Livitrans Train, King Express, Sapaly and Victoria trains.