Everything was fine. I traveled both ways: from Hai Phong to Sapa and back. The bus schedule was as shown on the app, with a free shuttle service to my hotel in Sapa town. Further distances incur an additional fee. There was no shuttle service on the return trip; I had to go to the pick-up point at 599 Dien Bien Phu myself. The return bus was faster; I arrived back at Vinh Niem bus station by 4 pm.

Excellent, comfortable bus journey - works definitely recommend. Contact from bus conductor was perfect, and when he came to meet me personally at the pickup spot he had my details which was reassuring. He also gave plenty of advance warning of the final stop in Sa Pa so passengers could be ready to depart, and was clear about how long we had at rest stops - he really was great. I have only 2 criticisms - and as far as I understand, they was not the fault of the bus company or conductor, rather because of the ticket I booked through Vexere - the pickup time I was given was 45 minutes before official departure (as is normal), but we actually passed by the exact same place and picked up more passengers around an hour later, having gone all the way around Ha Giang! It wasn't a big deal and I was comfortable (and I knew we'd be collecting more people after me because of my pickup time, just not that we'd be going part my exact stop again).. but who really wants an extra hour sitting on a bus for no reason? Also, when booking my seat the configuration on the app was incorrect so although the seat number I hadwas correct, it was not in the place I expected (opposite side of the bus, and a top bunk instead of bottom!) - it could have been user error on my part but if so it wasn't clear on the site, so be super-careful when selecting seats! Again, not the bus company's fault at all - everything about my journey was perfect.