Mandarin Road TOURS- Vietnam Travel

PERFUME PAGODA

Departure for the Perfume pagoda, one of the most beautiful sites of Vietnam. The pagodas and temples are perched on the flank of chalky mountain whose architecture integrates perfectly with a very lush nature. Take a sampan which drive you on the Yen river to the root of the Perfume mountain, but according to the rules of pilgrimage, a stopover should be made at the Trinh temple to ask the Genius -guardian permission to pursue our journey. Then you will need a 3 hours round-trip to climb up to the Huong Tich pagoda, an immense cave where stalactites and stalagmites form candelabra and altars. Have lunch there. Return to Hanoi. End of tour.

Hoa Lu
Departure for Hoa Lu, the ancient capital of Vietnam in the 10th century. Visit the commemorative temple dedicated to Dinh and Le kings. Have lunch at Tam Coc. An excursion by boat on Ngo Dong river that snakes between karstic hills and rice fields in a marvelous landscape often called "Ha Long on land". Visiting Bich Dong pagoda which is situated on the flank of hills. Return to Ha Noi. End of tour.

Mai Chau village

Departure for Hoa Binh, crossing the superb landscapes of mountain filled with tea trees. A short stop at the Muong village in Cho Bo. We leave the flat country for the mountainous region. The first rice fields in terraces appear, bordered by the groves of banana. The country is sprinkled by thatched cottages, among which the houses of Muong recognise themselves with their roofs on low stilts. Then we arrive in Mai Chau valley at noon. Visit two villages Van and Lac. The skilled fingers of the White Thai women mastering all kinds of textures which are based on combinations of lozenges or variations on wild silks. Return to Ha Noi. End of tour.

Day 1: HA NOI - CHO RA - BA BE
Departure for Ba Be, passing through the mountainous region of Tonkin. There are superb landscapes with the rice fields in terrace, the paddle wheels in bamboo on the two sides of the river. Have lunch on road. Upon arrival at Cho Ra, take a boat on Nang river that slips in a cultivated country before penetrating in a landscape of chalky cliffs whose flank are characterised by small wild gardens, where hang the lianas and its long roots in quest of earth. Sometimes, the jungle, the purple canes, the silver spindly marbled trunks and the old trees bending their twist above the river swallow some earthy mounds. In the other view, it is the spectacle of fishing. The lobster pots stake out the course of river, some men throw the sparrow hawk, and others hit the rocky banks to dislodge some of lower-case shrimps. Then we enter into the Puong Cave. The river flows, making up a wonderful site where you can enjoy the stalactites on foot of this pothole. We continue going by boat to Pac Ngoi- a village of Tay ethnic situated no far from the lake on the flank of hills. The Tay lives on fishing, rice and corn cultivation. Their stilt houses with the thatched roofs disperse in the austere surrounding landscapes. Have dinner and overnight at the inhabitant.

Day 2: BA BE - HA NOI
We take a boat in the fairy decor of Ba Be lake; "the lake of three seas" that stretches on 9 km long and from 100 to 1800 m large, at altitude of 145 m. It is located at the outlet of 3 valleys that join together in bow of circle. Ba Be is not only a site for the imaginative, but also for the nature lovers. About over forty pieces of mammal live there, as well as hundred pieces of bird and butterflies. You can visit Dau Dang cascade, a village of the Dao ethnic. Have lunch, then return to Ha Noi. End of tour.

PRICE
Price net per person in US$

Group size	Group of 2	Group of 3 - 5	Group of 6 - 9	Group of 10 up
*PERFUME PAGODA*	40	32	21	19
*Hoa Lu*	52	42	27	24
*Mai Chau village*	59	47	31	24
*Ba Be lake*	128	101	64	56

Day 1: HA NOI - LAO CAI
Departure from Hanoi railway station for a night train to Lao Cai - Sapa (TULICO Train). Night on board.

Day 2: LAO CAI - BAC HA- SA PA
Arrive at Lao Cai railway station and depart to Bac Ha, one of the most picturesque fairs of this region that gather on every Sunday morning. From 7 AM to 9 AM, roads and tracks in this region are very busy. There, a peasant pulls a dunce which doesn't want to advance. Here others are more prudent who prefer to transport the small pigs on the levers in order to prevent them from losing weight on the path to the fair. Some go by couple, the woman carrying on back the hoods that she plaited, the men take the corn alcohol that he distilled. The girls are in their most beautiful short skirts that oscillate right and left following every their step. The sellers present some essential products such as grocery store, books and school supplies. Some peasants come to sell their production (vegetables, raising and handicraft). Finally the women calculate the profit of the day or compare the goods, the girls make up to be more beautiful, the men enjoy the rice alcohol while discussing about horses and land. Then we return to Sapa. Dinner and night at hotel.

Day 3: SA PA
Being attracted by the climate and the beauty of the landscapes, the French colonists had made Sapa an ideal place for relaxation and holiday. The city is located at 1650m, at roof of Fanxipan, the highest mount of Viet Nam. Take a walk to Cat Cat valley, an H'mong village which is situated about 2,5 km from Sapa by a track that descends wrap-around through a cultivated zone. Lunch in town. In the afternoon, we depart for a 4 hours trek to Tavan village of Giay ethnic via Lao Chai village of the black H'Mong groups. During the whole trek, there are many superb rice fields in terrace to see. Dinner and night at hotel

Day 4: SA PA - HANOI
Return to Ha Noi. End of tour.

PRICE
Price net per person in US$

Group size	Group of 2	Group of 3 - 5	Group of 6 - 9	Group 10 up	Sgl Sup
*Standard*	237	200	143	134	20
*First class*	250	213	156	147	25
*Superior*	374	338	281	272	100

Name of city/List of hotels	Standard	Superior	Deluxe
SA PA	Dang Trung**	Goldsea***	Victoria****
Train	Tulico/ Standard	Tulico/ Supérieur	Tulico/ Deluxe