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Shop around and it is possible to find a good deal to Vietnam. If there are no obvious bargains to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City <HCMC>, then consider buying a discounted ticket to Bangkok or Hong Kong and picking up a flight or travelling overland from Thailand on to Vietnam.

Discounted flights are available into Vietnam, but Vietnam Airlines will not allow foreign carriers to sell cheap outbound tickets from Vietnam. A ticket from Bangkok to Hanoi or HCMC costs almost half the price of a Vietnam Airlines' flight, if it’s purchased in Bangkok. This also means that for anyone planning to purchase a long-haul flight in the region, Vietnam is not the place to do it with Bangkok just a short hop away.

It's hard to get reservations for flights to/from and in Vietnam during holidays, especially Tet <chinese new year>, which fails between late January and mid-February. If you will be in Vietnam during Tet, make reservations well in advance or you may find yourself marooned in a regional airport along the way. The chaos begins a week before Tet and can last for about two weeks after it. Be aware that Vietnam is not the only country to celebrate the the same time as Chinese New Year, Many people hit the road at this time, resulting in overbooked airlines, trains and hotels all over Asia.

Things Chance.....
The information in this chapter is particularly vulnerable to change. Check directly with the airline or a travel agent to make sure you understand how a fare (and ticket you may buy) works and be aware of the security requirements for international travel. Shop carefully. The details given in this page should be regarded as pointers and are not a substitute for your own careful, up-to-date research.

Vietnam Airports:
There are three international airports in Vietnam.
- Tan Son Nhat airport ( SGN) serves Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) and is Vietnam's busiest international air hub.
- Hanoi's Noi Bai airport (HAN) is the destination of choice for those concentrating on northern Vietnam,
- While a handful of international flights also serve Danang airport (DAD), a useful gateway to the charms of central Vietnam.

****** Airlines flying to & from Vietnam:

- Aeroflot (airline code SU; www.aeroflot.com; hub Moscow)
- Air Asia (airline code AK; www.airasia.com; hub Kuala Lumpur).
- Air France (airline code AF; www.airfrance.fr; hub Paris).
- Asians Airlines (airline code OZ; www.us.flyasiana.com; hub Seoul)
- Cathay Pacific (airline code CX; www.cathaypacific.com; hub Hong Kong).
- China Airlines (airiine code Cl; www.china-airlines.com; hub Taipei) China Southern Airlines (airline code CZ; www.cs-air.com; hub Guangzhou)
- Japan Airlines (airline code JL; www.jal.co.jp; hub Tokyo)
- Jetstar Asia (airline code 3K; www.jetstarasia.com; hub Singapore).
- Korean Air (airline code KE; www.koreanair.com; hub Seoul)
- Lao Airlines (airline code QV; www.laoairlines.com; hub Vientiane)
- Lufthansa (airline code LH; www.lufthansa.com; hub Frankfurt)
- Malaysia Airlines (airline code MY; www.malaysiaairlines.com; hub Kuala Lumpur)
- Philippine Airlines (airline code PR; www.philippineair.com; hub Manila).
- Qantas (airiine code QF ; www.qantas.com.au; hubs Sydney & Melbourne)
- Singapore Airlines (airline code SQ; www.singaporeair.com; hub Singapore)
- Thai Airways (airline code TG; www.thaiair.com; hub Bangkok)
- Tiger Airways (airline code TR; www.tigerairways.com; hub Singapore);
- United Airlines (airiine code UA; www.unitedairlines.com; hub Seattle)

****** Advice shop around for discount tickets:

CHINA
Vietnam Airlines now offers links from Hanoi to several major cities in China, including Boiling, Guangzhou and Kunming. These routes arc shared with Air China, China Southern Airlines and China Yunnan Airlines, re-spectively. The only direct flights between HCMC and mainland China are to Beijing and Guangzhou.
HONG KONG
Vietnam Airlines and Cathay Pacific jointly operate daily services between Hong Kong and both Hanoi and HCMC. The open-jaw option is a popular deal, allowing you to fly into one and out of the other. Reliable travel agents in Hong Kong: Four Seas Tours ( www.fourseastravel.com) STA Travel ( www.statravel.com.hk)
JAPAN
ANA, Japan Airlines and Vietnam Airlines connect Hanoi and HCMC with Osaka and Tokyo. Cheaper indirect flights are available via other Asian capitals. Recommended travel agents in Japan:
No 1 Travel ( www.no1-travel.com) STA Travel ( www.statravel.co.jp)
SINGAPORE
Singapore Airlines and Vietnam Airlines have daily flights from Singapore to both Hanoi and HCMC. Jetstar Asia and Tiger Airways are cheaper budget carriers and e-tickets can be booked via their websites. For reliable fares from Singapore to Vietnam, contact STA Travel ( www.statravel.com.sg).
SOUTH KOREA
Asiana Airlines, Korean Air and Vietnam Airlines all fly the Seoul-HCMC route, so there's at least one flight offered per day. There are also several direct Seoul-Hanoi flights per week, A good agent for ticketing in Seoul is Joy Travel Service
TAIWAN
Airlines flying from Taipei include China Air-lines, Eva Air and Vietnam Airlines. A long-running discount travel agent with a good reputation is Jenny Su Travel ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).
THAILAND
Bangkok is still the most popular gateway to Vietnam. Air France, Thai Airways and Vietnam Airlines offer daily connections from Bangkok to Hanoi and HCMC. Air Asia is a cheaper option to both Hanoi and HCMC. One popular choice is an open-jaw ticket that involves a flight to either HCMC or Hanoi, an overland journey to the other city, and a flight back to Bangkok. Khao San Rd in Bangkok is the budget-travellers headquarters. If some of the agents there look too fly-by-night, try STA Travel ( www.statravel.co.th).
Australia
Fares between Australia and Asia are relatively expensive considering the distances involved. Most of the cheaper flights between Australia and Vietnam involve stopovers at Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok or Singapore, but Qantas and Vietnam Airlines have services linking Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney with either Hanoi or HCMC. The following are good places to pick up tickets in Australia: Flight Centre ( www.flightcentre.com.au). STA travel ( www.statravel.com.au)
Canada
Discount tickets from Canada tend to cost about 10% more than those sold in the USA. For the lowdovn on cheap fares, contact Travel Cuts ( www.travelcuts.com). with offices across the country.
Continental Europe
Although London is the discount-travel capital of Europe, major airlines and big travel agents usually have offers from all the major cities on the continent. Recommended agents with branches across France: Nouvelles Frontieres ( www.nouvelles-frontieres.fr). OTU Voyages (www.otu.fr) This agency specialises in student and youth travel. Voyageurs du Monde ( www.vdm.com) Reliable agencies in Germany:
Just Travel (www.justtravel.de) STA Travel ( www.statravel.de). From other countries in Europe, try the following agencies in Italy, Netherlands and Spain. Airfair ( www.airfair.nl; Netherlands) Barcelo Vlajes ( www.barceloviajes.com; Spain) CTS Viaggi ( www.cts.it; Italy)
NBBS Reizen ( www.nbbs.nl; Netherlands). Nouvelles Frontieres ( www.nouvelles-frontieres.es; Spain)
New Zealand
The best way to get from New Zealand to Vietnam is to use one of the leading Asian carriers like Malaysian, Singapore or Thai. Good agencies to start shopping around for tickets: Flight Centre ( www.flightcentre.co.nz) STA Travel ( www.statravet.co.nz)
UK & Ireland
From London there are some great fares to Asia, although prices to Vietnam are not as cheap as to Bangkok or Hong Kong. There are oodles of agencies in the UK. Some of the best bets:
Flightbookers (www.ebookers.com) North-South Travel ( www.northsouthtravel.co.uk) North-South Travel donates part of its profit to projects in the developing world. STA Travel ( www.statravel.co.uk) Trailfinders ( www.trailfinders.co.uk) Travel Bag ( www.travelbag.co.uk)
USA
Discount travel agents in the USA are known as consolidators. San Francisco is the ticket - consolidator capital of America, although some good deals can be found in Los Angeles, New York and other big cities.
Useful online options in the USA:
www.cheaptickets.com
www.itn.net
www.lowestfare.com
www.sta.com
www.travelocity.com

Vietnam Airlines (www.vietnamairlines.com.vn) & Jestar Airlines (http://www.jetstar.com/vn/en/): are the state-owned flag carrier, and the majority of flights into and out of Vietnam. Both Airlines have alot of modern fleet of Airbuses and Boeings and the level of service on its international flights is starting to catch up with its bigger rivals.
- Most Vietnamese travel agents do not charge any more than when you book directly with the airline, as they receive a commission. A passport information is required to make a booking on all domestic flights