Getting there & away - Air
Vietnam Airlines (tel 04-943-9660 in Hanoi, tel 08-829-2118 in HCMC; www.vietnamair.com.vn) is the state-owned flag carrier, and the majority of flights into and out of Vietnam are Joint operations between Vietnam Airlines and foreign airlines.
Vietnam Airlines has a modern fleet of Airbuses and Boeings and the level of service on its international flights is starting to catch up with its bigger rivals. However, on the domestic front, cancellations and late flights are common.
Many international flights leaving Hanoi connect through HCMC, but it's a pain. Passengers have to pay a domestic departure tax, fly to HCMC, claim their bags, check in again, and pay an international departure tax before boarding the international flight.
AIRLINES FLYING TO & FROM VIETNAM
All phone numbers are in Hanoi (area code 04) unless otherwise stated.
Aeroflot (airline code SU; tel 825 6742; www.aeroflot.com; hub Moscow)
Air France (airline code AF; tel 825 6742; www.airfrance.fr; hub Paris)
All Nippon Airways (airline code NH; tel 934 7237; www.ana.co.jp; hub Tokyo)
Asiana Airlines (airline code 0Z; tel 822 2671; www.us.flyasiana.com; hub Seoul)
Cathay Pacific (airline code CX; tel 826 7298; www.cathaypacific.com; hub Hong Kong)
China Airlines (airline code Cl; (tel 824 2688; www.china-airlines.com; hub Taipei)
China Southern Airlines (airline code CZ; tel 771 6611; www.cs-air.com; hub Guangzhou) Japan Airlines (airline code JL; tel 826 6693; www.jal.co.jp; hub Tokyo)
Korean Air (airline code KE; tel 934 7236; www.korean air.com; hub Seoul)
Lao Airlines (airline code QV; tel 846 4873; www .laoairlines.com; hub Vientiane)
Lion Air (airline code JT; www.lionair.co.id; hub Jakarta)
Lufthansa (airline code LH; in HCMC tel 08-829 8529; www.lufthansa.corn; hub Frankfurt)
Malaysia Airlines (airline code MY; tel 826 8820; www.malaysiaairlines.com; hub Kuala Lumpur)
Philippine Airlines (airline code PR; In HCMC tel 08-822 2241; www.philippmeair.com; hub Manila)
Qantas (airline code QF; tel 934 7238; www.qantas.com.au; hubs Sydney & Melbourne)
Siem Reap Airways (airline code FT; in HCMC tel 08-914 0296; www.siemreapair.com; hub Phnom Penh)
Singapore Airlines (airline code SQ; tel 826 8888; www.singaporeair.com; hub Singapore)
Thai Airways (airline code TG; tel 826 6893; www.thaiair.com; hub Bangkok)
TICKETS
Shop around and it is possible to find some good deals to Vietnam. If there are no obvious bargains to Hanoi or HCMC, then consider buying a discounted ticket to Bangkok or Hong Kong and picking up a flight on to Vietnam from there.
There are some good offers to Vietnam, but they are often through smaller, specialised agencies which concentrate on Southeast Asia.
Discounted flights are available into Vietnam, but Vietnam Airlines will not allow foreign carriers to sell cheap outbound tickets from Vietnam. For example, 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 Vietnam during holidays, especially the Tet Festival, which falls between late January and mid-February. If you will be in Vietnam during Tet, make reservations 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 Lunar New Year, as it falls at 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.
REGIONAL TICKETS
An interesting new development for those planning extensive air travel around the region is the Asean Hip Hop Pass. This allows for three international flights within the Asean region for just US$399, plus three optional sectors at US$150 each. It doesn't work well if you are touring Indochina where the regional flights are quite cheap, but if you are travelling right across the region it can make for significant savings.
ASIA
Although many Asian countries now offer competitive deals, Bangkok, Singapore and Hong Kong are still the best places to shop around for discount tickets.
Cambodia
Vietnam Airlines as well as Stem Reap Airwavs serve the Phnom Penh to HCMC route several times a day. Vietnam Airlines also offers numerous services daily between Siem Reap and HCMC and one expensive flight a day direct to Hanoi.
There are direct flights from Danang to Siem Reap several times a week with Siem Reap Airways, but not from Siem Reap to Danang.
One of the most reliable travel agencies in Cambodia is Hanuman Tourism (www.hanu mantourisnuom; tel 023-218 356), based in Phnom Penh.
China
Vietnam Airlines now offers links from Hanoi to several major cities in China, including Beijing, Guangzhou and Kunming. These routes are shared with Air China, China Southern Airlines and China Yun-nan Airlines, respectively. The only direct flight between HCMC and mainland China is through Guangzhou.
Hongkong
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 (tel 2200 7760; www.fourseastravel.com)
Phoenix Services (tel 2722 7378)
STA (tel 27361618; 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 )apan:
No 1 Travel (tel 103-3205 6073; www.no1-travel.com)
STA (tel 03-5391 2922; www.statravel.co.jp)
Laos
Both Lao Airlines and Vietnam Airlines operate daily flights between Vientiane and Hanoi or HCMC.
Singapore
Singapore Airlines and Vietnam Airlines have daily flights from Singapore to both Hanoi and HCMC. For reliable fares from Singapore to Vietnam, contact STA Travel (tel 6737 7188; www.statravel.coin.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 (tel 02-776 9871).
Taiwan
Airlines flying from Taipei include China Airlines, Eva Air and Vietnam Airlines. A long-running discount travel agent with a good reputation is Jenny Su Travel (tel 02-2594 7733 ; jennysu@tpe.ani.net.tw).
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.
One popular option 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 (tel 10 2236 0262; www.statravel.co.th).
AUSTRALIA
Fares between Australia and Asia are relatively expensive considering the distances involved. Most 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:
STA Travel (tel 1300 733 035; www.statravel.com.au)
Flight Centre (tel 133133; www.flightcentre.com.au)
CANADA
Discount tickets from Canada tend to cosi about 10% more than those sold in the USA. For the lowdown on cheap fares, contact Travel Cuts (tel 800-667 2887; 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 (tel 08 26 00 07 47 ; www.nouvelles-frontieres.fr)
OTU Voyages (www.otu.fr) This agency specialises in student and youth travel.
Voyageurs du Monde (tel 01 4015 1115; www.vdm.com)
Reliable agencies flying out of Germany:
Just Travel (tel 089-747 33 30 ; www.justtravel.de)
STA Travel (tel 0180-545 64 22; www.statravel.de)
From other countries in Europe, try the following agencies in Italy, Netherlands and Spain.
Airfair (tel 0206-20 51 21 ; www.airfair.nl; Netherlands)
Barcelo Viajes (tel 90211 62 26 ; www.barceloviajes.com; Spain)
CTS Viaggi (tel 064 62 04 31; www.cts.it; Italy)
NBBS Reizen (tel 0206-20 50 71 ; www.nbbs.nl; Netherlands)
Nouvelles Frontieres (tel 90217 09 79 ; www.nouvelles-frontieres.es; 5pain)
New Zealand
The best way to get from New Zealand to Vietnam is to one of the leading Asian carriers like Malaysian, Singapore or Thai. Good agencies to start shopping around for tickets:
Flight Centre (tel 0800 243 544; www.flightcentre.co.nz)
STA Travel (tel 0508 782 872; www.statravel.co.nz)
UK & Ireland
From London there are some great fares to Asia, although prices to Vietnam are nowhere near as cheap as to Bangkok or Hong Kong. There are no direct flights from the UK to Vietnam, although expansionist Vietnam Airlines will more than likely start a service during the lifetime of this book.
There are oodles of agencies in the UK. Some of the best bets:
Flightbookers (tel 087-0010 7000; www.ebookers.com)
North-South Travel (tel 01245-608291; www.northsouthtravel.co.uk)
North-South Travel donates part of its profit to projects in the developing world.
STA Travel (tel 087-0160 0599; www.statravel.co.uk)
Trailfinders (tel 084-5050 5891; www.trailfinders.co.uk)
Travel Bag (tel 087-08901456; www.travelbag.co.uk)
USA
Discount travel agents in the USA are known as consolidators, although you won't see a sign on the door saying 'Consolidator'. 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
LP.
