Tickets
Shop around and it is possible to find a good deal 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 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 Vietnam during holidays, especially Tet, 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 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.

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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 currently has a monopoly on the Phnom Penh to HCMC route, with several nights a day. There are no direct flights from Phnom Penh to Hanoi, only via HCMC or Vientiane. Vietnam Airlines also offers numerous services daily between Siem Reap and HCMC and a couple of more expensive flights direct to Hanoi. A good agent is Harm-man Tourism (Tell: 855-23 218356; 12 St 310, Phnom Penh).
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 (Tell: 2200 7760) STA Travel (Tell: 27361618)
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 (Tell: 03-3205 6073 ) STA Travel (Tell: 03-5391 2922)
LAOS
Roth Lao Airlines and Vietnam Airlines operate daily flights between Vientiane and Hanoi or HCMC. There are also now several flights a 5 week between Luang Prabang and Hanoi.
MALAYSIA
Malaysia Airlines and Vietnam Airlines have daily connections between Kuala Lumpur and both Hanoi and HCMC, but Air Asia is gain ing favour thanks to low fares.
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 (Tell: 6737 7188).
SOUTKOREAH
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 (Tell: 02-776 9871).
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 (Tell: 02-2594 7733).
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 (Tell: 236 0262).
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 (Tell: 133133). STA travel (Tell: 1300 733 035)
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 (Tell: 800-667 2887). 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 (Tell: 08 25 00 07 47). OTU Voyages This agency specialises in student and youth travel. Voyageurs du Monde ( Tell: 0140151115) Reliable agencies in Germany:
Just Travel (Tell: 089-747 33 30) STA Travel (Tell: 0180-5456422). From other countries in Europe, try the following agencies in Italy, Netherlands and Spain. Airfair (Tell: 0206-20 51 21; Netherlands) Barcelo Vlajes (Tell: 9021162 26; Spain) CTS Viaggi (Tell: 064 62 04 31; Italy)
NBBS Reizen (Tell: 0206-20 50 71; Netherlands). Nouvelles Frontieres (Tell: 90217 09 79; 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 (Tell: 0800 243 544) STA Travel (Tell: 0508 782 872)

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 (Tell: 087-0010 7000) North-South Travel (Tell: 01245-608291) North-South Travel donates part of its profit to projects in the developing world. STA Travel (Tell: 087-0160 0599) Trailfinders (Tell: 084-5050 5891) Travel Bag (Tell: 087-08901456)

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.