Vietnam Airlines, the state-owned airline, is the major carrier in Vietnam for domestic flights. A second domestic airline, Pacific Airlines, which is owned by Vietnam Airlines, also offers flights between Hanoi, HCMC and Danang.

Fares for domestic flights are fixed and determined by distance, although there are some discount fares for advance purchase (with restrictions), late night flights, and student and senior fares. Vietnam Airlines and Pacific Airlines both offer similar levels of quality and safety, with Pacific Airlines offering slightly cheaper fares.

Neither Vietnam Airlines nor Pacific Airlines currently offer e-ticketing or online booking, although Vietnam Airlines has announced plans to start e-ticketing in early 2007.

A few tips for booking internal flights - book flights only once you are in Vietnam for cheaper prices, book online with Vietnam Airlines website, or their agents for savings.

Useful websites:
www.vietnamairlines.com.vn
www.guidevietnam.com/flight/vietnam-airlines/vietnam-domestic-flights.html
www.smiletravelvietnam.com/travelvietnam/vietnam-airlines.aspx

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Wait until you get to Vietnam to book internal flights. It's much cheaper than booking in the UK. I flew from Hanoi to Hue for £200. I flew from Dalat to Ho Chi Minh City for £30.

There are lots of Vietnam Airlines offices in major cities.

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Here are some tips for you while you are in Vietnam:

Things to remember:
- It's in your best interests not to drink the tap water, especially after flooding!
-Avoid cycle rides after dark.
-Dress modestly and appropriately when visiting local dwellings and religious sites, etc.
- Leave your valuables behind before a night out on the town, or going to the beach.
- When crossing the road – especially in HCMC – always keep looking to the left and right and walk slowly!
- Don't offer money directly to beggars – instead donate to a local charity or offer a small gift, such as pens.
-However frustrated, don't loose your temper (“losing face”), as it won't get you very far!

I wish you a nice trip to Vietnam.

For travel guide websites for Vietnam, you can visit Dmoz.org at:
dmoz.org/Regional/Asia/Vietnam/Travel_and_Tourism/Travel_Guides/

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Overnight trains are fun, but this one comes with the added bonus of a brilliant view between Da Nang and Hue (on the right hand side of the train going north).

We paid 450,000 dong (about $30) each for a top bunk berth in a four-bed carriage. Lower bunks are more expensive, but probably nicer for views and storage space.

The train comes all the way from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi. If you are getting on half way then you may need to strip the bed of its old linen and ask the not very helpful guards for 2 new sheets.

Food is included, but not particularly nice (cabbage and mackerel stew on boiled rice anyone?). Vendors follow the official trolley selling much nicer fare.

There are several trains a day. We caught the 14h15 from Da Nang so that we'd get the coastal views up to Hue. Everyone seemed to bunk down and sleep by about 20h30 so arriving in Hanoi at 04h30 did not seem too traumatic! And then you are just in time to dump your luggage and join the early morning crowds at Hoan Kiem lake.

Buy tickets in advance from the train station (not sure if you can buy from a station other than your departure one- tried to find out and failed). The earlier you buy the better as tickets do sell out.

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Many of the taxi drivers at the airport are on comission from the hostels in Hanoi. They may agree to drive you to the city centre and then tell you your hostel has closed down once you get there. Don't listen to them and insist that they take you to the correct hostel. If they don't, just pay them and get out of the taxi, walk to the nearest bar, and figure out how to walk to your hostel.

It may be worth emailing your hostel and arranging an airport pick-up in advance, most of the larger hotels and many hostels provide this service.

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To enjoy Hanoi you first have to get there, and for that you need Air Asia. Flights from Bangkok on Thai and other airlines used to be 10,000 baht return; now you can get there on Air Asia for 3,000 baht. Go often, it's beautiful.

airasia.com/site/vn/en/home.jsp

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