Up to now, I have been afraid to look at airfares to Vietnam. I got brave tonight and window-shopped. They're not that bad! Even if I had to leave in 2 weeks, they're not that bad! Less than $1400. Hooray! Let's hope we get an interview date while my luck is holding. C'mon, c'mon, c'mon!

Round trip from Albuquerque, NM to Saigon: $1260 Eva Air. (taxes and visa fees included). Prices might go up in May due to more travelers going that month, they say maybe $100 more

I have found booking your flight 30 days in advance, staying between 10 days and 22 days, flying out on Wednesday or Thursday have been the cheapest flights. However I have flown different airlines for each trip, because of price. Trip 1-United, trip 2-EVA and trip 3-China Airlines each had the cheapest price for each of my trips. I have to say I liked EVA the best so far in the Economy class because their planes are newer (777) than United (I flew on 474-400 that were old), China Airlines had both new and old 474s. The old 474 don't have the entertainment centers. The 474 that Thi and I flew back on was so old that the window seats still had ash trays........

I paid $861(15 days), $962 (17 days), $1068 (10 days) for each round trip ticket LAX to Saigon (one stop on EVA, China Airlines, two stops on United). I found my tickets online, EVA was cheapest thru Expedia, the others I booked their website. I found cheaper flight on Phippine Airlines but the flight times were longer. All my flight were in the 16 hours time (Ex United which had a flight delay in Hong Kong for 6 hours due to mechanical problems, they gave me a $100 voucher for domestic travel for my time)

Also always use flexible times when looking for a flght. I found that the same flight one day eariler or later would be as much as $300 more. Most systems will give a 3-5 day either way (departing and arriving) grid so you can see the cheapest flight without having to research every combination of days.

Peter and Thi

I-129F Sent : 2007-05-26
I-129F NOA1 : 2007-06-11
I-129F RFE(s) :
RFE Reply(s) :
I-129F NOA2 : 2007-10-26
Touched: 2007-11-02
NVC Recieved: 2007-11-16
Consulate recieved ??????
Packet 3 sent 2007-12-11
Packet 3 received 2007-12-24
Packet 3 returned 2007-12-28
Packet 4 sent 2008-1-14
Email Reply with Interview Date 2008-1-23
Interview Date 2008-2-27
Passed Interview 2008-02-27
Visa Pick Up Date 2008-3-05
Received Visa 2008-2-29 (called to pick up earlier)
POE 2008-3-05 Los Angeles

Hi Peter:
You paid $962 for EVA Air round trip tickets? Was the visa fee included in that amount too or U had to pay separate? If separate, how much was the visa fee?

Ahhhhhhh, Saigon, Saigon. I must go there eventually, but that is not my first destination...... I think I am the only person on VJ with a Northern gal. Maybe tickets to Saigon are cheaper?

Visao

The Visa fee was extra. I got it from the San Francisco Consulate in August. My trip was 9/11 to 9/28. In February the same flights tho not as long (2/23-3/5) was over $1230 depending on dates even if I stayed longer which I couldn't. So I booked with China Airlines as they were the cheapest in January. The Visa from SF was $45 in August and $65 in January.

Peter and Thi

I-129F Sent : 2007-05-26
I-129F NOA1 : 2007-06-11
I-129F RFE(s) :
RFE Reply(s) :
I-129F NOA2 : 2007-10-26
Touched: 2007-11-02
NVC Recieved: 2007-11-16
Consulate recieved ??????
Packet 3 sent 2007-12-11
Packet 3 received 2007-12-24
Packet 3 returned 2007-12-28
Packet 4 sent 2008-1-14
Email Reply with Interview Date 2008-1-23
Interview Date 2008-2-27
Passed Interview 2008-02-27
Visa Pick Up Date 2008-3-05
Received Visa 2008-2-29 (called to pick up earlier)
POE 2008-3-05 Los Angeles

Its still the low season, so you shouldn't have too much trouble finding decent fares.

EVA has a special for flights to Siagon, Hanoi and Phnom Penh from LAX: http://www.evaair.com/html/b2c/english/dea...ions_LAX_240301

If you don't live in LA, you would have to book a seperate ticket to LAX. Which isn't bad as long as you leave yourself enough time between fights to get your luggage and check in again.

I used United and got R/T from Akron/Canton, OH to Sai Gon for $1196.00. I ran several dates and if I was leaving any time later than the 20th of March then the price increased to around $1400.00. That was w/o the visa. On a side note, we were delayed in Hong Kong on the first leg due to a problem with the navigation equipment. After we re-boarded they delayed us again to fill the oxygen tanks. I was 2 hours late. When I got settled in there I sent United an email and asked for a seat upgrade on the return trip. I only asked for the Hong Kong to Chicago portion of the trip. The replied that they accepted no responsibility for mechanical delays, yada yada, but they would give me two 500 mile upgrades as a gesture of good will. I replied that I definitely appreciated the fact that they fixed the navigation equipment, but the oxygen tanks could have been topped off concurrently (I assume) and that Viet Nam Airlines would get my money next time (they are about to start direct flights to the U.S. again)! Evidently that was the right thing to say because they then offed me either a $200.00 travel voucher or 5000 miles. I accepted the $200.00 voucher. When I got to the airport in Sai Gon they asked me if I wanted the emergency exit seat because of my size (I'm only 6"/190lbs but compared to most Vietnamese I'm a freakin' giant). I said "Sure"! When I got to Hong Kong I found out that my seat for that flight had been upgraded too! This was all I had originally asked for mind you. In Chicago I was put on stand by for an earlier flight to Akron/Canton. I got the last seat and as I was boarding I asked if my bags would be there too. I was told they would and they were (on the next flight). I haven't contacted them in regards to that gaff yet. God I love being a pain in a%^.

I just went 3 weeks ago and it was $1250 inclusive of visa from Houston to Saigon via Eva. However, it is $1550 for July. I paid over 6K for tickets for myself, my wife, my kid and mother this coming trip in July ... Ouch ... It really hurts.

$1550 is too high- rip-off:o That's even much higher than the Vietnamese Tet season. The most I heard for Tet was $1400 round trip. $1250 seems right about what I paid too around this time.

It does depend on where you are flying from. You can get really cheap fares from LAX or SFO. But if you dont live there or near there, you will be adding on $200-500 depending where you live.

$1550 including visa for a ticket is high but I do not think its a rip-off to me when July is high season. I said July, not right now. Beside, I am leaving from Houston, not from neither the East or West Coasts.

Actually, $1550 seems about right for the peak summer travelling season. Even with advance booking directly with United, I got $1,586.20 in July from Houston to Saigon. For earlier months, my round-trip ticket with United with similar route is $1,025.70. I normally paid a couple hundred more when I fly directly out of Lousiana, which is about the same as the driving cost to Houston and park there. In fact, I'm also scouting for airfares for my incoming trips in June and Sep/Oct.

If you guys dont mind, consider Asiana or Korea airline. They are most cheapest airfare when we booked tickets on Orange COunty, CA at Vietnamese travel agents that you can cearch on internet. The reason was to delay 8 hours at incheon airport when return to US, however, they offer hotel or short visit to Soul for that time.

I really like Korean air for travel to VN. I thought I would not like the 4-5 hours flight from Incheon airport to Hanoi, but it turned out to be very nice. I know where to nap in Incheon airport (I found couches), and they have a direct flight from Chicago to Seoul. Nice. And plenty of time to change planes. Plus, they flew a 777 from Chicago to Seoul, and it was set up much better in coach than the China Air Lines 747 I flew on the first time.