2. August 22-28, 2011 (round-trip)

3. Korean Air - $1,075

4. Departing Flight

5. Departing: San Francisco – Aug. 22, 12:45pm

8. Asiana - $1,012

9. Departing: San Francisco – Sept. 5, 1:10pm

11. Departing: San Francisco – Sept. 5, 1:35am

13. China Airlines - $1,115

14. Departing: San Francisco – Sept. 18, 1:05am

16. Cathay Pacific - $1,163

17. Departing: San Francisco – Sept. 18, 1:20am

19. SOURCE: www.priceline.com

20. Best hotels that are nice but not too expensive (mid range price wise)

21. Asian Ruby 3 Hotel

22. 100 Le Lai Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, District 1 - Pham Ngu Lao / Tay Balo, Ho Chi Minh City

23. Room Rates per night (approx):

24. Superior double – US$50

25. Deluxe – US$59

26. Hoang Hai Long

27. 52B-62-64 Pham Hong Thai Street, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1 - Ben Thanh Market, Ho Chi Minh City

28. Room Rates per night (approx):

29. Superior – US$56

30. Deluxe – US$69

31. Sanouva

32. 175-177 Ly Tu Trong st, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, District 1 - Ben Thanh Market, Ho Chi Minh City

33. Room Rates per night (approx):

34. Deluxe city view (double) – US$52

35. Liberty 4 Hotel

36. 265 Pham Ngu Lao Street, District 1, District 1 - Pham Ngu Lao / Tay Balo, Ho Chi Minh City

37. Room Rates per night (approx):

38. Signature superior (room only) – US$59

39. Signature superior (w/ breakfast) – US$69

40. Oscar Saigon Hotel

41. 68A Nguyen Hue Street, District 1, District 1 - Dong Khoi / Nguyen Hue, Ho Chi Minh City

42. Room Rates per night (approx):

43. Oscar cosy – US$63

44. Oscar elegant – US$68

45. Links to blogs & specifically articles about at least 7 cool things to do in each

46. Cruise in HALONG BAY

47. QUICK INFO:

48. A highlight of any trip to Vietnam, the enchanting archipelago of Halong Bay lies off the north east coast of Vietnam and comprises around 3000 limestone islands. Cruising around this magical bay on board a traditional junk boat is a magical experience that no trip to Vietnam should be without.

49. HOW TO GET THERE FROM HO CHI MINH:

50. Take a plane from Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi.

51. The best way to travel to Halong bay is to rent or hire private car, mini van or bus. The drive takes approximately 3.5 hours one way.

52. SOURCES:

53. http://www.halongbay-vietnam.com/

54. Trekking tour in SAPA

55. QUICK INFO:

56. Sapa is located at Lao Cai Province, northern part of Vietnam. Sapa is endowed with favorable natural conditions and is very attractive to travelers. Vietnam’s highest peak, the 3, 143 metre Mount Fansipan, looms overhead, while the surrounding valleys feature terraced rice paddies and blazing green fields cut by fast-flowing streams.

57. HOW TO GET THERE FROM HO CHI MINH

58. Take a plane from Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi.

59. Sapa is 380km from Hanoi and various options exist to get there. The most popular is to sign up for one of the overnight trips which includes a train journey to Lao Cai followed by minibus transfer up to Sapa.

60. SOURCES:

61. http://www.sapatrekking.com/index.html

62. http://www.sapatravelvietnam.com/default.asp?loading=33&newsID=1397

63. Watch a WATER PUPPET SHOW IN HANOI

65. By Train: It will take 3 days to get to Hanoi. Air-conditioned trains have sleepers and on-board catering link Hanoi, Hué, Danang, Nha Trang, and Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City).

67. http://www.expedia.com/pub/agent.dll?qscr=fexp&flag=q&city1=SGN&citd1=HAN&date1=8/1/2011&time1=362&cAdu=1&cSen=0&cChi=0&cInf=&infs=2&tktt=&trpt=1&ecrc=&eccn=&qryt=8&rdct=1&olacid=buttons-meta.farecompare.farecompare.buttons.compare.international.frontdoor.

68. Shop at BEN THANH MARKET in HO CHI MINH

70. http://talk.onevietnam.org/top-markets-of-vietnam-ben-thanh-market/

71. Cruise at the MEKONG DELTA

72. QUICK INFO:

73. Mekong Delta is the region in southwestern Vietnam where the Mekong River approaches and empties into the sea through a network of distributaries. The Mekong Delta region encompasses a large portion of southeastern Vietnam of 38,000 square kilometers. This vast delta is formed by the deposition of the multiple tentacles and tributaries of the mighty Mekong River which has its origin in the Tibetan highland plateau 2,800 miles away.

74. SOURCES:

75. http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Asia/Vietnam/Thanh_Pho_Ho_Chi_Minh/Ho_Chi_Minh_City-1470720/Things_To_Do-Ho_Chi_Minh_City-Mekong_Delta-BR-1.html

76. Enjoy a HILLSIDE RETREAT AT DALAT

77. QUICK INFO:

78. The first person to explore this region was Mr. Nguyen Thong. Approximately 25 years later, in 1893, Dr. Yersin, a French immunologist discovered Dankia high lands while on an expedition to the Langbian high lands. Dankia is 10 km from the city of Da Lat. This region reminded Dr. Yersin of his homeland, and particularly the similarities between Da Lat's evergreen forests and those in the Swiss Alps. He made the recommendation to the government to form a resort town with health spas for government officials and foreign dignitaries in Dankia.

79. Da Lat city is probably one of Vietnam's most well known vacation destination. Da Lat has a number of beautiful French colonial buildings - the most famous of them seems to be the Sofitel Dalat Palace a big fine hotel overlooking the artificial lake.

80. HO W TO GET TO DALAT FROM HO CHI MINH:

81. By Air: Flight time from Dalat to Ho Chi Minh is about 45 minutes

82. By Bus: Public buses are slightly cheaper than minivan though not as comfortable. From Ho Chi Minh, one can book one’s bus ticket to Dalat from most travel agent or bus company office.

83. SOURCES:

84. http://www.vietscape.com/travel/dalat/yersin.html

85. http://photo.net/travel/vietnam/weinreb/da-lat.html

86. Sled at the SAND DUNES OF MUI NE

88. By Bus: Travel time is about 5 hrs. Book Phuong Trang or Mai Linh or any open bus tour on Pham Ngu Lao Street.

89. SOURCES:

90. http://www.visit-mekong.com/vietnam/mui-ne/attractions.htm#dune

91. http://www.discounttravelblogger.com/golden-sand-dunes-in-mui-ne/

92. http://www.vietnamonline.com/destination/mui-ne/getting-there.html

93. LINKS TO OTHER THINGS TO DO IN VIETNAM

94. http://vietnam.blognhanh.com/2011/06/top-10-things-to-do-in-vietnam_07.html

95. http://www.vietnamtravelarticle.com/articles/travel-to-vietnam/

96. http://www.greentrail-indochina.com/vietnam/things_to_do.html