Ho Chi Minh City (or Saigon, as it is better known) is a great entry point to Vietnam. It is also a great springboard to visit the Mekong Delta and the rest of Vietnam.

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) Photo: David McKelvey, used under Creative Commons License (By 2.0)

Sample Travel Date:

• April 8th – 16th

Fare Availability:

• Valid for travel until May 20th or August 21st – November 30th for Monday through Thursday departures. Availability is best beginning late March. Use ITA Software Matrix Airfare Search and flexible month search to see availability — enable advanced routing codes and enter “ua+” to search only United Airlines’ availability. Must purchase at least 3 days in advance of departure.
• Beginner’s Guide on How to Use Matrix by ITA Software

Routing:

• SEA – SFO (San Francisco) – HKG (Hong Kong) – SGN (Ho Chi Minh City) – HKG – NRT (Tokyo) – SFO – SEA

Mileage:

• 17,069 miles or 5.1 cents per mile

How to Book:

• Use dates found at ITA Software Matrix Airfare Search and book on Orbitz.com. On “Additional search options,” make sure you “Narrow the search to my preferred airlines” and select “United Airlines” to find this fare.

Background Information:

• Visa Requirements: US Citizens – Visa required prior to arrival. Prices vary. However, you may have an agent arrange a visa for pick-up upon arrival at Ho Chi Minh City Airport for a $20-25 handling fee paid upfront + $45 for the visa itself (also payable upon arrival). The Flight Deal team has used VietnamStay.com in the past for this service. It is much better than sending away your passport. Other nationals, check the TIMATIC Visa Database.
• Currency: Vietnamese Dong (VND). $1USD = 20,824 VND

Tips for saving when using credit cards at international destinations:

• No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards to save on international purchases
• Don’t get hit with Dynamic Currency Conversion
• Get your taxes refunded when shopping
• How to Avoid International Data Roaming Charges

For more of the latest cheap Seattle Flight Deals:

• Go to the The Seattle Flight Deals page

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