I just got back from a trip to Vietnam & Thailand also (my second time in both countries). As a Vietnamese American, I have some different viewpoints:

* I totally agree that Vietnam is a beautiful country and I would love to visit again.

* HCMC, or Saigon, is a fabulous city. However, it is a big metropolitan area similar to others in Asia. You can't really see the beauty of Vietnam and its people until you visit the countryside, ie, the Mekong Delta or my favorite city in Vietnam, HOI AN.

* Hoi An is a little city in central Vietnam about an hour drive from Da Nang. The more I visit this city, I more I love it. There are many art galleries, shops, restaurants, and tailors in this tiny town. This is the city that I feel time stands still!

* There are several other cities worth a visit: (1) Ha Noi, the charming capital of Vietnam and a side trip to the spectacular Ha Long Bay; (2) Hue, the old capital of Vietnam and home of the poetic Vietnamese royal tombs; (3) Phu Quoc Island (if you want to relax and have a whole beach for yourself)

* There is hop on/off bus service between Saigon & Ha Noi. It is extremely cheap and the best way to see the landscape of Vietnam; however, I would not recommend it unless you are ready for an adventure. The roads are not in its best condition and the drive is very bump at places. Instead, just take a flight on Vietnam Airlines. It is safe, quick, and relatively cheap. And yes, starting 1/1/04, foreigners pay the same as Vietnamese! There is no need to buy tickets well in advance. You can buy them when you are in Vietnam since tickets are readily available and a lot cheaper in Vietnam.

Plan a trip to Vietnam? Feel free to email me with questions, or just buy me a ticket and I will be happy to be your personal tour guide!