Finding Budget Airfare - from US to Vietnam!

[Kate and Pete]

I found out yesterday that I received a grant that I wrote in order to go to Vietnam this summer and teach English in various schools/orphanages!!!! It's huge news for me - I've applied for this grant five years in a row (we joke that I finally wore them down!!).

So, now I'm looking around for budget airfare from Portland, ME to Ho Chi Mihn City July 14th-29th. I have found some fares right around the $2000 mark, which is perfect, but was wondering if any of you budget gurus had any suggestions on how to get that price down? (Portland is the city I'll fly out of, as it's already a 3hr. drive from where I live in Bar Harbor!)

Any help is appreciated!!

 

[HeatherC]

Congratulations! How exciting!

Have you checked Kayak to compare fares?

Also...did you price say flying one flight to New York and then getting a flight to Vietnam from New York? That way you may be able to snag a cheap commuter flight if the airfare was cheaper from NY.

I'm thinking to price it out breaking it up into separate flights for each segment to see if it is cheaper. Like Portland to NY. Then NY to California. Then California to Asia and then finally to Vietnam. May not make any difference, but worth looking at.

Good luck to you!

 

[amyy]

Are you an English teacher? I would love to do something like that.

I didn't find anything cheaper but keep in mind for the future to check out flying out of Halifax. I live in Maine too and know several people that find cheaper deals fling out of Canada.

Have fun!!

 

[roadtripper]

I am getting about 1588 out of Boston (which I know you didn't want to do, but may be worth 500?)--try www.itasoftware.com for info. How exciting! Hope you have a great trip!

 

[Kate and Pete]

Thank you all for your replies! I am an English teacher, however, one does not have to be a teacher at all - just be able to speak English!

 

[a1tinkfans]

I found out yesterday that I received a grant that I wrote in order to go to Vietnam this summer and teach English in various schools/orphanages!!!! It's huge news for me - I've applied for this grant five years in a row (we joke that I finally wore them down!!).

So, now I'm looking around for budget airfare from Portland, ME to Ho Chi Mihn City July 14th-29th. I have found some fares right around the $2000 mark, which is perfect, but was wondering if any of you budget gurus had any suggestions on how to get that price down? (Portland is the city I'll fly out of, as it's already a 3hr. drive from where I live in Bar Harbor!)

Any help is appreciated!!

OH MY! Congrats!
My sis did an Asia trip and traveled all over...she is an Amazing, independent, socially conscious World traveler and I recall she was in Phnom Phen, Bangkok, Siem Reap, Cambodia (to visit the little girl she sponsors at CCF, which was 1 of the reasons she did the trip in the first place!!) (She does ESL, but that was not the purpose of that particular trip)
She was able to snag all her flights thru her Delta skymiles..YUP, .and used Every single one She was overseas about three mos...what a trip that was! I think we (the family) were much more "concerned" then she ever was.(she too was alone) ...it is so far away!!!! We were used to Europe, but Asia, geeze, that was Crazy to us....She actually ended that trip in Hawaii for a "rest" week before returning back home.
She also had gotten sick unfortunately, so it is really important to be updated on medical facilities...and PLEASE, as we tell her, ALWAYS let the US gov't know where you are when traveling aboard, you can register
Again, congrats, Just wonderful for YOU!!!!
I want to Wish you a wonderful, SAFE experience....perhaps set up a Blog for all your family and friends to keep up with your adventure???? We loved reading my sis! The pictures, the adventures, simply amazing!!

 

[kelleyrn2000]

I don't have any advice on the airfare, just wanted to say how cool it is for you to go over there! My former boss went to Asia (I think it was Cambodia??) and he and his family built a school while they were there (well had one built) because the kids in the village didn't have a school. It was really cool. I should add that it was his native country (came to US as a refugee when he was a teenager) and took his entire family there to see his culture of origin. Amazing that coming from there he was able to come to the US and become a successful doctor. Enjoy your trip!

 

[dreamer423]

there are fare subsidizers that may have budget options. I think around the world travel dot com or something like that. google it. most are based out of san fran.

 

[tinytink]

That is great what you are doing! Sorry I can't offer help on the airfare?.

 

[pyrxtc]

Flying out of Boston, I have previously gotten flight prices about $1200.

 

[stsomewhere]

Congratulations! How exciting!

Have you checked Kayak to compare fares?

Also...did you price say flying one flight to New York and then getting a flight to Vietnam from New York? That way you may be able to snag a cheap commuter flight if the airfare was cheaper from NY.

I'm thinking to price it out breaking it up into separate flights for each segment to see if it is cheaper. Like Portland to NY. Then NY to California. Then California to Asia and then finally to Vietnam. May not make any difference, but worth looking at.

Good luck to you!

I recommend Kayak, too.

 

[smacky1]

My mother is from Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam and travels at least once a year. Try calling an agency in Chinatown, Boston. I can try to get the one she uses for you. Sometimes they can get better rates because they book big blocks of tickets. PM me if you want more information. Im sure she would be more than happy to give you some help. I actually traveled to Ho Chi Minh city in 1997. She usually pays $800-$1200.

BTW, she usually flies out of Portland ME. I think she goes Portland to Chicago and Chicago to Hong Kong. Then Hong Kong to Ho Chi Minh City. I think she uses United Airlines.

 

[kalliyan1]

we've been twice for adoptions and flew out of NC...for us, there was no such thing as cheap airfare!!!!
Congratulations on your trip. Vietnam is a beautiful country so take in as many sites as possible.

 

[Evi]

check out local travel agencies out of Chinatown Boston or search online bff goes often and pays around 800-1000 round trip from Boston.