Buying air fares and accommodation is not necessarily cheaper.
Many of the travellers taking advantage of air fare wars and the increasingly sturdy dollar are doing so via the internet.  But even online travel operator warn people not to leave their common sense at home when they head for the world wide web.
The marketing manager of the leading tour operator Niche Travel Vietnam, Ha To, says about a quarter of all travel bookings  are made using the internet.
"And that's rising at a rate of about 15 per cent a year, when overall travel is projected to rise at 4 per cent a year," he  says. "We've seen around the world that it's up to about 60 per cent of all pleasure travel bookings and it's not going to be long before we reach 50 per cent here."
However, Ha says this doesn't spell the death of the regular tour operator.
"I think the two will work together for many years," he says. "Online works very well for simple transactions but if you're  getting into more complicated routes - or 'open jaw' [arriving in one city but leaving from another] - it starts to get a bit more difficult. What we are trying to do is to have more experiences travel consultants online to reach to customers when  they needed"
Travel to Vietnam become more sofiticated, and it's important to aware that you can buy direct from suppliers via internet between a few clicks", Ha says.
As many established countries, Vietnamese online travel agents or tour operators must comply with the same licensing rules as any other travel agent and therefore should be part of the Vietnam Tourism Administration, which protects travellers from the  financial impact of a travel agent collapsing or 'rogue' operator.
"If you use an online Vietnam tour operator, there's no issue," Ha says. "But make sure they have legitimate international tour  operator license when you start dealing with suppliers direct"
Travellers can check whether a tour operator is part of the Administration at www.vietnamtourism.gov.vn
The Chairman of Vietnam Tourism Administration ,Tuan Ng, says it has reviewed its members every year for their licence  renewals. People dealing directly with businesses not licensed won't have that protection, he says.Then there's the issue of the general consumer protections in Vietnam, which may not apply when dealing with unlicensed  suppliers, Tuan says. For example, some suppliers may not be as up-front about added fees and taxes on top of the advertised  price.
Consumers also need to consider the benefits of prepaying once versus making a booking that may cost much more when the  banking fees start kick in for several transactions or rates have changed in the meantime.
"The other big piece of advice is don't leave your common sense at home," Ha says. "Try to avoid making any silly mistakes by talking to the operator first. They are the one who know best from flight timetable or bits and pieces that will make your  life be much easier when preparing for your longing trip"
"Look at what you're booking before you click on the 'buy' button," he says. "If it's only $30 for the Cruise in Halong, you  can be sure there's restrictions."
Look for well-known brands, particularly those licensed in Viet Nam and with a physical address, he suggests.
Cash transfer  maybe more preferable as all business well listed and registered. And when using a card, ensure you know  who's taking your card details, to avoid identity theft.
"What information is there on the website? Is it a genuine site? " he says.
He also says people shouldn't assume online packages are the same.

"Many Vietnam tour operators try to be different. At Niche Travel,  programs are unique and crafted for both corporate and  individual needs. Our wealth of local knowledge and  willingness to understand your needs guarantees maximum opportunity  for enjoyment and unique experiences.  Itineraries are carefully selected to reflect the essence of the trip, be it for  leisure or adventure. We can also assist you in building a tour just for you - for the gourmand to the biking aficionado. Our  flexibility and wide range of options will satisfy the most discerning traveller. We actively engage with our agents, helping them to build competitive and exclusive packages that stand out from the competition", he says.
Price is another issue. Consumers should do their study for their visit first, know what they want to do there, then compare  price with different websites. However, at the end of the day, you still get what you pay for.
Ha believes you'll do better online most of the time because of the direct access to local operator but "I wouldn't say  that's true on everything".
He says 30 per cent Niche Travel bookings come in at night or weekends, when other businesses are closed.
He suggests it's cheaper to deal direct with airlines than go through an "aggregator", especially if the service charges a  booking fee on top of the ticket price. Also, many accommodation websites focus on larger hotel chains, which tend to be more expensive.
Buy now or later?
You've shopped around using the internet and found a great price on a flight or accommodation. But a little voice in your  head says that if you wait you might get an even better "last-minute" deal. Should you lock in the bargain in front of you or wait?
Ha To of Niche Travel Vietnam says the rule of thumb is the earlier you book — particularly with travel packages — the more  choice you have and the cheaper the price.
"Hotels and Airlines use what is known as 'yield control' ... most of the cheaper ticket and accommodation are available way  out and they fill fast," he says. "As it gets closer in, prices go up — the last customer who want the trip tomorrow is paying  top dollar. in additions, with relatively small travel infrastructure, vietnam will quickly be out demanded in travel season".
But he acknowledges this rule wasn't always true in the past year because of the financial crisis, which forced vietnam tour operator to cut prices to sell trips. Some lucky travellers paid just $1200 earlier this year for their 14 day trip Niche Travel tried to spoil the launch of the  package.
When it comes to price, it depends on how important a travel date or time is to you, says Ha, "you can be paying up to 5%  during Vietnam Lunar New Year or Independence Day, or not any trip at all"
Ha advice is that if you see a good price, lock it in.
"People overestimate the likelihood they're going to get a better price," he says. "They get annoyed when they see some  insanely cheap fare but operator never have stacks of packages going at that price."

Niche Travel Vietnam.