A few more questions for help in planning my Vietnam itineary... as it stands, here is the time we will be spending:

6 days Hanoi
3 days Hue
3 days Hanoi
3 days Na Trang
3-4 days Saigon

My questions are:
1. What is the best domestic Airline for travel to these cities? I would prefer to get an air pass -- does any airline offer this? Is this best to book when we get there or prior to leaving?
2. In Hanoi, what are the must see day trips? I know Halong Bay is highly suggested --- is the overnight worth it, or should we do the day only?
3. Is English spoken in the smaller towns, such as Hue and Hoi An?
4. Is January a cold month to visit? How cool does it get in Hanoi? Will Na Trang be nice enough to lounge on the beach?
5. Is Dalat worth the trek? What is the best way to get there from Na Trang?

Thanks again to everyone's help! I couldn't plan this trip without this board!

I take it "3 days Hanoi" is a typo for "3 days Hoi An"?

Dalat I think you could safely skip unless you're taking a bus from HCMC to Nha Trang which goes through there anyway - but that's a longish drive and Highway 1 is no superhighway.

I would overnight at Halong Bay - it would be a very long day otherwise and I think you need a good half day to cruise the bay.

You can do day tours from Hanoi into nearby "hill tribe" areas to the NW of the city. There's plenty to see and do in the city itself, though.

I would consider taking a bus (not the public bus, a minicoach with aircon) either Hue-Hoi An or Hoi An-Nha Trang so you can see some of the countryside. Don't know about air passes, sorry - suspect not, but domestic flights are relatively inexpensive and can be booked on the fly (no pun intended).

Neither Hue nor Hoi An are small towns, and we found enough people spoke English for our purposes.

From www.weatherbase.com, the average temperature range in Hanoi is 14-18C, on the cool side (and I've been told subject to light misty rain). Nha Trang however is warm and dryer, 21-26C, good enough for the beach IMO. Ho Chi Minh City yet another story, 22-31C.

Hi Neil, Yes, thanks for the catch --- I meant 3 days in Hoi An, not Hanoi.

One more thing: How much should I budget for food/daily expenditure (not including shopping) in Vietnam? We don't want high end restaurants, but not street vendors either. Thanks!

1. What is the best domestic Airline for travel to these cities? Only Vietnam Airlines Operate from Hanoi to Nha Trang ( 85 USD), Hanoi - Da Lat ( 90 USD) , Hanoi - Hue (Da Nang)- 60 USD. Nha Trang is nice enough to lounge on the beach, it is same Phu ket of Thailand ( in my opinion)
the best way to get Da Lat from Nha Trang is Open Bus ( 6 USD) stop in Dai Lanh Beach and Ngoan Muc Pass

I would also agree that you should spend at least 1 night in Halong bay, on a junk ship. We were on the Dragon Pearl last october, and it was lovely.
To do Halong bay in 1 day will mean you spend most of the day on the road going to/from