Vietnam forum

I wouldn't pay the $100 extra. You could try Vietnam Airlines website - I keep reading from others that you can book online but I was never able to get it to work from outside Vietnam.

Otherwise, I would consider using a travel agent in Vietnam to help book - I used Annie at Handspan but I assume there are a number of agents that could help you out. I think that there was a small commission but it wasn't atrocious (a few dollars on each ticket).

Of course this is all assuming you need to book ahead and can't wait until you get to Vietnam and do it yourself. Perhaps if you are traveling during Tet then it is necessary but otherwise many people book their tickets once they get to Vietnam.

Actually, it is not very good advice to wait to buy flights to Phu Quoc once you arrive. There are only three flights (on small airplanes) per day to Phu Quoc, and during the high season (Nov - Mar), the flights are often overbooked, especially during holidays.

$100 is a fair bit extra to pay to get confirmed seats, but if you feel strongly about going to Phu Quoc, you can either pay it, try to follow up with IVIVU to see if they can confirm the seats, or try another travel agent. Sometimes travel agents can confirm seats that others can't due to good personal relationships with the airlines - it's not quite the "neutral" confirmation system of other countries.

I love Phu Quoc, and highly recommend it, although you need to keep it mind that it is still very undeveloped.

Good luck!