I backpacked through South East Asia recently and highly recommend the following must see visits in Vietnam and Laos:

VIETNAM:

- Ho Chi Minh City - massive city stick to District 1, make sure you take a ride out to the Chu Chi tunnels and fire off some AK47s and other cool military guns - $1 per bullet;

- Nha Tra - beach side town with awesome party vibe - must check out the Sailor Club (Night Club/Bar on the beach);

- Hoi An - Need a suit or some fresh threads tailored then this is the place, also cool beach and great night spots (Happy King Kong Bar - awesome joint);

- Hue - Pretty quiet place but good for some military history;

- Hanoi - This place is a mad house, heaps of cool things to do, museums, bars, sights. (Stick to the Old Quarter zone);

- Ha Long Bay - Stay a night on an old wooden junk - dont expect luxury - meet other cool backpackers and consider spending a night on Cat Ba Island;

LAOS:

- Vientianne - Its the capital but not much chop - didnt warm to the place that much - thought it was slightly boring and uneventful;

- Vang Vieng - One word "TUBING" this was probably the funnest experience I had whilst backpacking the whole of South East Asia - make sure you keep safe though lots of people get hurt from drunken and drug fuelled accidents;

- Luang Prabang - Quiet place but so rich in culture, very clean (for Asia), massages, waterfalls, buddhist temples and mountains to climb - lots to do and one of my favourite places.

I went to a few other places throughout Laos and Vietnam howver the above locations are the definite hotspots that I enjoyed (except for Vientianne).

Have a fun and safe trip.

cheers
Josh