We are attempting to do some travel in Beijing, China (before the Olympic crush) before heading down into SEA.

Our rough idea is to travel overland from Hanoi down to Singapore where our RTW airpass picks up again.

I thought we might find a cheap flight out of China into Hanoi to start but we are not having much success. Train travel may be an option, but it seems you need to have a round trip flight in hand before applying for a visa. Is this true? Would proof of our onward flight from Singapore be enough?

We are currently in South America and trying to get this organized from here. Any help/tips/suggestions would be appreciated. Asia seems like one big question mark to us--all the reason for going there!

We only had our onward tix from Bangkok going in
to Vietnam and didn't have any problems getting a visa.

I think I was a bit unclear (as usual).

I don't think the visa for Vietnam will be difficult, it's getting one for China that worries me. That, and finding a cheap mode of transport from China into Vietnam.

Anyone have experience traveling into China without a flight out? How difficult is it to get a Visa for Vietnam in China?

Hopefully this is a little less muddy...