This invention provides an integrated two stage economical process for the production of vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) from acetic acid in the vapor phase. First, acetic acid is selectively hydrogenated over a hydrogenating catalyst composition to form ethylene either in a single reactor zone or in a dual reactor zone wherein the intermediate hydrogenated products are either dehydrated and/or cracked to form ethylene. In a subsequent second stage so formed ethylene is reacted with molecular oxygen and acetic acid over a suitable catalyst to form VAM. In an embodiment of this invention reaction of acetic acid and hydrogen over a hydrogenation catalyst and subsequent reaction over a dehydration catalyst selectively produces ethylene, which is further mixed with acetic acid and molecular oxygen and reacted over a supported palladium/gold/potassium catalyst.