These links above is downloadable source code for DirectX 9.0 coding with the VB.Net language.
They deal with such issues as vertices programming, textures, and meshes.
DirectXBook Source is pretty much all you require to make your own 2D game in DirectX 9.0
VBSamples2005 shows you how to include meshes in your program that were created with 3DS Max or other .X compatible software.
VBSamples2005 is not my own work. The README.txt file explains whose work it is - I cannot be arsed to open it to find out to credit them here.
But, all in all, this is some pretty hot shit right here regarding VB.NET and DirectX 9.0.
Happy Game Programming Days are Here Again!
Xander