Conference Venue

SEAMEO Regional Training Center (SEAMEO RETRAC)
35 Le Thanh Ton, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

(Please click the picture to see the location on Google Maps)

Accommodation

There is accommodation to suit every budget and family situation within easy reach of the venue. One place to start looking is the Spring Hotel. We have negotiated special conference rates at the following venues:

Kindly note that participants will be responsible for covering all accommodation fees and expenses including items consumed in the hotel room, personal calls and usage of business center. To avoid unnecessary expenses, please check on the rates with the front desk hotel staff before making any phone calls. You may also purchase an international pre-paid telephone cards which are available in any convenient stores outside the hotel.

All personal valuables brought by the participants to the event are the responsibility of the participants. A suitcase that can be locked is recommended for cameras, laptop computers or other valuable items you may wish to bring. Participants may also deposit valuable items in the hotel’s safety deposit box, which is available in the hotel rooms.

Laundry service is available in the hotel. Please check the prices at the reception desk.

Public Transportation

♦ From the airport: There is a variety of private taxi services available outside the arrival terminal at Tan Son Nhat International Airport. The trip costs around US$ 10. It takes up to 30 minutes to reach the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, depending on traffic.

As well as the public city bus no. 152 between Ben Thanh bus station and Ho Chi Minh airport, there’s also a dedicated Airport Shuttle bus through to Ben Thanh bus station near the market. The public city bus no.152 costs between 30 cents and a dollar, depending on the amount of luggage you have. And the new airport shuttle costs VND 20 000 (less than a dollar).

For personal trips, please refer to the following options of transportation:

♦ Taxi: (Strongly recommended) There is a variety of taxi companies operating in Ho Chi Minh City. Vinasun Taxi can be contacted at 08 3827 2727, Mai Linh Taxi 08 3838 3838.

♦ “Xe om” (Mototaxi): This is the most common form of transport. “Xe om” provides faster transportation during traffic jams. Many “xe om” drivers speak basic English. Fares should always be negotiated before proceeding. Be prepared for an adventurous ride as safety is not the primary concern of most “xe om” drivers! It is likely to cost 40,000 – 50,000 VND from city hotels to the conference venue.

♦ Cyclos: Cyclos are a slow but safe option. Most cyclo drivers do not speak English. Negotiate the fare before you proceed. Due to the long distances involved, cyclos are not recommended for transport to the forum venue.

♦ Buses: There are a lot of public buses operating within the city of Ho Chi Minh. Buses that go to the forum venue are 44, 03 and 19.

Other handy bus routes:

Route 38 – New World Hotel (The stop 8 is in Nguyen Thi Nghia) near Ben Thanh Market to Damsen Water Park (Last Stop)

Routes 35 – Ben Thanh Market to the Jade Emperor Pagoda. Get off at stop 29 at 87 Dien Ben Phu just before Victoria Healthcare. Cross the road and walk down the other side of the street (against the traffic) until you reach Mai Thi Luu and turn left.

Route 18 – Ben Thanh Market to Saigon Zoo. Get off at stop 13 on Le Duan, at Sofitel Plaza. Walk straight up the street to reach the main entrance.

Route 1 – Ben Thanh Market to Cholon (District 5 – China Town)

Route 102 – Ben Thanh Market to District 4 – Dragon House Wharf and the Ho Chi Minh Museum. The bus stop is on the corner of Pham Hong Thai and Le Lai street rather than the actual Ben Thanh bus station.The museum is about a 450m walk from stop 5, (first stop over the canal). Walk straight towards the river. Cross over Nguyen That Tan and turn left.

Routes 65 will get you close to the Saigon Train Station from Ben Thanh Market, but you’ll still have a little bit of a walk. Get off at stop 10 or 11 on Cach Mang Thang Tam.

Exchange rate

Foreign currencies are not accepted in most shops, so it is best for you to change your foreign currency to the local currency, which is Vietnam Dong.

The current foreign exchange rate is approximately US$ 1.00 = VND 21,390. These rates are subject to market fluctuations so please check them again prior to your departure date. If you come to Vietnam with some foreign cash, you can exchange it for VND upon arrival at the international airport, banks or currency exchange establishments. You may get a slightly better rate of return at banks but you will always lose a little bit in the exchange agencies. The disadvantage of going to a bank to exchange money is that you need to show a passport for identification and you need to fill out a form first. Alternatively, at currency exchange booths you can exchange money instantly. The currency exchange booths around tourist locations such as Ben Thanh Market may charge a higher transaction fee so it is best to avoid them unless you are in a hurry. Also please note that many exchange places will not accept old or torn bills. Bring new and crisp bills in order to get the best exchange rate. If you happen to have damaged bills that no one else will accept, simply go to a bank and exchange it for a new note for a nominal fee.

Credit cards are accepted by hotels and some shops, however cash is also necessary. There are now a number of ATMs accepting international cards. Please note that most ATMs charge a fee of approximately US$ 4 for use of international cards. Most HSBC and TechCom ATMs allow a per transaction maximum withdrawal of 5 million to 6 million dong. Other ATMs allow around 2 million dong. For large withdrawals, the ATM will dispense 500,000 dong notes which you will then have to exchange for smaller bills for small purchases.

If you need really large sums of cash, Western Union is the best way to go. It is less expensive and more hassle-free than bank wire transfers, and there are hundreds of locations within Ho Chi Minh City alone. Depending on the amount, you may pay less in a Western Union transaction fee than on international cash advance fees through your bank or credit card. Simply get a friend or family member to go to a Western Union branch back home and fill out the appropriate paperwork. Be sure that the spelling of the name of the recipient matches exactly as it is shown on the passport – even one letter off is ground for refusal.

Climate and Attire

The weather in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam at the time of the Conference should be warm and humid in the daily temperature range of 25-34^oC. Light clothing will be necessary for outdoors but it is worth noting that the Conference’s venue are fully air-conditioned, therefore it is advisable that you pack appropriate clothing for your attendance. You may wear your national dress or formal attire (suit) during the Conference. However, this is optional but all participants, speakers and guests are requested to dress up formally for the event. Please also note that rain is expected at this time in Vietnam and an umbrella will be useful.

Electricity

Electricity used in Vietnam is 220v-50Hz. The types of plug are A and C (as pictures below):

Useful websites

General Information:

http://www.eng.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/Pages/default.aspx<

The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Vietnam:

http://english.cinet.vn/

Other useful websites for tourists are:

http://vietnamopentour.com.vn/blog/travel/vietnam-tours/hochiminh-city-tours/

http://www.hochiminhcitytravel.net/city-tours/

http://www.viator.com/Ho-Chi-Minh-City/d352-ttd

http://www.vietnamonline.com/destination/ho-chi-minh-city/ho-chi-minh-city-travel-index.html