Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

10th – 11th September 2008

GENERAL INFORMATION

Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in collaboration with Ministry of Foreign Affairs is hosting the Asia – Europe Tourism Forum with theme of “building Asia – Europe partnership for tourist exchange promotion” from 10th to 11th September 2008, in Ho Chi Minh City in conjunction with the 4th International Travel Expo. The Forum is aimed to realize the Ha Noi Declaration on Closer ASEM Economic Partnership by the heads of ASEM member countries in October 2004. The objectives of the Forum are to develop various forms of partnership and recommend ways and means to encourage two-way tourist exchange between Asia and Europe.

1. Venue

1.1. The venue for the Asia - Europe Tourism Forum will be the Rex Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam. 

1.2. The venue information is as follows:

          Rex Hotel

          141 Nguyen Hue Street, District #1

          Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam.

          Tel: +84 8 829 2185 / 3115

          Fax: +84 8 8248962 / 8296536

          http://www.rexhotelvietnam.com

2. Tentative schedule

September 9, Tuesday

Delegate’s Arrival to Ho Chi Minh City

Transfer from Tan Son Nhat International Airport to Designated Hotels

September 10, Wednesday

0800-1800    ASEM Tourism Forum: “Asia – Europe Partnership for Tourist Promotion Exchange”

(Provisional Annotated Programme is included in Annex I)

1900-2100    Welcome Dinner hosted by Vietnam National Administration of Tourism

September 11, Thursday

0800-1700    Technical tour to Mekong Delta or Ho Chi Minh City Tour

0800-1700    Workshop on Cambodia – Laos – Myanmar – Viet Nam  tourism product development (Interested ASEM participants to be invited)

1800-2100    Gala Dinner hosted by Ho Chi Minh City Peoples’ Committee

September 12, Thursday

0900-1000    Opening Ceremony of the 4th International Travel Expo Ho Chi Minh City     

1000-2100    Business Networking (if concerned)

Full day:      Delegate’s Departure from Ho Chi Minh City

Transfer from Designated Hotels to Tan Son Nhat International Airport

3. Official language

While English will be conducted as the official language, simultaneous interpretation between English and Vietnamese will also be provided.

4. Participants: Who should attend the Asia – Europe Tourism Forum?

×          Senior tourism officials of ASEM member countries who want to learn more about performance of tourist exchange between Asia and Europe in order to work out realistic policies on encouragement of tourist flow among two continents.

×          Managers of tour operators, travel agencies, GDS operators, online vendors who want to receiving and sending tourists to Asian and European countries.

×          Experts and researchers from Asian and European tourism institutes who wish to share their studies on tourist exchange among ASEM members.

×          International organizations who wish to share their knowledge and experience on tourist exchange promotion.

×          Investment, technology and insurance providers …

5. Registration

Each country & organization should complete the registration form and send via fax or email to International Cooperation Department of VNAT  no later than 20th August 2008. Registration form is included in Annex II.

6. Transportation

6.1. The delegates will be responsible for their travel expenses from their home country to Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam.

6.2. The delegates will be met at the Tan Son Nhat International Airport (Ho Chi Minh City). The organizer will provide local transportation/ pick up services from and to the Tan Son Nhat Airport.

6.3. The host country will also provide transport (buses) for all social events included in the program.

6.4. All passengers departing from Vietnam are requested to pay an airport tax of USD 14.00 or equivalent in Vietnamese Dong.

7. Accommodation

7.1. Rex Hotel is designated as the official hotel for the Asia – Europe Tourism Forum.

7.2. Availability of 3 rooms for each delegation has been blocked. The delegates will be responsible for their own accommodation expense. For accommodation reservation, the organizer will pass on the Registration Form to the Hotel. Delegates should arrange payments directly with the hotel.

7.3. Room rates are the followings:  

* Above rates are subject to  10 % government tax  & 5 % service charge. The aforesaid discounted rates include:

×          Daily international buffet breakfast at Hoa Mai restaurant on the 5th floor.

×          Complimentary local calls,  daily newspaper, welcome fruit basket , flower, wireless internet access.

×          Complimentary in-room tea & coffee, 02 bottles of mineral water /room/day

×          Children under 12 sharing bed with parents are free of charge (with breakfast, limited to 02 per room).

×          Free use of Gym, swimming pool,

* Exclusive Care Program applied for Suite rooms:

×          Daily fruit

×          Free of charge of internet access within 01 hour.

* Check-in/Check-out Time

×          Check –in time is 2:00pm.

×          Check-out time is 12:00 noon.

×          For any extension until 6:00pm,  will be charged 50%  of discounted rate, after 6:00 pm will be 100%.

* Cancellation or No-Show Charge: Late cancellation or No-Show will occur one (01) night room charge for penalty.

7.4. Accommodation Reservation should be made before 20th August 2008. After this date, rooms will be released. Accommodation Reservation Form is included in Annex III.

8. Arrival and entry formalities

8.1. All delegates are required to possess valid passports for at least 6 months with proof of onward passage, either return or through tickets to enter into Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.

8.2. Delegates are advised to check with the nearest Vietnamese Diplomatic or Consular representation for information on visa requirements. For more information, please visit the web-page of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at http://www.mofa.gov.vn.

8.3. If participants need assistance from the host country on the visa, please fill on the visa information form and send it to organizer via fax or email no later than 20th August 2008. Visa Information Form is included in Annex IV.

9. Documents reproduction & presentation

9.1. Document reception: All documents and Power Point presentations for the ASEM Tourism Forum should be submitted in soft copy by 20th August 2008 to:

                              Tran Thi Phuong Nhung

                             International Cooperation Department

                             Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism

                             Tel: + 84.4. 942 1061; Fax: + 84.4. 942 4115/942 6860

                             E-mail:

9.2. Requirements for Submission of Meeting Papers: All documents must be submitted in soft copy, in Microsoft Word format (.doc), A4 paper size and Times New Roman font size 14. All documents should be submitted by the stipulated deadlines that will allow papers to be produced. All documents must be accompanied by one-page executive summary outlining presenter’s profile and main contents of presentation.

10. Dress code

The dress code for all the meetings will be formal.

11. Practical information

11.1. Climate: The average temperature in September is 25ºC.

11.2.    Official language: The official language is Vietnamese. However, English is also widely spoken

11.3.    Clothing: For meetings, men generally wear suit and tie, and women formal business attire or their national dress.

11.4.    Local currency: Viet Nam’s unit of currency is the Viet Nam Dong (VND) with coins of 200 dong, 500 dong, 1000 dong, 2000 dong, 5000 dong and bills of 200 dong, 500 dong, 1000 dong, 2000 dong, 5000 dong, 10,000 dong, 20,000 dong, 50,000 dong, 100,000 dong, 200,000 dong and 500,000 dong. Major foreign currencies are exchangeable at Vietcombank and other Vietnamese Banks/Branches, ANZ Bank, Citi Bank and Indovina Bank. The exchange rate (as of June 1st) is US$1 ~ VND16,300. Major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club, JCB) and most traveler’s checks are accepted.

11.5.    Time: Viet Nam is 7 hours ahead of GMT.

11.6.    Electricity and Water: The standard electricity supply in Viet Nam is 220 Volts, 50 Hz, AC, most plugs are two-pin with rounded pins, except in international-standard hotels. Delegates who travel with electric appliances are advised to check their electric equipments beforehand and to carry a plug-adapter kit. Drinking tap water and un-boiled water is not recommended.  Most hotels provide boiled drinking water and bottled water.

11.7.    Mobile phone systems: Viet Nam has several Mobile phone service providers with different systems. Major Mobile phone service providers are as follows:

×          Vinaphone: GMS System (with roaming service with 64 countries).

×          Mobile phone: GMS System (with roaming service with 50 countries).

×          Viettel: GMS System (no roaming service)

×          S-Phone: CDMA System (no roaming service)

×          HT Mobile: GMS System (no roaming service)

11.8.    Tipping: Tips are appreciated but not common.

11.9.    Business hours: Banks open Monday to Friday from 8.00 am to 12.00 noon and from 1.00 pm to 4.30 pm. Shops open Monday to Sunday from 8.00 am to 9.00 pm.

12. Responsibility for Arrangements

More information or inquiries on logistics and forum arrangements should be directed to:

Tran Thi Phuong Nhung (Ms)

International Cooperation Department, VNAT

80 Quan Su, Hoan Kiem, Ha Noi

Tel : +84-4-9421061 ; Fax : 84-4-9426860/ 9424115

H/P: +84-912544097

E-mail: