Conference Dates and Venue
- Dates
11-13 August 2016
- Venue
QUY NHON UNIVERSITY
170 An Duong Vuong Street, Quy Nhon City, Binh Dinh Province, Vietnam
Website: http://www.qnu.edu.vn/en
Location of Quy Nhon University
Accommodation
There is accommodation to suit every budget and family situation within easy reach of the venue. All the hotels recommended here are by or just a few-minute walk to the beach. We have negotiated special conference rates at the following venues:
| Hotels |
Contact information |
Room rates US |
Notes |
|
Seagull Hotel |
Address: 489 An Duong Vuong, |
60-160 |
Late check-out until 18:00 (subject to the room availability) |
|
Royal Hotel |
01 Han Mac Tu, Quy Nhon City, Binh Dinh Province |
60-110 |
Buffet breakfast included. |
|
Sai Gon – Quy Nhon Hotel |
Address: 24 Nguyen Hue St. Quy Nhon City, Binh Dinh Province |
60-100 |
Buffet breakfast included. |
|
Hoang Yen Hotel |
Address: 491 An Duong Vuong, |
30-60 |
Buffet breakfast included. |
|
Binh Duong Hotel |
Address: 493 An Duong Vuong, |
30-50 | Check-in 14.00 Check-out, prior to 12.00 am Free to children under 10 accompanied by adult Buffet breakfast included. 10% VAT if request for invoice |
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 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
Phu Cat Airport (UIH) receives daily direct flights from both Hanoi (Noi Bai International Airport) and Ho Chi Minh City (Tan Son Nhat International Airport). It is approximately 30 km to the north of Quy Nhon City.
From the airport: There are a variety of private taxi services available outside the arrival terminal at Phu Cat Airport. There is also a shuttle airport bus right after any flight, taking you to the City. Taxi costs around $15 and the bus fare is 50.000VND ($2,5). It takes up to 35 minutes to reach Quy Nhon University, depending on traffic.
Alternatively, visitors to Quy Nhon City can travel from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh by train, via Dieu Tri Railway Station, 12 km from the heart of the City. Taxi fare from the station is about $7-10 (or 150.000VND).
For personal trips, please refer to the following options of transportation:
Taxi: (Strongly recommended) There are a variety of taxi companies operating in Quy Nhon City. Sun Taxi can be contacted at 056 3 68 68 68 68, Mai Linh Taxi 056 3 79 79 79 79. Taxi drivers usually don’t speak English, but they are friendly. Negotiate the fare before you proceed.
“Xe om”, cyclos, and buses are available, but not recommended for foreigners. Few drivers speak English.
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 22,260. 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 (in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City), 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. 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 few ATMs in Quy Nhon City accepting international cards. For Vietnam Dong, most ATMs allow a per transaction maximum withdrawal of 5 million. 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 some locations at BIDV Bank and AgriBank on Le Duan Street. 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 Quy Nhon City, Vietnam at the time of the Conference should be warm and humid in the daily temperature range of 25-34oC. Light clothing will be necessary for outdoors, but it is worth noting that the Conference’s venue is 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.
All hotels where you might stay are very close to the beach. If you are keen on swimming, make sure you have swimwear with you.
Shopping
Quy Nhon City is not as a popular shopping place as Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. However, for those who want to explore the City and look for some necessities and local distinctive goods at bargain prices, there are a number of places you might want to shop around.
Supermarkets are worth visiting as in addition to international brand goods, there are hundreds of local specialties hardly found in other places in Vietnam. Big C, Metro, and Coopmart are located within minute walk from where you stay.
CLOTHES
Vietnam is a manufacturing country, so imitations of brand name clothes are generally cheaper than the suggested retail price. Many local shops for clothing in the stores are located along Le Hong Phong Street or at An Phu Thinh Plaza. Many clothing brands are also available in supermarkets.
SHOES
The city has one street dedicated to shoes, many of which are locally made. It is Tang Bat Ho Street. As is the case with clothes, you will find great imitations of brand name shoes. Be careful with the quality of these imitations as the heel or main body of the shoe may show wear and tear very quickly.
HANDBAGS AND LUGGAGE
If you need to buy luggage to transport your newly purchased goods, visit Tang Bat Ho Street, close to An Phu Thinh Plaza. You will see a number of luggage shops with the most well-known brands such as North Face, Samsonite, and more. If you plan on using the handbag around the city, make sure the straps are secure enough so that you are not a victim of petty theft.
It is advised that you should bargain for the goods you wish to purchase. Remember that, in a market, there will be several stores that carry the items that you want. Therefore, the best strategy in getting things at an appropriate price is not getting attached very quickly to what you want to buy. In many cases, the owner will call you back if you walk away and agree on a reasonable price. Use the following phrases to help you with your negotiations.
Food and Drinks
Quy Nhon City is a small city so it is easy to find good restaurants nearby the Conference’s venue. There are many restaurants serving a variety of local food and specialties. Seafood in Quy Nhon is well-known throughout the country. Hundreds of seafood restaurants are aligned along Xuan Dieu Street parallel to the beach, where you can enjoy fresh seafood and the sea view at reasonable prices. Prices are usually kept stable, but feel free to ask the price before you order. Reputable restaurants are Cine Restaurant, 114 Restaurant, and Huong Viet Restaurant, etc.
Quy Nhon also serves a variety of must-try local foods, among which are Com Ga (Chicken Fried Rice), Bun Cha Ca (Fishbake Noodle), and Banh Xeo (Fried Pan Cake).
Com Ga (Chicken Fried Rice) Restaurant Que Huong 2 is located at 185 Le Hong Phong Street. In addition to Com Ga, it serves other local dishes that are distinctive to Central Vietnam. If you like to try other local specialties, look for Bun Cha Ca Restaurants Ngoc Lien or Phuong Teo along Nguyen Hue Street, on the end nearer to the Conference venue. Beside the main dish Noodle added with fishbake made from fresh fish, other seafood products are also on sale there. Visitors to Quy Nhon also love Banh Xeo Tom Nhay (Fried Pan Cake topped with Fresh Shrimps or Beef or Eggs), which is served at Anh Vu Restaurant and Gia Vy Restaurant on Dien Hong Street.
In addition to local food, if you like Japanese food, visit Japanese Restaurant, also on Dien Hong Street.
Sight seeing:
Quy Nhon City is a coastal city which is not very touristic, despite the bulk of its stunning scenery, historical monuments, and ancient relics.
Enjoy the beach
Quy Nhon Beach is the main attraction, with its yellow sand and low waves. Tourists can have a swim and sunbathe just behind their hotels along the beach. It is not crowded and there are green parks just along the beach. But just swim where lifeguards can see you and do not swim too far out. Cases of shark attacks were recorded three years ago.
Shrine of Poet Han Mac Tu
Han Mac Tu is a beloved poet in Vietnam and it is said he was buried on the hill by the sea just 3 km from the Conference Venue. A one-dollar ticket allows you to climb the hill through tarred paths to visit the shrine and access Bai Trung Beach, where you can see heaps of egg stones along the water. But Lua Paintings (painted with a burnt brush on plates of wood) are also favourite souvenirs to visitors. You can see how burnt paintings are made in a small shop there.
Cham Towers
Quy Nhon City was once a city of the ancient Cham Empire. Many relics of Cham Towers still live today, but the best-conditioned tower and within the city is Thap Doi (Cham Couple Towers), which is located at Hung Vuong Street, about 5 km from the Conference Venue. Buses 4 and 6 stop just pass the towers. Some good examples of Cham architecture: a pair of towers situated right in the city and located in a small park. The towers are open to the sky, visit around noon to see the sun shining inside. The larger site is 25 km away, with the temples situated imposingly on a hill.
Museum of Emperor Quang Trung
Quang Trung (Nguyen Hue) was the second emperor of the Tay Son dynasty of Vietnam, reigning from 1788 until 1792. He was also one of the most successful military commanders in Vietnam’s history. Together with his brothers, known as the Tay Son Brothers, he led the famous Tay Son rebellion, fighting the Chinese and uniting Vietnam.
The Quang Trung Museum was built in Phu Phong, Tay Son district, Binh Dinh Province, on the site of the Tay Son brothers’ house and encloses the original well and a more-than-200-year-old tamarind tree said to have been planted by the brothers. Displays include various statues, costumes, documents and artefacts from the 18th century; most of which are labelled in English. Especially notable are the elephant-skin battle drums and gongs from the Bahnar tribe. The museum is also known for its demonstrations of vo Binh Dinh, a traditional martial art that is performed with a bamboo stick.
The Museum is about 50 km from Quy Nhon City. Bus 6 stops at Sai Gon – Quy Nhon Hotel and CoopMart SuperMarket almost every half hour. Bus fare is 26,000VND.
Electricity
Electricity used in Vietnam is 220v-50Hz. The types of plug are A and C (as pictures below):
Useful websites
The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Vietnam:
http://english.cinet.vn/
Other useful websites for tourists are:
http://www.vietnam-guide.com/quy-nhon/
http://www.toursinvietnam.com/Quy-Nhon/
http://wikitravel.org/en/Quy_Nhon
Contacts
SEAMEO RETRAC OFFICE
35 Le Thanh Ton St., District 1
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Tel: (+84-8)-3824-5618
Fax (+84-8)-3823-2175
Truong Bao Duy (Mr.)
Conference Coordinator
Tel: (84-8) 3 8245618 (Ext: 136)
Fax: (84-8) 3 8232175
Email: dfs-conference@vnseameo.org
Website: http://www.vnseameo.org/TESOLConference2016/
Quy Nhon University
170 An Duong Vuong St.
Quy Nhon City, Vietnam
Tel: (+84-56)-3846-823)
Fax: (+84-56)-3846-089
Tran Minh CHUONG (Mr.)
Coordinator
Email: tranminhchuong@qnu.edu.vn
Mob: +84 983 777 283