Key information

Hanoi

As the capital of Vietnam for almost a thousand years, Hanoi is considered to be the cultural centre of Vietnam, a place where each dynasty has left its mark. Even though some relics have not survived, either as a result of wars or due to the passage of time, the city still has many interesting cultural and historic monuments for visitors and residents alike.

The Old Quarter, located near the scenic Hoan Kiem Lake, has the original street layout and architecture of old Hanoi. At the beginning of the 20th century, the city consisted of only about 36 streets, most of which are now part of the Old Quarter. Each street then contained merchants and households that specialised in one particular trade, such as silk traders, jewellery, embroidery. The street names nowadays still reflect these, although few of the streets are still exclusively occupied by people working in that particular street's original trade. The area is generally famous for its artisans and merchants, including many silk shops. Local culinary specialties as well as several clubs and bars can also be found here. There is a night market at the heart of the district every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening with stalls selling a variety of clothing, souvenirs, and food.

The French Quarter was built later, over hundred years ago, by the french when they occupied the city and planned to build a capital at the centre of the Indochina Peninsula. There are over 500 frenchstyle villas and buildings remaining from that era.

This is why people sometimes refer to Hanoi as the "Paris of the orient". The Old Quarter and French Quarter make Hanoi different from other cities in asia.

Hanoi, with more than 600 temples and pagodas, has also been the birthplace to many of Vietnam's traditions and much of its culture. The temple of literature, which became the first university of Vietnam in 1076, is a unique cultural and historical site with hundreds of stelae mounted on the shells of stone tortoises carved with the names of people who graduated there.

The inhabitants of Hanoi seem to be slightly conservative yet they are well-known for their hospitality and friendliness. To many foreign visitors, wandering through the pleasant, peaceful streets of Hanoi where old ladies leisurely sit and chat in front of their houses, watching the children happily playing on the pavements, inhaling the pure fragrance of milk flowers in the breeze of Autumn nights and listening to strains of music wafting from an old villa, is an unforgettable experience. To sit on the pavement, drinking a cup of green tea and see friendly, smiling people pass you, greet you and are willing to give you a hand, gives visitors the impression that they are somewhere pleasant and familiar.

Enjoy a pleasant stay in Hanoi while attending an interesting and useful congress!

Venue

Meliá Hotel Hanoi

44B Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Hanoi, Vietnam
Tel.: (84-4) 9 343 343, Fax: (84-4) 9 343 344
E-mail: melia.hanoi@meliahanoi.com.vn
Website: http://www.meliahanoi.com

Registration Hours

The registration desk in the Melia Hotel will be open at the following hours:

Friday November 9, 2007	16.00 – 18.00 hours
Saturday November 10, 2007	07.30 – 17.00 hours
Sunday November 11, 2007	07.30 – 17.30 hours
Monday November 12, 2007	08.00 – 17.30 hours
Tuesday November 13, 2007	08.00 – 12.30 hours

Exhibition hours

Saturday November 10, 2007	17.00 – 19.00 hours
Sunday November 11, 2007	09.00 – 17.00 hours
Monday November 12, 2007	09.00 – 17.00 hours
Tuesday November 13, 2007	09.00 – 12.00 hours

Badges

All participants and accompanying persons will receive a personal badge upon registration. You are kindly requested to wear your name badge when attending any meeting or social gathering. Only participants who are wearing their name badge will be admitted to the lecture halls.

Please note: accompanying persons and exhibitors will not be admitted to the scientific sessions. Accompanying persons do have free access to the exhibition.

Name badges have been color-coded a follows:

ISBT (Board) Member	Red
Organising Committee	Green
Delegates	Transparent
Accompanying Persons	Yellow
Exhibitors	Blue
Press	Orange

Certificates of Attendance

Certificates of Attendance will be available at the Registration Desk as of Monday, November 12, 12.00 hours.

CME Credit Points

The XVIIIth Regional Congress of the ISBT, Asia is accredited by the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME) to provide the following CME activity for medical specialists. The EACCME is an institution of the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS), www.uems.net.”

The XVIIIth Regional Congress of the ISBT, Asia is designated for a maximum of 21 hours of European external CME credits. Each medical specialist should claim only those hours of credit that he/she actually spent in the educational activity.

EACCME credits are recognised by the American Medical Association towards the Physician’s Recognition Award (PRA). To convert EACCME credit to AMA PRA category 1 credit, please contact the AMA the directly.

Coffee and tea breaks

During session-breaks coffee and tea will be served free of charge to delegates wearing name badges on the exhibition floor.

Banking Service / Currency

• The currency in Vietnam is the Vietnamese Dong (VND). Notes are in denominations of VND 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000, 20000, 50000, 100000, 200000 and 500000. Coins are in denominations of VND 200, 500, 1000, 2000 and 5000.
• Although US Dollars and Euros are accepted in many hotels, restaurants and shops, visitors are advised to carry USD cash for easy acceptance nationwide.
• The official rate of exchange is approximately VND 16,000 to one USD and VND 20,000 to one EUR.
• Banks are open from Monday to Friday and some on Saturday morning. Bank hours are from 8.00 to 15.30; closed for lunch from 12.00 – 13.30. ANZ bank’s services are available 24/24.
• Foreign currencies are easily converted at banks, jewelry shops, hotels or at bureaux de change. Most hotels will charge US Dollars and Euros. Upon their arrival at International Airport in Hanoi or in Ho Chi Minh City, visitors can easily convert money of EUR, GBP, CAD, USD, AUD, SGD, HKG, YPY, CHF, and Thai Baht into Vietnamese Dong.
• Travellers’ Cheques: Banks such as CitiBank, ANZ Bank. HSBC and Vietcombank can change your Travellers’ Cheques for VND or US Dollars but a commission applies (1% to 2%). Very few shops, hotels or restaurants accept Travellers’ Cheques.
• Most credit cards are accepted in Vietnam. VISA and MASTERCARD are the most widely accepted. JCB and AMERICAN EXPRESS are also accepted in some outlets. Not all hotels, commercial centres, shops and restaurants accept credit cards. Check with the cashier whether card is accepted. Bear in mind that a surcharge usually applies for credit card purchases: VISA and Mastercard: 2.75% surcharge; JCB: 3.00% surcharge; American Express: 4% surcharge.
• ATMs (automatic teller machines) are open 24 hours and are located at most banks as well as at the Congress Venue, the airports, and many places throughout the city.

Eating out in Hanoi

To eat and drink in Hanoi is to taste the city’s culture. As Hanoi wakes and sleeps early, finding food before dawn is easy, but satisfying the late-night munchies is a bit more challenging.

The table, be it the plastic variety found in pho (noodle soup) sidewalk stalls or the taller and more substantial seen in restaurants, is a magnet for social interaction. Chao, like hot oatmeal except made from rice and mixed with fish or meat, fried scallions and herbs, make another typical morning meal. Both hearty dishes will fill your stomach for less than a dollar. Food stalls line Mai Hac De street and early morning pho stands ladle out noodles on Dinh Liet street.

Brother’s Cafe - Good buffet, terrific house

26 Nguyen Thai Hoc St, Hanoi - Hanoi, Tel: (04) 733 3866
The dinner buffet with the food and the setting are excellent, so if you wanted to splurge and try a lot of different (Vietnamese and western) foods, Brother’s Cafe is well worth considering. The house is beautiful with a pleasant atmosphere and is surprisingly quiet. The buffet lunch is half the price.
Type of Food: Vietnamese

Cha Ca La Vong - if you’re going to try just one place in Hanoi

14 Cha Ca St, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi - Hanoi
Hanoi’s best known Cha Ca restaurant, Cha Ca La Vong is in a cramped little twostorey house on, you guessed it, Cha Ca St. Long-running and in the guidebooks for eons, it’s a testament to their tasty Cha Ca that this place remains more often packed with Vietnamese than foreigners — and it’s almost always packed. At 70,000D for a brazier, this certainly isn’t the cheapest dish in town, but if you’re planning on trying just one Vietnamese place, this should be it.
Type of Food: Vietnamese

KOTO - Good cause

61 Van Mieu St, Donh Da District, Hanoi - Hanoi, Tel: (04) 747 0337
KOTO is a not-for-profit restaurant and vocational training program that works to train and assist street and disadvantaged youth in Hanoi. Set near the Temple of Literature, this is a convenient spot to drop by for a snack or a full lunch. Prices are a bit on the high side, though the food is good and the money goes to a very good cause. If you’re in the area, be sure to swing by.
Type of Food: Vietnamese

Cafe Des Arts - fine French cuisine

11B Ngo Bao Khanh, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi - Hanoi, Tel: (04) 828 7207
Cafe Des Arts, tucked away on the corner of Bao Khanh St, does fine French cuisine in an up-market setting. By Hanoi’s standards, prices are high and while the food is good, we left doubting the value for money. The table next to us sent their food back twice (complaining it was stone cold) and we found the atmosphere lacking - if we were to try it a again, we’d swing by for lunch and make use of their free wifi internet access over a dozen or so coffees.
Type of Food: French

Moca Cafe - Lazy lunch potential

14-16 Nha Tho St, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi - Hanoi, Tel: (04) 825 6334
This cafe, set down near Hanoi’s cathedral is a good spot for an early morning latte or a long-running lazy lunch. Air-con and popular with both Vietnamese and foreigners, the coffee is tart and the food reasonable, though the service, particularly when busy can be glacial — bring a book.
Type of Food: Coffee or Tea House

Electricity Supply

The electricity in Vietnam is supplied at 220 volts, 50 hertz alternating current. Most power outlets in Hanoi hotels are two-pronged, but adapter plugs are available upon request in some hotels.

Internet

Major hotels have Business Centres with PCs connected to the Internet. Some of them have wireless broadband access in rooms or public areas (For example: Melia hotel, the wireless access internet service is vailable with cost US$ 12/day or US$ 12/hour with computer in the business center).

Internet cafes are becoming popular and are easily found in Hanoi streets . Prices are reasonable, usually below US$1 per hour. In many Internet cafes, you can buy pre-paid international phone cards to dial from a computer to a landline or mobile phone worldwide. Most Internet cafes are equipped with webcams, headsets and microphones.

Liability and Insurance

The XVIIIth Regional Congress of the ISBT, Asia accepts no liability for any personal injury, loss or damage of property belonging or additional expenses incurred to congress participants either during the congress or as result of delays, strikes or any other circumstances. Participants are requested to make their own arrangements with respect to health and travel insurance.

Language

The official Congress language will be English.

Lunch

Lunch is included in the registration fee. Lunch will be provided in the Exhibition Area and at the entrance of the meeting rooms where the Satellite Symposia will take place.

Message Desk (Registration Area)

At the Message Desk participants can leave or collect messages.
The desk will be located in the Registration Area.

Services provided at desks in the Registration Area include:

E-mail Service:	Internet access in the Business Centre of the Melia Hotel
Exhibition Information:	Exhibition Desk in the Registration Area
Hotel Accommodation:	Last-minute availability at the Hotel Desk in the
Registration Area
Lost and Found:	Information Desk in the Registration Area
Tours:	Tickets for sale at the Social Desk in the Registration Area

Shopping in Hanoi

Best buys include silk, lacquer, pottery, and crafts in commercial centre in Old Quarter, especially in Hang Gai Street. Bargaining is common in the markets and small shops, fixed price is in large stores. Shops are open from about 08.00 to 21.00 hours, with some open longer. Night market at the Old Quarter walking streets open from 18.00 hours until midnight on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Most Vietnamese are early risers, so businesses and shops open early. Government offices are open from Monday through Friday from 07.30 to 16.30 hours. Most businesses are open Monday through Saturday from 08.00 to 17.00 hours. Many businesses and all government offices are closed during lunch time usually from 12.00 to 13.30 hours.

Smoking

Smoking is NOT allowed in the Melia Hotel.

Staff

If you have any questions, the members of the congress staff, who can be recognised by their ISBT shirts, will be very pleased to assist you. Please do not hesitate to contact them if you have any questions.

Tipping

Tipping is not customary in Vietnam, but it is enormously appreciated. Tipping at restaurants is not common, although many upscale places are starting to add a service charge and/or 10% gratuity to bills. If this hasn’t been done and the service is good, you might consider leaving 5%-10%. You might also consider tipping other people in the service industry including bellboys, tour guide and driver, cyclo drivers.

Transportation

Transportation to and from the Melia Hotel - Sponsored by Roche The shultle transportation will available at hotels which are provided by Benthanh Tourist (the name of hotels are listed in the booking form except Guoman hotel which is within walking distance to Melia hotel). Transportation is provided to and from the Melia hotel as well as to and from the Gala dinner and farewell party at Deawoo hotel on November 12, 2007.

From the following hotels the shutle service is provided: Nikko Hotel, Hilton Hotel, Sofitel Metropole Hotel, Deawoo Hotel, Hoa Binh Hotel, Sunway Hotel, Thang Loi Hotel, Majestic Salut Hotel.

The time schedule as follow:

Date	From	To	Time
November 10,2007	Other hotels	Melia hotel	07.30 - 08.00
	Melia hotel	Other hotels	19.00 - 19.30
November 11,2007	Other hotels	Melia hotel	07.30 - 08.00
	Melia hotel	Other hotels	17.30 - 18.00
November 12,2007	Other hotels	Melia hotels	07.30 - 08.00
	Melia hotels	Gala dinner at Daewoo hotel	18.30
	Gala dinner at Daewoo hotel	Melia and Other hotels	22.00 - 22.30
November 13,2007	Other hotels	Melia hotel	07.30 - 08.00
	Melia hotel	Other hotels	12.30 - 13.00

Travel in Hanoi

Motorbikes and bicycles are the main means of transport of local people. Traffic in Hanoi will make a strong impression to any visitor. Cyclos is the most favourable means of transport that tourists like to experience for discovery of the peaceful city. Taxi is easily to be called from your hotel. The taxi driver should set the taximeter running at the start of the journey.

Useful telephone and fax numbers

	Telephone
Hotel Desk	7537
Registration Desk	7538
Speaker Ready Room	7539
Travel and Tours Desk	7540

These are the extention numbers within the Melia Hotel. To contact the Melia Hotel you should dial: + 844 93 43 343 and ask for the extention number.

Weather

The average temperature in Hanoi during the time of the congress (November) is expected at 20 - 25°C for daytime and 15 - 18°C for evening.

Programme Changes

The organisers cannot assume liability for any changes in the programme due to external or unforeseen circumstances. Changes will be mentioned on a message board in the registration area.