The following information is for reference only and it may vary from the actual visa requirements.  Symposium delgates are required to check with their local Vietnamese Embassy/Consulate Offices to obtain the up-to-date visa information.

Only citizens of the following countries can visit Vietnam without an entry visa:

- for not more than 30 days: citizens of Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Laos.
- for not more than 15 days: citizens of Japan, South Korea, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland.

Citizens from all other countries are required to obtain an entry visa before departure by applying to the Vietnam Embassy and/or Consulate (in case there is a Consulate instead of Embassy) in their country.

Travel Information

Most of the information on travel to Vietnam can be found at the website: / 

After you arrive at the Hanoi Airport, the most convenient way to travel to your hotel is by taxi.  The taxi service offered at the airport information counter (at the arrival hall) is more luxurious, which means it is at a higher price.  You may also like to walk out of the arrival hall, within 10 metres, to the public taxi stand, where the taxi to city is at two similar flat rates (depending on which city areas) and cheaper.  However, the taxi driver may not speak any English at all.  It is advised to have your hotel name/address print-out in case of need. The taxi trip to city, depends on the traffic condition is between 45 minutes to 75 minutes.  You can pay the taxi driver either by the Vietnamese currency or US dollars.

Hanoi (River Interior), with estimated population nearly 6.5 million (2009), is the capital and second-largest city of Vietnam. The city is located on the right bank of the Red River.
October 2010 will officially mark 1000 years of the establishment of the city. On this occasion, Hanoi has been named as one of the world's "Top Destinations 2010".
Hanoi has been inhabited since at least 3000 BC. One of the first known permanent settlements is the Co Loa citadel, founded around 200 BC.
In 1010, Ly Thai To, the first ruler of the Ly Dynasty, moved the capital of DaiViet, the Great Viet ( then the name of Vietnam) to the site of the Dai La citadel. Claiming to have seen a dragon ascending the Red River, he renamed it to Thang Long (Ascending dragon) - a name still used poetically to this day.
In 1831, the Nguyen emperor Minh Mang renamed it to Hanoi (can be translated as Between Rivers or River Interior) .

Some local traditional foods which are very delicious and well-known over the world: