Directions, Airfares, Accommodations

For a complete history of the location, see Nha Trang and a detailed overview of the area.

Access to Nha Trang:

Nha Trang is 400 km north of Hochiminh (former Saigon), and 1300km south of Hanoi. Nha Trang is served by Nha Trang-Cam Ranh Air Port (code: NHA or CXR). The only air carrier serving Nha Trang Airport is Vietnam airlines. You first have to fly to one of the international airports -- Hochiminh city (SGN), Hanoi (HAN), and the smaller airport Da Nang (DAD), then take a flight by a local airline to Nha Trang. You might want to stay for a few days in Hochiminh or Hanoi to explore the areas. A one way ticket from Hochiminh to Nha Trang is 63 or 75 or 80 USD, depending on class.

Not all online travel agencies, like Expedia, have Nha Trang among their destinations. Some, like Orbitz, Kayak, airfare.com, do. Usually the airfare to Vietnam at a brick and mortar travel agency specializing in Vietam travel will be much lower than that at an online site. For example, a search for a round trip ticket from Atlanta to Nha Trang, departure on May 10 and return on May 17, led to the cheapest ticket of 2100 USD on Kayak. A local travel agent quoted a price of 1400 USD.

Airfare tickets should be purchased early, since (inexpensive) tickets run out fast. After March or April, the airfare costs will be much higher price. It is important for US participants receiving travel support from the NSF grant to purchase tickets under a US carrier (Delta, American, United, offer flights) for flights from the US to one of the international airports in Vietnam.

In the US there are many travel agents that specialize in traveling to Vietnam (or Southeast Asia) who can get both an air ticket to Nha Trang and a Vietnam visa. One of the many travel agents:
Vy Travel & Services, LLC.
4897 Buford Hwy, Ste 166
Chamblee, GA 30341
Tel: 770-234-9791/ 770-234-9792
Fax: 770-234-9793
VyTravelATL@gmail.com
(The travel agent can book an air ticket and can get a Vietnam visa for anyone in the US.)

From the Airport to city center: 30 km, and taxi, with a fixed price of around 15 USD, is the only way to get to the city.

Visa:

Citizens of several countries, including Denmark, Japan, South Korea, do not require a visa to visit Vietnam for 15 days, see the Vietnam Visa Policy. Please double check with the nearest Vietnamese consulate.

If a visa is needed, apply for a tourist visa. Many travel agents specializing in Vietnam (like the one mentioned above) will apply for a Vietnam visa on your behalf with no service charge (as part of the package; there is still a 25 USD visa fee). The good thing is only a copy of your passport is needed; not the original passport. The visa is issued on a separate piece of paper. Of course you can always apply for a visa at your nearest Vietnamese consulate.

Hotel:

The conference will be held at Yasaka Saigon Nhatrang Resort Hotel & Spa, a 4 star hotel. Rooms at Yasaka hotel range from 38 USD/night for a standard room, 60 USD for a deluxe, 130 USD for a suite (all including breakfast, prices at hotels.com on December 15, 2012). The hotel, which is on the beach front, is quite good, with a beautiful garden.

Nearby hotels, all within a 5-minute walk to the Yasaka hotel, include:

Hotel booking online at popular travel websites like Agoda.com, Expedia, hotels.com, Orbitz, Kayak, is usually cheaper than booking directly from the hotel websites.