April 2008 Newsletter

 

Count Down – 11 Months to go

 

Saigon Reunion 2009

 

            As a reminder, the dates for the reunion are: March 11th – 18th, 2009. Reunion 2009 in HCMC (Saigon). A long weekend (Wednesday – Tuesday) which will include travel time, jet-lag time, and International date-line crossing. You gain a day going and lose a day coming back (from the West Coast). Most departure flights from the West Coast are overnight ones. So, the official Reunion event dates are set for Friday the 13th (OMG!) through Sunday the 15th of March 2009. If you plan your travel for the 11th – 18th, you will allow for the shortest (comfortable) travel time with one jet-lag day (Thursday the 12th). This does not preclude anyone making their own elongated plans, but for our get-togethers and events planning schedules, we are designating Friday – Sunday as the Reunion in Saigon (HCMC).

 

             

            We  have the following  point of contacts that will be coordinating the information for dissemination.

 

(1)   Travel Coordinator (Vacant - so far that is me rmcdonal@sesi.com , I am looking for volunteers who have been to Vietnam already – this is not a professional Travel Coordinator function, rather an information host that provides travel related information and choices for selection)

(2)   Events Coordinator  (Sarah Bush Rogers – kuipokauai@gmail.com)

(3)   Information Coordinator (Roy McDonald – rmcdonal@sesi.com)

Ok, here, for starters, is the current list of travelers, hopefuls, and maybes. Please let me know if your status has changed so that I can keep the list as current as I possibly can. Once you have finalized your travel itinerary, please e-mail it to the Travel Coordinator so that we can post it and know when your arrival and departure dates/location/accommodations are to be able to get in touch once in country:

Travel Roster

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Updated 04/17/2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Too

 

 

NO.

 

Names

Going!

Planning

Thinking

Early

Maybe

Can't

Party

Notes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allen, Kathleen

1

 

 

 

 

 

1

Saigon

Arbuckle, Les

 

 

 

 

2

 

2

Saigon

Berven, Mary Lou

2

 

 

 

 

 

2

Saigon

Blackmore, Ruth

1

 

 

 

 

 

1

Saigon

Busa/Safrannek (Kandi/Tom)

2

 

 

 

 

 

2

Saigon

Bush, Charlotte

 

 

 

 

 

0

0

Been there/Done that

Dunn, Mike & Yen

2

 

 

 

 

 

2

Saigon

Kotzebue, Dave

 

1

 

 

 

 

1

Saigon

Kent, Christie

 

 

1

 

 

 

1

Saigon, Baguio PI

Landgraf, Susan & Gabriella

 

2

 

 

 

 

2

Saigon

McDonald, Roy

1

 

 

 

 

 

1

Baguio PI, Saigon VN

McIntyre, Cathie

 

 

 

 

 

 0

0

Teaching Conflicts

Oakley-Melvin, Deborah

1

 

 

 

 

 

1

Saigon

Pei, Linda

1

 

 

 

 

 

1

Saigon

Porcher, Annie Herndon

 

2

 

 

 

 

2

Saigon

Porcher, Jacqueline B.

 

1

 

 

 

 

1

Saigon

Rogers, Sarah

1

 

 

 

 

 

1

Saigon

Rubira, Claude (Arcache)

 

 

2

 

 

 

2

Saigon

Shahpazian, Bobbie

 

 

 

 

 

0

0

Can't - Date Conflicts

Stann, Susie

 

2

 

 

 

 

2

Saigon, Dalat, Hue

Stoddard, Frank

2

 

 

 

 

 

2

Hanoi first, train south to Saigon

Thomas, Bruce

 

 

 

 

2

 

2

Saigon

Turner, Richard

 

1

 

 

 

 

1

Saigon

Viroly, Michelle

 

 

1

 

 

 

1

Saigon

Yeager, Ken

 

2

 

 

 

 

2

Saigon From Germany

Zucker, Arlene

 

2

 

 

 

 

2

Just got back - will go again

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

14

13

4

0

4

0

35

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) table is Travel Coordinator related and I will be updating it as I get fed with information. If you have questions to add to the list, please let me know at rmcdonal@sesi.com . Thanks to Barbara , Sarah, Christie and Arlene for their help and input:

Saigon Reunion 2009

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

 

Q.    What kind of shots/immunization should I have before departure?

A.     This depends on where you will visit other than in Ho Chi Minh City where there is limited risk.  At least six weeks before travel, update your Tetanus shot and then consult with your primary care physician or review CDC recommendations at: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinationVietnam.aspx

 

Q.    Is water potable? Should I take any medication for any known/potential viruses?

A.  Bottled water is readily available in HCMC and elsewhere.  Bring Cipro or Immodium for stomach virus and medicines like Augmentin as a general antibiotic.

 

Q.  As far as currency, what should I bring? Cash or Travelers checks? Are there ATMs that would accept stateside banks? Credit cards?

A.  There are ATMs everywhere and so it is easy to get dong. Although the tour books say merchants accept dollars, that has been less the case during the recent fall on the dollar. Many merchants near Ben Thanh market do quote prices in dollars, but restaurants and smaller merchants want dong--not dollars, not charge cards. The more expensive stores accept credit, but most charge a premium of 2-       3%.  Traveler’s checks have to be cashed at banks.  

 

Q.  Do I require a Visa? How do I get one?

A.  Yes. A visa is required. You can go on the web to the following site: http://www.vietnamembassy.us/consular_services/visa_info/ and print out an on-      line form and fill it out and send it with your passport and required fees. Or, if you are going through a travel agency, they can do it for you. Tourist visas are usually for 15 days or 30 days duration. Make sure you supply stamped return address envelopes for them to send you your passport. Don’t wait until the last minute. Also, make sure that your passport expiration date is at least 6 months from the planned departure date from Vietnam. And make Xerox copies of your passport (leaving one at home and taking one with you) in the event you lose your passport. 

 

Q.  What should I plan for as far as clothing/apparel for that time of the year?

A.  In March of 2008, weather in HCMC was about 80-90 degrees every day with high humidity only about two days in the month.  It rarely rains in March. Bring loose fitting clothing with short sleeves for walking/touring, but bring a sweater and/or over-shirt for Western hotels and restaurants where they tend to crank up the air conditioning. Many Western tourists wear shorts, but the Vietnamese are modest and prefer that bodies not be too exposed.   Black really attracts heat and so it is desirable to stay with lighter colored clothing.  Many people wear open-toed shoes such as sandals; leather shoes such as loafers can get hot fast.

 

Q.  Do most Hotels supply 120 volt service?

A.  Best to bring a converter to be on the safe side.

 

Q.  Do I need an International Drivers License if I choose to rent a vehicle?

A.  You can not rent a car in Vietnam unless it comes with a driver and perhaps a translator. Scooters and motorbikes can be rented in the beach areas.

 

Q.  Can I get Hotel room Internet Service?

A.  Most hotels—even 3 star ones—have Internet connections.  Many have a “business center” with a couple of Internet-connected desktop computers, and most have Wifi.  Additionally, there are many Internet cafes available all over HCMC. 

 

Q.  Are tips expected at most restaurants or are they included in the service?

A.  It depends on the restaurant.  The more expensive ones that cater to Westerners add a service charge, although sometimes it can be disguised as something else.  When you eat at a smaller place, it is usual to round up or leave a 10,000-20,000 dong tip (75 cents to $1.25).

 

Q.  Is bargaining an expected practice or should I accept the quoted price?

A.  Many of the merchants in and around Dong Khoi (formerly Tu Do) and in the Ben Thanh central market are not very interested in bargaining.  Further, they probably don’t need to because another tourist will be along soon.  Probably the best thing to do is check out prices on items that most interest you, then return to places where prices are best.  For example, to get an idea of prices visit grocery stores like Co-OpMart where they offer jewelry, sunglasses, and other interesting items. In smaller markets and outside the city, bargaining is more typical.  A March visit to Nha Trang  revealed merchants in the local market would sell items at 1/3 to ˝ of their opening offer. My guide hurriedly left one place because he overheard the merchants propose to charge me three times the norm because I am foreign.  Be prepared to walk away more than once.

 

Q.  What is the city like these days?

A.   HCMC is now a city of some 10.5 million people.  There are not enough roads, but there are plenty of motorbikes and cars.  The result is that the traffic moves very slowly (usually at 5-10 kilometers per hour), the air is polluted, and the noise level is quite high from early morning to late night. 

 

 

The following is a list of travel related links that can help you in your travel planning:

Travel & Accommodations

Website/Links

Used by

 

 

 

Eva Airlines

http://www.evaair.com/html/b2c/english/

Arlene Zuker Claiborne

Travel Guide/Agency

http://www.saigon-tourist.com/en/travel/travel.htm

Barbara Bush Parker

Thai Airlines

http://thaiairlines.com/

Barbara Bush Parker

Air China

http://cnomy.com/?dn=airchina.com&pid=1POEL38TR

Barbara Bush Parker

HCMC (Saigon Hotels)

http://www.vietnamstay.com/hotel/saigon.htm?gclid=CKKupavh4pICFQksswodKAOAAA

List

Caravelle Hotel

http://www.caravellehotel.com/default.aspx

List

Majestic Hotel

http://www.majesticsaigon.com.vn/

List

Rex Hotel

http://www.vietnamstay.com/hotel/rex/

List

Northwest Airlines

http://www.nwa.com/

Christy Kent

United Airlines

http://www.united.com/

List

Visa Requirements

http://www.vietnamembassy.us/consular_services/visa_info/

List

Maps/Books

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/

Arlene Zuker Claiborne

 

 

 

For our one night group Dinner (Saturday 14th of March 2009), we are going to select from either one of the hotels commonly known to us (past) or a really really really good restaurant. If you have any suggestions, please e-mail (click here) Events Coordinator

A Generous Offer We Can’t Refuse: Frank Stoddard has offered each traveling family to the Reunion a set of top 40 hits from 1954 to 1976 after the Reunion is over. If you have not enjoyed Frank’s previous CD distributions, you are in for a treat. Thanks Frank!

Trial Balloon: Offered as a suggestion, I was thinking of getting good quality (but light) polo shirts, in light blue with the gecko and SaigonKids logos that Sarah had made for hats at the Kauai Reunions for our trip!?!? I will get some pricing by next month if there is enough interest and feedback from you.

      Please visit the website www.saigonkids.com and under the <Newsletter> tab click on <April_2008> you will find this and previous newsletters as we count down to March 2009!

      Stay tuned!

Roy