INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Mission Vietnam Country Clearance for Codel Hoyer And

Published: Fri 28 Dec 2007 06:25 AM
VZCZCXRO0757
RR RUEHHM
DE RUEHHI #2112 3620625
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 280625Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6929
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH 4102
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 0274
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 2325
UNCLAS HANOI 002112
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR H - JREDDY AND CAUSTIN AND EAP/MLS
STATE PASS USAF - LTCOL DAVID KINCAID
E.O. 12985: N/A
TAGS: OTRA VN
SUBJECT: MISSION VIETNAM COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR CODEL HOYER AND
DELEGATION
REF: STATE 166755
1. (SBU) Mission Vietnam welcomes and grants country clearance to
CODEL Hoyer and delegation to travel to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City,
Vietnam from January 2-4, 2007. The purpose of this visit is to
discuss bilateral issues with government officials.
2. (SBU) Embassy control officer is Political Officer Jane
Bocklage. Contact details are as follows:
Office: (84-4) 850-5081
Fax: (84-4) 850-5098
Cell: 090-409-1435
E-mail: bocklageje@state.gov
Consulate General control officer is Deputy Principal Officer Angela
Dickey. Contact details are as follows:
Office: (84-8) 822-9433, ext 2204
Fax: (84-8) 822-0617
Cell: (090) 300-4024
E-mail: dickeyar@state.gov
3. (SBU) Hotel accommodations in Hanoi have been made at the Daewoo
Hotel, 360 Kim Ma Street, tel: (84-4) 831-5000; and in Ho Chi Minh
City at the Sheraton Hotel, 88 Dong Khoi Street, tel: (84-8)
827-2828. Transportation has been arranged for arrival, meetings
and departures. Embassy Hanoi will provide accommodation exchange
upon arrive for the duration of the delegation's stay in Vietnam.
Consulate General Ho Chi Minh City will provide reverse
accommodation exchange upon departure. Schedules will be sent
separately when they are confirmed.
4. (U) The local currency is the Vietnamese Dong, and the present
rate of exchange is approximately D16,050 to $1. Major hotels also
provide accommodation exchange if you wish to obtain local currency
(there is a generally fee for cashing Travelers Checks). There are
also numerous ATM machines in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, which
accept Master Charge, VISA, and Debit cards, but dispense local
currency only. USG travelers on official TDY to Hanoi may also use
the Embassy cashier service (opens every business day, 8:30 a.m. to
12 p.m.) for accommodation exchange.
5. (SBU) Security Information:
a. (SBU) Vietnamese security personnel may place foreign visitors
under surveillance. Hotel rooms, telephone conversations, fax
transmissions, and e-mail communications may be monitored, and
personal possessions in hotel rooms may be searched.
b. (U) Visitors to Vietnam must exercise appropriate caution and be
alert to their surroundings with regard to their personal security.
Cities in Vietnam have the typical crime problems of other large
cities throughout the world. Pickpockets and petty crime occur and
appear to be increasing; though, violent crimes such as armed
robbery are still relatively rare in Vietnam. Drug use is becoming
more and more of a problem in Vietnam. The Embassy recommends that
travelers use only metered taxis. Traffic in Vietnam can appear
chaotic and there is a real threat of being involved in a traffic or
pedestrian accident. Pedestrians unaccustomed to walking across the
street in Hanoi, HCMC or other Vietnamese cities should be extra
cautious.
c. (U) Visitors should also be aware of the State Department's
Consular Information sheet for Vietnam and the most recent Worldwide
Caution Public Announcements, which are available via the Internet
at http://travel.state.gov
MICHALAK
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