Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 251287 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AEMR ASEC AMGT AE AS AMED AVIAN AU AF AORC AGENDA AO AR AM APER AFIN ATRN AJ ABUD ARABL AL AG AODE ALOW ADANA AADP AND APECO ACABQ ASEAN AA AFFAIRS AID AGR AY AGS AFSI AGOA AMB ARF ANET ASCH ACOA AFLU AFSN AMEX AFDB ABLD AESC AFGHANISTAN AINF AVIATION ARR ARSO ANDREW ASSEMBLY AIDS APRC ASSK ADCO ASIG AC AZ APEC AFINM ADB AP ACOTA ASEX ACKM ASUP ANTITERRORISM ADPM AINR ARABLEAGUE AGAO AORG AMTC AIN ACCOUNT ASECAFINGMGRIZOREPTU AIDAC AINT ARCH AMGTKSUP ALAMI AMCHAMS ALJAZEERA AVIANFLU AORD AOREC ALIREZA AOMS AMGMT ABDALLAH AORCAE AHMED ACCELERATED AUC ALZUGUREN ANGEL AORL ASECIR AMG AMBASSADOR AEMRASECCASCKFLOMARRPRELPINRAMGTJMXL ADM ASES ABMC AER AMER ASE AMGTHA ARNOLDFREDERICK AOPC ACS AFL AEGR ASED AFPREL AGRI AMCHAM ARNOLD AN ANATO AME APERTH ASECSI AT ACDA ASEDC AIT AMERICA AMLB AMGE ACTION AGMT AFINIZ ASECVE ADRC ABER AGIT APCS AEMED ARABBL ARC ASO AIAG ACEC ASR ASECM ARG AEC ABT ADIP ADCP ANARCHISTS AORCUN AOWC ASJA AALC AX AROC ARM AGENCIES ALBE AK AZE AOPR AREP AMIA ASCE ALANAZI ABDULRAHMEN ABDULHADI AINFCY ARMS ASECEFINKCRMKPAOPTERKHLSAEMRNS AGRICULTURE AFPK AOCR ALEXANDER ATRD ATFN ABLG AORCD AFGHAN ARAS AORCYM AVERY ALVAREZ ACBAQ ALOWAR ANTOINE ABLDG ALAB AMERICAS AFAF ASECAFIN ASEK ASCC AMCT AMGTATK AMT APDC AEMRS ASECE AFSA ATRA ARTICLE ARENA AISG AEMRBC AFR AEIR ASECAF AFARI AMPR ASPA ASOC ANTONIO AORCL ASECARP APRM AUSTRALIAGROUP ASEG AFOR AEAID AMEDI ASECTH ASIC AFDIN AGUIRRE AUNR ASFC AOIC ANTXON ASA ASECCASC ALI AORCEUNPREFPRELSMIGBN ASECKHLS ASSSEMBLY ASECVZ AI ASECPGOV ASIR ASCEC ASAC ARAB AIEA ADMIRAL AUSGR AQ AMTG ARRMZY ANC APR AMAT AIHRC AFU ADEL AECL ACAO AMEMR ADEP AV AW AOR ALL ALOUNI AORCUNGA ALNEA ASC AORCO ARMITAGE AGENGA AGRIC AEM ACOAAMGT AGUILAR AFPHUM AMEDCASCKFLO AFZAL AAA ATPDEA ASECPHUM ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
ETRD ETTC EU ECON EFIN EAGR EAID ELAB EINV ENIV ENRG EPET EZ ELTN ELECTIONS ECPS ET ER EG EUN EIND ECONOMICS EMIN ECIN EINT EWWT EAIR EN ENGR ES EI ETMIN EL EPA EARG EFIS ECONOMY EC EK ELAM ECONOMIC EAR ESDP ECCP ELN EUM EUMEM ECA EAP ELEC ECOWAS EFTA EXIM ETTD EDRC ECOSOC ECPSN ENVIRONMENT ECO EMAIL ECTRD EREL EDU ENERG ENERGY ENVR ETRAD EAC EXTERNAL EFIC ECIP ERTD EUC ENRGMO EINZ ESTH ECCT EAGER ECPN ELNT ERD EGEN ETRN EIVN ETDR EXEC EIAD EIAR EVN EPRT ETTF ENGY EAIDCIN EXPORT ETRC ESA EIB EAPC EPIT ESOCI ETRB EINDQTRD ENRC EGOV ECLAC EUR ELF ETEL ENRGUA EVIN EARI ESCAP EID ERIN ELAN ENVT EDEV EWWY EXBS ECOM EV ELNTECON ECE ETRDGK EPETEIND ESCI ETRDAORC EAIDETRD ETTR EMS EAGRECONEINVPGOVBN EBRD EUREM ERGR EAGRBN EAUD EFI ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ETRO ENRGY EGAR ESSO EGAD ENV ENER EAIDXMXAXBXFFR ELA EET EINVETRD EETC EIDN ERGY ETRDPGOV EING EMINCG EINVECON EURM EEC EICN EINO EPSC ELAP ELABPGOVBN EE ESPS ETRA ECONETRDBESPAR ERICKSON EEOC EVENTS EPIN EB ECUN EPWR ENG EX EH EAIDAR EAIS ELBA EPETUN ETRDEIQ EENV ECPC ETRP ECONENRG EUEAID EWT EEB EAIDNI ESENV EADM ECN ENRGKNNP ETAD ETR ECONETRDEAGRJA ETRG ETER EDUC EITC EBUD EAIF EBEXP EAIDS EITI EGOVSY EFQ ECOQKPKO ETRGY ESF EUE EAIC EPGOV ENFR EAGRE ENRD EINTECPS EAVI ETC ETCC EIAID EAIDAF EAGREAIDPGOVPRELBN EAOD ETRDA EURN EASS EINVA EAIDRW EON ECOR EPREL EGPHUM ELTM ECOS EINN ENNP EUPGOV EAGRTR ECONCS ETIO ETRDGR EAIDB EISNAR EIFN ESPINOSA EAIDASEC ELIN EWTR EMED ETFN ETT EADI EPTER ELDIN EINVEFIN ESS ENRGIZ EQRD ESOC ETRDECD ECINECONCS EAIT ECONEAIR ECONEFIN EUNJ ENRGKNNPMNUCPARMPRELNPTIAEAJMXL ELAD EFIM ETIC EFND EFN ETLN ENGRD EWRG ETA EIN EAIRECONRP EXIMOPIC ERA ENRGJM ECONEGE ENVI ECHEVARRIA EMINETRD EAD ECONIZ EENG ELBR EWWC ELTD EAIDMG ETRK EIPR EISNLN ETEX EPTED EFINECONCS EPCS EAG ETRDKIPR ED EAIO ETRDEC ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ERNG EFINU EURFOR EWWI ELTNSNAR ETD EAIRASECCASCID EOXC ESTN EAIDAORC EAGRRP ETRDEMIN ELABPHUMSMIGKCRMBN ETRDEINVTINTCS EGHG EAIDPHUMPRELUG EAGRBTIOBEXPETRDBN EDA EPETPGOV ELAINE EUCOM EMW EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM ELB EINDETRD EMI ETRDECONWTOCS EINR ESTRADA EHUM EFNI ELABV ENR EMN EXO EWWTPRELPGOVMASSMARRBN EATO END EP EINVETC ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID ELTRN EIQ ETTW EAI ENGRG ETRED ENDURING ETTRD EAIDEGZ EOCN EINF EUPREL ENRL ECPO ENLT EEFIN EPPD ECOIN EUEAGR EISL EIDE ENRGSD EINVECONSENVCSJA EAIG ENTG EEPET EUNCH EPECO ETZ EPAT EPTE EAIRGM ETRDPREL EUNGRSISAFPKSYLESO ETTN EINVKSCA ESLCO EBMGT ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EFLU ELND EFINOECD EAIDHO EDUARDO ENEG ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EFINTS ECONQH ENRGPREL EUNPHUM EINDIR EPE EMINECINECONSENVTBIONS EFINM ECRM EQ EWWTSP ECONPGOVBN
KFLO KPKO KDEM KFLU KTEX KMDR KPAO KCRM KIDE KN KNNP KG KMCA KZ KJUS KWBG KU KDMR KAWC KCOR KPAL KOMC KTDB KTIA KISL KHIV KHUM KTER KCFE KTFN KS KIRF KTIP KIRC KSCA KICA KIPR KPWR KWMN KE KGIC KGIT KSTC KACT KSEP KFRD KUNR KHLS KCRS KRVC KUWAIT KVPR KSRE KMPI KMRS KNRV KNEI KCIP KSEO KITA KDRG KV KSUM KCUL KPET KBCT KO KSEC KOLY KNAR KGHG KSAF KWNM KNUC KMNP KVIR KPOL KOCI KPIR KLIG KSAC KSTH KNPT KINL KPRP KRIM KICC KIFR KPRV KAWK KFIN KT KVRC KR KHDP KGOV KPOW KTBT KPMI KPOA KRIF KEDEM KFSC KY KGCC KATRINA KWAC KSPR KTBD KBIO KSCI KRCM KNNB KBNC KIMT KCSY KINR KRAD KMFO KCORR KW KDEMSOCI KNEP KFPC KEMPI KBTR KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNPP KTTB KTFIN KBTS KCOM KFTN KMOC KOR KDP KPOP KGHA KSLG KMCR KJUST KUM KMSG KHPD KREC KIPRTRD KPREL KEN KCSA KCRIM KGLB KAKA KWWT KUNP KCRN KISLPINR KLFU KUNC KEDU KCMA KREF KPAS KRKO KNNC KLHS KWAK KOC KAPO KTDD KOGL KLAP KECF KCRCM KNDP KSEAO KCIS KISM KREL KISR KISC KKPO KWCR KPFO KUS KX KWCI KRFD KWPG KTRD KH KLSO KEVIN KEANE KACW KWRF KNAO KETTC KTAO KWIR KVCORR KDEMGT KPLS KICT KWGB KIDS KSCS KIRP KSTCPL KDEN KLAB KFLOA KIND KMIG KPPAO KPRO KLEG KGKG KCUM KTTP KWPA KIIP KPEO KICR KNNA KMGT KCROM KMCC KLPM KNNPGM KSIA KSI KWWW KOMS KESS KMCAJO KWN KTDM KDCM KCM KVPRKHLS KENV KCCP KGCN KCEM KEMR KWMNKDEM KNNPPARM KDRM KWIM KJRE KAID KWMM KPAONZ KUAE KTFR KIF KNAP KPSC KSOCI KCWI KAUST KPIN KCHG KLBO KIRCOEXC KI KIRCHOFF KSTT KNPR KDRL KCFC KLTN KPAOKMDRKE KPALAOIS KESO KKOR KSMT KFTFN KTFM KDEMK KPKP KOCM KNN KISLSCUL KFRDSOCIRO KINT KRG KWMNSMIG KSTCC KPAOY KFOR KWPR KSEPCVIS KGIV KSEI KIL KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KQ KEMS KHSL KTNF KPDD KANSOU KKIV KFCE KTTC KGH KNNNP KK KSCT KWNN KAWX KOMCSG KEIM KTSD KFIU KDTB KFGM KACP KWWMN KWAWC KSPA KGICKS KNUP KNNO KISLAO KTPN KSTS KPRM KPALPREL KPO KTLA KCRP KNMP KAWCK KCERS KDUM KEDM KTIALG KWUN KPTS KPEM KMEPI KAWL KHMN KCRO KCMR KPTD KCROR KMPT KTRF KSKN KMAC KUK KIRL KEM KSOC KBTC KOM KINP KDEMAF KTNBT KISK KRM KWBW KBWG KNNPMNUC KNOP KSUP KCOG KNET KWBC KESP KMRD KEBG KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KPWG KOMCCO KRGY KNNF KPROG KJAN KFRED KPOKO KM KWMNCS KMPF KJWC KJU KSMIG KALR KRAL KDGOV KPA KCRMJA KCRI KAYLA KPGOV KRD KNNPCH KFEM KPRD KFAM KALM KIPRETRDKCRM KMPP KADM KRFR KMWN KWRG KTIAPARM KTIAEUN KRDP KLIP KDDEM KTIAIC KWKN KPAD KDM KRCS KWBGSY KEAI KIVP KPAOPREL KUNH KTSC KIPT KNP KJUSTH KGOR KEPREL KHSA KGHGHIV KNNR KOMH KRCIM KWPB KWIC KINF KPER KILS KA KNRG KCSI KFRP KLFLO KFE KNPPIS KQM KQRDQ KERG KPAOPHUM KSUMPHUM KVBL KARIM KOSOVO KNSD KUIR KWHG KWBGXF KWMNU KPBT KKNP KERF KCRT KVIS KWRC KVIP KTFS KMARR KDGR KPAI KDE KTCRE KMPIO KUNRAORC KHOURY KAWS KPAK KOEM KCGC KID KVRP KCPS KIVR KBDS KWOMN KIIC KTFNJA KARZAI KMVP KHJUS KPKOUNSC KMAR KIBL KUNA KSA KIS KJUSAF KDEV KPMO KHIB KIRD KOUYATE KIPRZ KBEM KPAM KDET KPPD KOSCE KJUSKUNR KICCPUR KRMS KWMNPREL KWMJN KREISLER KWM KDHS KRV KPOV KWMNCI KMPL KFLD KWWN KCVM KIMMITT KCASC KOMO KNATO KDDG KHGH KRF KSCAECON KWMEN KRIC
PREL PINR PGOV PHUM PTER PE PREF PARM PBTS PINS PHSA PK PL PM PNAT PHAS PO PROP PGOVE PA PU POLITICAL PPTER POL PALESTINIAN PHUN PIN PAMQ PPA PSEC POLM PBIO PSOE PDEM PAK PF PKAO PGOVPRELMARRMOPS PMIL PV POLITICS PRELS POLICY PRELHA PIRN PINT PGOG PERSONS PRC PEACE PROCESS PRELPGOV PROV PFOV PKK PRE PT PIRF PSI PRL PRELAF PROG PARMP PERL PUNE PREFA PP PGOB PUM PROTECTION PARTIES PRIL PEL PAGE PS PGO PCUL PLUM PIF PGOVENRGCVISMASSEAIDOPRCEWWTBN PMUC PCOR PAS PB PKO PY PKST PTR PRM POUS PRELIZ PGIC PHUMS PAL PNUC PLO PMOPS PHM PGOVBL PBK PELOSI PTE PGOVAU PNR PINSO PRO PLAB PREM PNIR PSOCI PBS PD PHUML PERURENA PKPA PVOV PMAR PHUMCF PUHM PHUH PRELPGOVETTCIRAE PRT PROPERTY PEPFAR PREI POLUN PAR PINSF PREFL PH PREC PPD PING PQL PINSCE PGV PREO PRELUN POV PGOVPHUM PINRES PRES PGOC PINO POTUS PTERE PRELKPAO PRGOV PETR PGOVEAGRKMCAKNARBN PPKO PARLIAMENT PEPR PMIG PTBS PACE PETER PMDL PVIP PKPO POLMIL PTEL PJUS PHUMNI PRELKPAOIZ PGOVPREL POGV PEREZ POWELL PMASS PDOV PARN PG PPOL PGIV PAIGH PBOV PETROL PGPV PGOVL POSTS PSO PRELEU PRELECON PHUMPINS PGOVKCMABN PQM PRELSP PRGO PATTY PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PGVO PROTESTS PRELPLS PKFK PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PARAGRAPH PRELGOV POG PTRD PTERM PBTSAG PHUMKPAL PRELPK PTERPGOV PAO PRIVATIZATION PSCE PPAO PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PARALYMPIC PRUM PKPRP PETERS PAHO PARMS PGREL PINV POINS PHUMPREL POREL PRELNL PHUMPGOV PGOVQL PLAN PRELL PARP PROVE PSOC PDD PRELNP PRELBR PKMN PGKV PUAS PRELTBIOBA PBTSEWWT PTERIS PGOVU PRELGG PHUMPRELPGOV PFOR PEPGOV PRELUNSC PRAM PICES PTERIZ PREK PRELEAGR PRELEUN PHUME PHU PHUMKCRS PRESL PRTER PGOF PARK PGOVSOCI PTERPREL PGOVEAID PGOVPHUMKPAO PINSKISL PREZ PGOVAF PARMEUN PECON PINL POGOV PGOVLO PIERRE PRELPHUM PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PBST PKPAO PHUMHUPPS PGOVPOL PASS PPGOV PROGV PAGR PHALANAGE PARTY PRELID PGOVID PHUMR PHSAQ PINRAMGT PSA PRELM PRELMU PIA PINRPE PBTSRU PARMIR PEDRO PNUK PVPR PINOCHET PAARM PRFE PRELEIN PINF PCI PSEPC PGOVSU PRLE PDIP PHEM PRELB PORG PGGOC POLG POPDC PGOVPM PWMN PDRG PHUMK PINB PRELAL PRER PFIN PNRG PRED POLI PHUMBO PHYTRP PROLIFERATION PHARM PUOS PRHUM PUNR PENA PGOVREL PETRAEUS PGOVKDEM PGOVENRG PHUS PRESIDENT PTERKU PRELKSUMXABN PGOVSI PHUMQHA PKISL PIR PGOVZI PHUMIZNL PKNP PRELEVU PMIN PHIM PHUMBA PUBLIC PHAM PRELKPKO PMR PARTM PPREL PN PROL PDA PGOVECON PKBL PKEAID PERM PRELEZ PRELC PER PHJM PGOVPRELPINRBN PRFL PLN PWBG PNG PHUMA PGOR PHUMPTER POLINT PPEF PKPAL PNNL PMARR PAC PTIA PKDEM PAUL PREG PTERR PTERPRELPARMPGOVPBTSETTCEAIRELTNTC PRELJA POLS PI PNS PAREL PENV PTEROREP PGOVM PINER PBGT PHSAUNSC PTERDJ PRELEAID PARMIN PKIR PLEC PCRM PNET PARR PRELETRD PRELBN PINRTH PREJ PEACEKEEPINGFORCES PEMEX PRELZ PFLP PBPTS PTGOV PREVAL PRELSW PAUM PRF PHUMKDEM PATRICK PGOVKMCAPHUMBN PRELA PNUM PGGV PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PBT PIND PTEP PTERKS PGOVJM PGOT PRELMARR PGOVCU PREV PREFF PRWL PET PROB PRELPHUMP PHUMAF PVTS PRELAFDB PSNR PGOVECONPRELBU PGOVZL PREP PHUMPRELBN PHSAPREL PARCA PGREV PGOVDO PGON PCON PODC PRELOV PHSAK PSHA PGOVGM PRELP POSCE PGOVPTER PHUMRU PINRHU PARMR PGOVTI PPEL PMAT PAN PANAM PGOVBO PRELHRC

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 08HOCHIMINHCITY821, U) DEPUTY SECRETARY NEGROPONTE'S SEPTEMBER 12-13 VISIT TO

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #08HOCHIMINHCITY821.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08HOCHIMINHCITY821 2008-09-15 10:05 2011-08-30 01:44 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
VZCZCXRO2766
OO RUEHDT RUEHPB
DE RUEHHM #0821/01 2591005
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O P 151005Z SEP 08
FM AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4897
INFO RUEHHI/AMEMBASSY HANOI PRIORITY 3306
RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE
RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 5125
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 HO CHI MINH CITY 000821 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/MLS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OVIP NEGROPONTE PREL PGOV PHUM ECON SOCI KIRF
VM 
SUBJECT: (U) DEPUTY SECRETARY NEGROPONTE'S SEPTEMBER 12-13 VISIT TO 
HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM 
 
HO CHI MIN 00000821  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED.  FOR INTERNAL USG USE.  NOT SUITABLE 
FOR INTERNET POSTING. 
 
1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  During the Deputy Secretary's visit to Ho Chi 
Minh City (HCMC) on September 12-13, HCMC government officials, 
business leaders and legal professionals outlined the many 
challenges and opportunities that will set the course for the 
future development of the city and the path Vietnam's economic 
transformation will take.  City officials discussed HCMC's role 
as Vietnam's engine of economic growth, noting the city now 
accounts for nearly a quarter of the country's economy and a 
third of the tax base.  Both government and business leaders 
agreed the most pressing problems HCMC faces today are the 
constraints created by the city's inadequate infrastructure and 
lack of skilled labor throughout all sectors of the economy. 
The U.S. business community urged an active role for the USG in 
Vietnam, not just because the United States is Vietnam's largest 
export market, but because we are seen by most as a leading 
partner in Vietnam's economic reform.  HCMC's Bar Association 
said further legal reform was essential in order to create a 
more just and predictable judicial system for businesses and 
individuals.  In support of U.S. efforts to promote religious 
freedom, the Deputy Secretary also met with the Secretary of the 
Bishop's Council and attended Mass at HCMC's historic Notre Dame 
Cathedral.  In all his meetings, the Deputy Secretary affirmed 
the USG's commitment to strengthening the bilateral relationship 
and broadening cooperation on economic governance, legal reform 
and education initiatives.  End Summary. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
HCMC Leaders Discuss Economic Achievements and Challenges 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
2. (SBU) During Deputy Secretary Negroponte's September 12 
meetings with HCMC Party Secretary Le Thanh Hai and HCMC 
People's Committee Chairman Le Hoang Quan, both officials 
discussed Ho Chi Minh City's leading role in Vietnam's economy 
and the challenges they face maintaining momentum given the 
city's severe infrastructural and human capital constraints. 
Party Secretary Hai said Ho Chi Minh City capitalized on "doi 
moi" era reforms to become the country's "first city" in terms 
of its economic contributions, generating 24 percent of the 
national GDP and contributing 33 percent to the State budget. 
HCMC's double-digit growth rates consistently top the national 
average by almost 2 percent annually and its residents earn 
three times the national per capita income.  Despite these 
achievements, HCMC's continued growth is hindered by a crumbling 
and overburdened transportation system, skyrocketing property 
costs and growing environmental and quality of life issues. 
People's Committee Chairman Quan said HCMC's 2015 urban 
development plan followed a "U.S. model" that would transform 
HCMC from the "outside in."  By building modern residential 
communities and industrial zones on the outskirts of the city 
linked by an expanded mass transit system, inner-city residents 
could be relocated to new suburban satellites and HCMC planners 
could turn to restructuring the city center.  In terms of human 
capital, both leaders emphasized the need for educational reform 
and expanded vocational training for HCMC's workforce in order 
to maintain HCMC's competitive edge and expand into high-tech 
and high-end service sectors. 
 
3. (SBU) Both leaders highlighted the positive role U.S. 
investment and expertise was making in overcoming these barriers 
to growth and were optimistic U.S. investment dollars and 
development assistance would help transform HCMC into a 
world-class Southeast Asian capital on par with Bangkok or 
Singapore.  The Deputy Secretary said the U.S. was ready to work 
with government and business leaders to help them achieve their 
goals, and affirmed that education cooperation was a high 
priority.  The Deputy Secretary noted that the recently 
established Education Task Force would create a wealth of new 
opportunities for future collaboration, as would the upcoming 
educational conference in HCMC early next year.  He was 
optimistic the U.S. and Vietnam would continue to deepen 
economic and commercial ties, expand diplomatic cooperation and 
engage on a broad range of issues that would further strengthen 
the bilateral relationship. 
 
------------------------------------------- 
Maintaining the Momentum of Economic Reform 
------------------------------------------- 
4. (SBU) During the Deputy Secretary's meetings with members of 
the U.S. and Vietnamese business community, corporate leaders 
shared city officials' sentiments regarding HCMC's inadequate 
infrastructure and lack of human capital as a road block to 
growth, and noted the problems are further exacerbated by the 
poor coordination among the various government agencies 
responsible for implementing HCMC's urban development plans.  In 
 
HO CHI MIN 00000821  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
export operations, this has resulted in a situation where brand 
new container terminals have yet to be connected to existing 
land transit routes, creating additional bottlenecks for the 
overtaxed HCMC port that handles 80 percent of Vietnam's 
container traffic.  Energy demands exceed supply by about 17 
percent.  As a result, industrial zones suffer routine losses of 
power due to rolling brown-outs and random black-outs that 
result in significant production losses for the food product and 
dairy industries. 
 
5. (SBU) Turning to labor issues, U.S. producers and their 
Vietnamese partners also discussed the lack of effective labor 
dispute resolution mechanisms that has created a "strike as a 
first resort" mentality among factory workers, especially in the 
joint venture garment factories that represent the lion's share 
of foreign investment firms in the South.  More than 500 strikes 
have taken place so far in 2008, in contrast to a total of 500 
strikes in all of 2007.  Vietnam's young population of 85 
million still constitutes an attractive market, and businesses 
are succeeding.  But entrepreneurs said shortages of skilled 
workers have compelled sectors as diverse as radio/TV 
broadcasting, energy, and information technology to establish 
private training institutes to fill the vocational skills 
deficit. 
 
6. (SBU) The Deputy Secretary commended the private sector's 
pro-active response to human resource constraints and 
underscored the USG's support for continued improvements in 
governance that would establish a more transparent rule-based 
investment climate.  On the economic policy front, the Deputy 
Secretary outlined plans to begin negotiations on a Bilateral 
Investment Treaty in coming weeks and to commence Open Skies 
Agreement negotiations in October. 
 
-------------------------------------- 
Building a Foundation for Legal Reform 
-------------------------------------- 
7.(SBU) In a free flowing exchange of ideas, members of the HCMC 
Bar Association relayed to the Deputy Secretary their concerns 
about the lack of transparency, independence and professionalism 
in Vietnam's legal system.  Lawyer Le Cong Dinh cited several 
positive developments, including the growing ranks of legal 
professionals practicing in Vietnam today. National Bar 
membership has gone from 400 to 4000 lawyers in past ten years 
and the HCMC Bar Association accounts for 2500 of those lawyers. 
 Gradual improvements in the functioning of Vietnam's legal 
system including the growth of international and domestic 
commercial arbitration centers, greater client access for 
defense lawyers, and more open exchanges between lawyers and 
judges in the courtroom. 
 
8. (SBU) Bar President Nguyen Dang Trung said despite these 
developments, more needed to be done to promulgate fundamental 
concepts of rule of law.  He said that "many people say Vietnam 
has rule of law because we have a system of courts, judges and 
lawyers," but in reality citizens are unfamiliar with their 
legal rights and responsibilities and lack confidence in the 
judicial system's ability to resolve their claims fairly and 
transparently.  Educating Vietnamese citizens regarding their 
basic legal rights would enhance the ability of civil society to 
engage meaningfully with the GVN on legal reform priorities. 
 
9. (SBU) The Bar Association offered several specific ideas 
about where U.S. assistance could play a positive role in 
promoting transparency, including expanding educational 
opportunities and exchanges between Vietnamese and U.S. legal 
professionals.  A former Fulbright fellow, Tung said increasing 
the number of scholarships for Vietnamese lawyers to study in 
the U.S. would be a welcome step forward and all lawyers agreed 
more exchanges would help build mutual understanding as well as 
the capacity needed to meet Vietnam's current and future legal 
challenges. 
 
10. (SBU) The Deputy Secretary voiced his support for the HCMC 
Bar's efforts to advance judicial and legal reform, and agreed 
rule of law presented a promising area for more constructive 
collaboration.  The Ambassador said the United States has 
committed to the process by supporting NGO work in rural areas 
to discuss civil rights and responsibilities, and promoting the 
publication and dissemination of Supreme Court decisions.  The 
Consul General welcomed the idea of more exchanges, noting the 
recent successful visit by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond 
Arterton with city and provincial legal professionals through 
the Mission Speakers Program.  The Deputy Secretary was 
optimistic about broadening these efforts, noting that as 
Vietnam continues to expand engagement in the international 
arena, its judicial system must evolve to meet the challenges 
 
HO CHI MIN 00000821  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
ahead. 
 
-------------------------- 
A Glimpse of HCMC's Future 
-------------------------- 
11. (SBU) To better understand of how the key issues of labor, 
infrastructure, governance and land can be both challenges and 
opportunities for investors, the Deputy Secretary visited Phu My 
Hung (PMH) company's "Saigon South" development, a dynamic mixed 
industrial, retail and residential development.  A PMH executive 
explained that in the early nineties, his Taiwanese development 
company negotiated a relatively free-hand to develop 1,500 acres 
of swamp.  Working with leading American planners and 
architects, PMH developed an award-winning master plan that has 
guided the development of a region characterized by livable 
spaces, a balance of greenery and mid-density housing and 
10-lane roads, new bridges and space for planned mass transit 
lines that contrasts sharply with the chaotic sprawl that 
characterizes most of Ho Chi Minh City.  Its private power plant 
makes "Saigon South" the only place in southern Vietnam immune 
to rolling brownouts.  Despite the development's success and 
popularity as both a residential and commercial area, PMH stay 
true to its vision of being a mixed-cost residential profile 
that offers housing affordable to the managers and skilled and 
unskilled works that staff nearby companies and factories.  The 
Deputy Secretary also toured the firm's Tan Thuan Export 
Processing zone, the first industrial development in Vietnam to 
offer a true "one stop shop" for investors that cut the approval 
process from months (or years) to an average of just seven to 
ten days.  Tan Thuan Export zone has been a success almost from 
the start and generated ten percent of Vietnam's foreign 
exchange until 2005. 
 
12. (SBU) Over lunch in Saigon South, a roundtable of ten HCMC 
business leaders described both the challenges and opportunities 
facing businesses and entrepreneurs today.  One human resources 
company drew out the need to link education more closely with 
the needs of business, saying that vocational training in 
particular would help remove human resources bottlenecks from 
Vietnam's economy.  One of Vietnam's leading industrial park 
developers outlined her company's efforts to expand its 
vocational training center and establish a new university based 
on U.S. curriculum.  The private sector is stepping up to fill 
all sorts of training gaps, the chairperson of a Vietnamese 
media company explained, saying that she has started a training 
academy for media professionals.  Power and infrastructure 
companies argued that despite a linger state sector bias, in the 
provinces and districts where the letter and spirit of Vietnam's 
economic reforms has taken root there are opportunities for 
private sector. 
 
13. (SBU) The Deputy Secretary applauded the private sector's 
role in continuing to help open Vietnam's economy and emphasized 
their crucial efforts to improve Vietnam's education system. 
Improving vocational training and establishing partnerships with 
U.S. universities will both help Vietnam to training the human 
resources it needs.  The Deputy Secretary also recognized the 
role of women as leaders in Vietnam's business community, noting 
that nearly half the leaders present at the PMH roundtable were 
women.  Phu My Hung's "Saigon South" is setting a great example 
for the future of Vietnam, he concluded. 
 
------------------------------- 
Reflecting on Religious Freedom 
------------------------------- 
 
14. (U) In the Deputy Secretary's meeting with Secretary of the 
Bishop's Council, Father Nguyen Van Kham, Father Kham expressed 
appreciation for the USG's support for religious freedom, noting 
the positive growth the Church has experienced under the new 
legal framework on religion.  Today, there are 6 million 
Catholics residing in Vietnam's 26 dioceses, with 10 percent of 
those in HCMC.  While discussing the Church's efforts to expand 
charitable and educational services, Father Kham highlighted the 
GVN's continuing refusal to countenance returning the many 
schools and other facilities confiscated after 1975.  Touching 
briefly on the recent confrontations between demonstrators and 
authorities at Thai Ha parish in Hanoi, Father Kham said the 
situation is complex and resolving claims on confiscated 
properties would remain a key concern.  The Deputy Secretary 
underscored U.S. support for continued dialogue between 
religious groups and the GVN on these issues, and received a 
warm round of applause from parishioners after Father Kham 
acknowledged his presence during Mass on September 13. 
FAIRFAX