VZCZCXRO2460
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHHI #0684 1011026
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 111026Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5117
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH 2877
RUEHZS/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS HANOI 000684 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV VM
SUBJECT: LIKELY MFA RESHUFFLE WOULD SEND NEW AMBASSADOR TO 
WASHINGTON 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  Embassy contacts are suggesting that the MFA's 
leadership will soon undergo a reshuffle, probably in May.  If these 
reports bear out, three current vice foreign ministers will become 
ambassadors in Washington, Beijing and Tokyo, and high-level 
responsibility for the U.S. portfolio at the MFA will change hands. 
End Summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) According to MFA sources, Vice Foreign Minister Le Cong 
Phung is "likely, though not finally confirmed" to be the next 
Vietnamese Ambassador to the United States.  His nomination process 
is still underway, but "there's only one nomination for this 
position," according to one MFA contact.  Since March 2004, Phung 
has been the most senior of the MFA's four vice ministers and 
oversees the Asia portfolio at the Ministry.  In 2000, he headed the 
delegation that negotiated border issues with China.  He served as 
ambassador to Thailand during 1993-97. 
 
¶3. (SBU) A third-country embassy colleague who has worked with Phung 
described him as "reserved, measured and cautious."  He is said to 
speak so softly in meetings that it can be difficult to hear him. 
His role in the border negotiations with China was cited as an 
indication that he has the confidence of high-level GVN leadership. 
Phung's son reportedly began an assignment at the Vietnam Embassy in 
Washington in 2005, and since that time there has been speculation 
that Phung would follow.  He is known to be a heavy smoker and avid 
golfer.  MFA colleagues respect Phung and have indicated to us that 
his assignment to Washington is a sign of Hanoi's focus on the 
bilateral relationship, despite his lack of recent experience in 
U.S. affairs. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Vice Foreign Minister Le Van Bang, who currently covers the 
Americas portfolio, is expected become the Vietnamese ambassador in 
Beijing.  VFM Bang himself has told us he is resisting the 
appointment to Beijing (he says he would rather lead Vietnam's 
expanded UN Mission as the country sits on the UNSC), but the fact 
he accompanied DPM/FM Pham Gia Khiem on his recent trip to Beijing 
indicates that he has probably lost that battle. 
 
¶5. (SBU) VFM Bang's departure raises the question who will replace 
him as the VFM in charge of U.S. affairs.  We have heard from an MFA 
source that, while again "nothing has been decided definitely," 
Assistant Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh is in line to take over 
for VFM Bang.  AFM Minh previously ran the MFA's International 
Organizations Department and is in charge of the various human 
rights dialogues.  At present, he is reportedly already "handling" 
the U.S. account.  He is slated to head the GVN delegation to our 
April 24 bilateral Human Rights Dialogue in Washington.  Our 
previous contacts with AFM Minh have shown him to be effective and 
sharp, but also pretty tough. 
 
¶6. (SBU) According to another MFA source, AFM Minh is also mentioned 
as having good long-term prospects for the Foreign Minister 
position.  He was the only MFA official included in the new Central 
Party Committee last April (as an alternate), apart from the Foreign 
Minister himself, who is a Politburo member.  In addition, Minh is 
the son of former Vietnamese Foreign Minister Nguyen Co Thach, who, 
during his tenure (1980-91), reportedly helped lead Vietnam into 
"Doi Moi."  He attended the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy 
during 1992-93. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) In other changes, we have heard that current MFA spokesman 
Le Dzung will head the Vietnamese Consulate General in San 
Francisco, VFM Nguyen Phu Binh will be sent as ambassador to Tokyo 
and AFM Nguyen Trung Thanh will be the new ambassador in Singapore. 
 
¶8. (SBU) Comment: In the past, Phung has performed well in tough 
assignments.  If he is indeed sent to Washington, it would suggest 
that, far from seeing its bilateral agenda fulfilled, the GVN 
predicts a lot of work ahead.  Post will continue to track the 
progress of the MFA's personnel changes. 
 
MARINE