VZCZCXRO0179
PP RUEHHM
DE RUEHHM #0841/01 2262107
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P R 142107Z AUG 07
FM AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2979
INFO RUEHHI/AMEMBASSY HANOI 2105
RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE
RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 3183

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HO CHI MINH CITY 000841 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM SOCI PREL PGOV KIRF ECON VM
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S FAREWELL VISIT TO HO CHI MINH CITY 
 
 
¶1.  (U) Summary:  On August 5-8, Ambassador Marine paid farewell 
calls on Ho Chi Minh City's political, economic and religious 
leaders, noting significant progress in the U.S.-Vietnam 
relationship and highlighting possible areas for improvement. 
During his visit, the Ambassador met with HCMC People's 
Committee Chairman Le Hoang Quan, political activist Dr. Nguyen 
Dan Que, Catholic Cardinal Pham Minh Man, representatives from 
the Southern Evangelical Church of Vietnam (SECV), and a group 
of house church pastors.  He also spoke about reform challenges 
in Vietnam's higher education system at the University of 
Hawaii's Shidler School of Business Executive MBA program in Ho 
Chi Minh City, met with members of AMCHAM and visited a 
PEPFAR-funded legal HIV/AIDS Clinic.  The Ambassador's visit, 
which included a press roundtable, received broad and positive 
coverage from the Vietnamese media.  Meetings with Dr. Que and 
religious representatives reported in septels.   End Summary. 
 
Ho Chi Minh City'S MODEL ECONOMY 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (SBU) During his farewell call on HCMC People's Committee 
Chairman Le Hoang Quan, Ambassador Marine said he could see Ho 
Chi Minh City's rising economic success through the changes on 
the city streets during his time in Vietnam.  He praised the 
People's Committee for its role in creating a business 
environment that facilitates fast-paced economic growth, setting 
the standard against which all other urban centers in Vietnam 
are measured.  He encouraged the People's Committee to find ways 
to share Ho Chi Minh City's successful model with other parts of 
Vietnam.  The Ambassador stressed the USG stands ready to assist 
the GVN to make progress on transparency, governance and rule of 
law issues, which would create a more predictable commercial and 
investment environment in Vietnam.  Chairman Quan thanked the 
Ambassador for his efforts to improve ties between the United 
States and Vietnam, and Ho Chi Minh City in particular. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) In response to points raised by the Ambassador, 
Chairman Quan said that the growing trade deficit could be 
linked to the high cost of American products.  Although the 
products are high quality, Vietnam can often purchase American 
products from a third-country at a cheaper rate than buying 
direct.  Chairman Quan suggested that Vietnam would like to 
establish a food quality control center to assure that its food 
exports are of the highest quality. 
 
AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT 
--------------------- 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Reinforcing points made during his meeting with 
President Triet July 31, Ambassador Marine said the USG is 
prepared to engage more fully with the GVN on establishing a 
Peace Corps program to improve English language teaching in 
Vietnam and strengthening law enforcement cooperation. He added, 
however, that we need a firm commitment from central and 
provincial GVN leadership before we can begin providing funding 
and programming for such efforts.  Echoing comments from 
President Triet, Chairman Quan said the GVN is ready to 
implement a Peace Corps agreement and stands ready to finalize 
details of the program.  He indicated the GVN was also willing 
to enhance law enforcement cooperation to fight burgeoning crime 
and social problems. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) The Ambassador praised HCMC's leaders for their 
outstanding partnership in the joint fight against HIV/AIDS, but 
urged more progress in granting permits for non-governmental and 
religious organizations to assist people living with HIV/AIDS 
(PLWHA's).  Chairman Quan said that NGOs and religious groups 
are allowed to provide social services.  He added, however, that 
the government carefully considers the skill sets of 
organizations offering assistance when approving requests and 
fears opening too many clinics would promote the false 
impression of an AIDS epidemic in Vietnam. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) The Ambassador noted that, despite progress the GVN 
has made on freedom of religion, there remain strong differences 
between the USG and GVN's approach to human rights and that in 
order to maintain a close bilateral relationship, the GVN needs 
to show significant improvements in its human rights policy. 
One way the GVN could demonstrate its commitment to democracy 
and human rights would be through programs that support rule of 
law, good governance and anti-corruption in Vietnam.  Quan 
agreed differences of opinion on human rights remain, and 
encouraged more visits from members of Congress to assess the 
situation here firsthand. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) Note:  One day before the Ambassador's visit, HCMC 
External Relations Office (ERO) Deputy Director Le Hung Quoc 
requested a meeting with Consul General Fairfax to discuss the 
Ambassador's visit.  At the meeting, Quoc said it would be 
inappropriate for the Ambassador to meet with democracy activist 
Dr. Nguyen Dan Que, People's Committee Chairman Quan, and Party 
 
HO CHI MIN 00000841  002 OF 002 
 
 
Secretary Le Thanh Hai during the same visit.  The Consul 
 
SIPDIS 
General said that, while he understood GVN sensitivities, this 
would be Ambassador Marine's last opportunity to meet with key 
contacts.  He also urged GVN to view the Ambassador's contacts 
with a broad spectrum of individuals as a sign of the deepening 
of our bilateral relationship.  The Consul General promised to 
relay ERO's concerns to Hanoi, but in an aside with Quoc after 
the meeting noted that if Ambassador was forced to choose 
between meeting HCMC leaders and Dr. Que, he would choose Dr. 
Que.  Subsequently, the ConGen was told by ERO that Party 
Secretary Hai's busy schedule did not permit a meeting, but 
 
SIPDIS 
confirmed the Ambassador's farewell call with Chairman Quan. 
End Note. 
 
VISIT TO PEPFAR-FUNDED HIV/AIDS LEGAL CLINIC 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶8.  (U) Ambassador Marine toured facilities at the Lawyers' 
Association of Ho Chi Minh City HIV/AIDS Legal Clinic and met 
with staff and volunteer peer-counselors living with HIV/AIDS. 
The clinic staff thanked the Ambassador for his commitment to 
the prevention of HIV/AIDS in Vietnam, and shared stories of 
struggles and successes.  When asked about their biggest 
challenges, the staff told Ambassador Marine that they have not 
received full guidance on the process for supporting PLWHA's 
because the sub-ordinance of the Law on HIV/AIDS Prevention and 
Control is not yet finished.  Staff also said that facilities at 
the clinic, which opened in January 2007, are already proving 
too small and under-resourced. 
 
Vietnam's Education Sector:  Opportunities for Growth 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶9.  (U) At the University of Hawaii's Shidler School of Business 
Executive MBA Program, Ambassador Marine spoke to an audience of 
students, business people and educators about the challenges of 
reforming Vietnam's higher education system and opportunities 
for cooperation with the United States.  Citing statistics from 
the World Bank 2006 World Development Report, he noted that in 
comparison to other countries in the region, Vietnam is lagging 
well behind in education.  He said Vietnam's key challenges were 
building a better infrastructure, training more qualified 
teachers, and generating more high-quality independent research. 
 The Ambassador highlighted a number of United States 
universities that have created partnerships with local 
universities to provide undergraduate and graduate education 
opportunities in Ho Chi Minh City.  He also described the 
successes of the Fulbright Economic Teaching Program and the 
Vietnam Education Foundation, and affirmed the desire of the USG 
to provide curriculum design assistance to the Ministry of 
Education. 
 
AmCham SHOWS APPRECIATION 
------------------------- 
 
¶10.  (U) Ambassador Marine met with a group of governors and 
former chairs of the Ho Chi Minh City branch of AmCham to 
discuss U.S.-Vietnam relations and share Mission Vietnam's 
impressions regarding President Triet's recent visit to the 
United States.  He encouraged the organization to continue 
keeping Mission Vietnam updated on concerns and activities of 
the U.S. business community and to maintain dialogue with the 
GVN and the U.S. Congress on the state of the business 
environment in Vietnam.  Local AmCham branch Vice Chair Walter 
Blocker thanked the Ambassador on behalf of the Ho Chi Minh City 
business community for his leadership for the past three years 
and specifically for his support during President Triet's visit 
to the United States and the APEC summit. 
 
PRESS COVERAGE -- EXCELLENT 
--------------------------- 
 
¶11.  (U) During his final press roundtable in Ho Chi Minh City 
on August 7, the Ambassador took the opportunity to respond to 
questions on trade and investment, human rights, and bilateral 
achievements, including those dealing with Agent Orange/dioxin, 
HIV/AIDS and education.  Ho Chi Minh City print and broadcast 
media also covered Ambassador Marine's education speech and his 
visit to the PEPFAR-funded Legal Clinic.  At the close of each 
event, the Ambassador took questions on education, the economy 
and bilateral relations in general. 
 
¶12.  (U) Nine print dailies covered the Ambassador's visit, 
along with a front-page report by the Saigon Times.  In 
addition, his visit to the Legal Clinic and his farewell meeting 
with Chairman Le Hoang Quan received primetime news coverage on 
HTV. 
 
 
¶13.  (U) This cable was coordinated with Embassy Hanoi and 
cleared by Ambassador Marine. 
FAIRFAX