VZCZCXRO9059
OO RUEHHM
DE RUEHHM #0436 1540746
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O P 030746Z JUN 09
FM AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5823
INFO RUEHHM/AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY PRIORITY 6059
RUEHHI/AMEMBASSY HANOI 3813

UNCLAS HO CHI MINH CITY 000436 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR EAP/MLS BLACKSHAW AND BROWN 
EAP/EX GAIL LAWRENCE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AMGT APER VM
SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE GRANTED FOR THOMAS PICKERING FELLOW TABARI 
DOSSETT 
 
REF: State 056392 
 
¶1. Consulate Ho Chi Minh City warmly welcomes and grants country 
clearance for Thomas Pickering Fellow Tabari Dossett to travel 
to Ho Chi Minh City on June 13, 2009. 
 
¶2. Ho Chi Minh City Sponsor: 
Dovas Saulys, Economic Officer 
Tel: (84-8)3520-4442 
Cell: (090) 305-9677 
Fax: (84-8)3520-4227 
Unclass E-mail: SaulysDA@state.gov 
 
Economic Officer Dovas Saulys and a Consulate vehicle will meet 
Mr. Dossett at the airport, please contact Mr. Saulys with any 
changes to Mr. Dossett's itinerary. 
 
¶3. Diplomatic/Official Entry Visas:  USG Employees seeking to 
conduct official business under the auspices of the U.S. Mission 
to Vietnam are required, repeat required, to follow Post 
guidance in obtaining appropriate diplomatic/official entry 
visas.  Prospective USG travelers must fax (84-4-3850-5010) 
their visa applications (may be downloaded from the Vietnamese 
Embassy website in the U.S.) and passport bio-pages to the Human 
Resources Office of the Embassy at least 15 business days before 
their expected departure date for assistance in obtaining 
appropriate visas.  Embassy Hanoi may withhold country clearance 
if potential USG travelers do not obtain the correct visa in the 
appropriate manner.  Please contact the Embassy Human Resources 
Officer at (84)(4) 3850-5000 (extension 7133), if you have any 
questions or concerns regarding this process. Travelers should 
also carry a copy of their visa application with an original 
photo attached to it, as Vietnamese Customs Officials may ask 
for it upon arrival. 
 
¶4. Security Information: 
 
a) 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. 
 
b) Recently people flying through Hanoi's airport have been 
subject to a scam involving fraudulent contract drivers who may 
address them by name.  USG personnel, if not met by an Embassy 
driver with an Embassy badge, will be met by a contract driver 
who will have a printed sheet with their name and Embassy seal 
on it.  Personnel should also confirm before entering the 
vehicle where the driver is taking them. 
 
c) 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. 
 
¶5. Electronic Devices in the Embassy:  The Embassy and Consulate 
General strictly control the entry of laptop computers, personal 
digital assistants (PDAS) and other electronic devices into 
Embassy and Consulate General facilities. If you plan to bring 
official electronic equipment to Post, please advise the control 
officer and the RSO of the equipment, make/model, and serial or 
other control number in your request for country clearance. 
Providing this information in advance will speed the entry of 
the equipment into the Embassy and Consulate General.  Upon 
arrival, the Information Management Specialist or the Regional 
Security Office must inspect all laptop computers before 
entering Embassy or Consulate General facilities.  Personally 
owned or unapproved USG equipment (which includes all PDA's, 
cell phones, and pagers) - may not enter the controlled access 
areas. 
 
¶6. Transiting through China:  If you plan to transit via China, 
you will need a Chinese transit visa or you will not be boarded 
on your outward bound flight from Vietnam. 
 
DICKEY