Embassy Hanoi and Consulate General Ho Chi Minh - OIG - US ...
Embassy Hanoi and Consulate General Ho Chi Minh - OIG - US ...
Embassy Hanoi and Consulate General Ho Chi Minh - OIG - US ...
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SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED<br />
<strong>Consulate</strong> <strong>General</strong> <strong>Ho</strong> <strong>Chi</strong> <strong>Minh</strong> City’s webmaster lacks sufficient skills for proper<br />
website design <strong>and</strong> management. Adequate training is vital for the employee to<br />
perform effectively his key outreach responsibilities.<br />
Informal Recommendation 9: <strong>Embassy</strong> <strong>Hanoi</strong> should provide appropriate<br />
training for the consulate general’s webmaster.<br />
<strong>Embassy</strong> <strong>Hanoi</strong> planned a public affairs section offsite event. This plan was not<br />
implemented.<br />
Informal Recommendation 10: Mission Vietnam should hold a public affairs<br />
offsite event.<br />
Consular Section<br />
Some officers in <strong>Ho</strong> <strong>Chi</strong> <strong>Minh</strong> City expressed concern over “big picture” consular<br />
section direction <strong>and</strong> management. Organizational uncertainties in staffing <strong>and</strong><br />
scheduling rotational assignments within <strong>and</strong> outside the consular section as well as<br />
operational issues were some of the concerns. The consular chief stated that he<br />
plans to improve section planning <strong>and</strong> organization.<br />
Informal Recommendation 11: <strong>Embassy</strong> <strong>Hanoi</strong> should design <strong>and</strong> implement a<br />
plan to improve the direction <strong>and</strong> management of the consulate general.<br />
The government of Vietnam interprets <strong>Embassy</strong> <strong>Hanoi</strong>’s consular district as the<br />
entire country except <strong>Ho</strong> <strong>Chi</strong> <strong>Minh</strong> City (where <strong>Consulate</strong> <strong>General</strong> <strong>Ho</strong> <strong>Chi</strong> <strong>Minh</strong><br />
City administrates). The U.S. government defines <strong>Embassy</strong> <strong>Hanoi</strong>’s consular<br />
district as roughly the northern half of Vietnam <strong>and</strong> <strong>Consulate</strong> <strong>General</strong> <strong>Ho</strong> <strong>Chi</strong><br />
<strong>Minh</strong> City’s district as the southern half of the country. Vietnamese authorities<br />
interfere with <strong>Consulate</strong> <strong>General</strong> <strong>Ho</strong> <strong>Chi</strong> <strong>Minh</strong> City staff serving their consular<br />
district. The mission has pressed the government of Vietnam to recognize the U.S.<br />
government’s position for years without success.<br />
Informal Recommendation 12: <strong>Embassy</strong> <strong>Hanoi</strong> should recommend courses of<br />
action to break the stalemate.<br />
The DAO asked the ACS units in <strong>Hanoi</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Ho</strong> <strong>Chi</strong> <strong>Minh</strong> City to inform his office<br />
of particulars on any U.S. military personnel who visit the unit. This request<br />
stemmed from a requirement that military personnel must obtain clearance before<br />
travel to Vietnam. The embassy agreed to the DAO’s request. Absence of a<br />
formal written policy on this issue leaves the ACS unit in questionable status<br />
regarding Privacy Act stipulations.<br />
<strong>OIG</strong> Report No. ISP-I-05-28A, Inspection of <strong>Embassy</strong> <strong>Hanoi</strong> <strong>and</strong> CG <strong>Ho</strong> <strong>Chi</strong> <strong>Minh</strong> City, Vietnam, September 2005<br />
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED<br />
65 .
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