Le Cong Phung is a career diplomat. He was appointed by President Nguyen Minh Triet as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the United States of America in October 2007. 

Prior to his appointment, he was the First Deputy Foreign Minister, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, second ranking official, assisting Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister in the conduct of Vietnam’s foreign policy.  He served as Deputy Foreign Minister between 2001 and 2004 and Assistant Foreign Minister from 1999 until 2000. From 2000 through 2004, he acted as Chairman of the Committee on Border Affairs and as Chairman of the National Commission for UNESCO.

During his 37-year career, Ambassador Le Cong Phung served in various foreign service posts in England (1974-1977), China (1978-1980), Indonesia (1984-1987) and as Ambassador to Thailand (1993-1997).

Ambassador Le Cong Phung was born on February 20, 1948 in Thanh Hoa Provice, Vietnam.  He graduated from the College of Diplomacy of Vietnam in 1971.  He speaks fluent English and French.  He and his wife, Nguyen Thi Nhan, have two sons.

Vietnam, a country with a four-thousand-year history but a young population with more than half of its 84 million people under 30 years old, now promotes itself as one of the most dynamic economies in the world.  Two decades of economic reforms have transformed Vietnam into a lively market. The country now has diplomatic and trade relations with more than 170 countries and territories. Vietnam is now known as a favorite tourism destination for American people, with beautiful beaches, exotic food and hospitable and friendly people.

The history of the Vietnam-US relationship has turned the page over the last decade with significant milestones, including

• Establishment of diplomatic relations in 1995

• Bilateral Trade Agreement in July 2000

• Vietnam joining World Trade Organization May 2008

• Establishment of Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) in 2008

• Exchange of visits by US and Vietnamese dignitaries -

  • Bill Clinton to Vietnam (2000)

  • Prime Ministere Phan Van Khai to US in 2005

  • George Bush to Vietnam in 2006 and

  • Vietnamese President Nguyen minh Triet's visit to the US in 2007.

Come for the buffet breakfast and stay to network after the program.