To promote educational collaborations between the United States and Vietnam, the U.S Consulate General Ho Chi Minh City and Student Exchange Vietnam are cohosting the first American Abroad Conference 2018 at the American Center in Ho Chi Minh City. According to 2017 Open Doors Report by IIE, Vietnam ranks 2nd as a Southeast Asian study …

On July 21, 2015, one of the United States’ most well-known educators, Second Lady Dr. Jill Biden, visited Ho Chi Minh City. At the American Center, she participated in a training workshop for 70 high school English teachers where they discussed innovative methods for engaging students. Sharing her own experiences as an English teacher, Dr. …

Delegates from thirty-two African and Asian countries gathered in Da Nang to develop a unified conservation action plan to protect pangolins, said to be the most trafficked mammals in the world.  The First Pangolin Range States Meeting is being co-hosted by the governments of Vietnam and the United States. Governmental wildlife and enforcement agencies, non-governmental …

The USAID Governance for Inclusive Growth project collaborated with the Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM) to deliver in-depth training in Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) to over 40 law, economics, and public policy professors from ten universities in southern Vietnam. The event took place from June 24 and 25 in Ho Chi Minh City. RIA …

American Center, Consulate General Ho Chi Minh City May 29, 2015 Ambassador Ted Osius It’s my great honor today to introduce Senator John McCain, Chairman of the Armed Services Committee and a great friend to Vietnam. He’s accompanied by Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa, and Senator Dan Sullivan of …

Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs Charles H. Rivkin visited Ho Chi Minh City on May 28 and 29. Before coming to Ho Chi Minh City, he visited Hanoi. On May 29, Assistant Secretary Rivkin spoke to participants at a Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) workshop on entrepreneurship. YSEALI is a …

Deputy Secretary Antony Blinken talked to the media on May 19, 2015 at the American Center in Ho Chi Minh City. Read the transcript  (PDF 339 KB) for his remarks on his trip Vietnam, the 20th anniversary of the normalization of relations, and on a variety of other issues like the Trans-Pacific Partnership, education, civil society, …

Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Ho Chi Minh City on May 19. His first stop was the Fulbright Economic Teaching Program (FETP), which teaches market economics to Vietnam’s future leaders. FETP will soon become part of Fulbright University Vietnam. After a typical local lunch, Deputy Secretary Blinken toured the Consulate General. At the …

Patrick Wall, Principal Commercial Official, U.S. Consulate General, opened a clean energy conference themed “Smart Solutions for Vietnam” on May 15, 2015.  The conference was co-organized by the U.S. Commercial Service and Vietnam Investment Review (VIR), with primary sponsorship by General Electric (GE). “The United States and Vietnam have developed an extensive and growing partnership …

Ambassador Ted Osius visited Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted in Ho Chi Minh City on May 12. He led a conversation about the various areas in which Vietnam and the U.S. have cooperated over the past 20 years.  The students had exciting opinions to share about how Vietnam and the U.S. can …

During a consular roundtable with the press on April 3, 2015 at the American Center in Ho Chi Minh City, Countrywide Consular Coordinator David McCawley announced the expansion, beginning immediately, of the U.S. Mission to Vietnam’s convenient and secure Mail-in Visa Renewal Program. The Program enables travelers to renew most non-immigrant visas via courier service, …

Ms. Doan Thi Minh Van, a Commercial Specialist with the U.S. Commercial Service (USCS) in Ho Chi Minh City, led a 38-person business delegation to the International Plastics Showcase, which took place in Orlando, Florida March 23-27. The delegation had over 50 prearranged meetings with U.S. companies, resulting in several deals currently under negotiation. The …

On April 12, Economic Officer Nate Rettenmayer attended the “Ticket To The Wild” event at the Tajmasago Castle in HCMC. The event was organized by WILDAID and the Center of Hands-on Actions and Networking for Growth and Environment (CHANGE). Ticket To The Wild is an activity of the Stop Using Rhino Horn Campaign funded by WILDAID …

The U.S. Navy began the sixth annual Naval Engagement Activity (NEA) with the Vietnamese People’s Navy on Monday, April 6, as both nations celebrate the 20th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations in 2015. This five-day collaboration is focusing on non-combatant events and skills exchanges in military medicine, search and rescue, and other areas. …

The U.S. Consulate General reopened its American Center in Ho Chi Minh City on April 2, following a significant renovation that also added exciting new space to meet demand for new kinds of activity and additional programming. The renovation of the American Center itself is part of the 20th anniversary of the normalization of relations …

On March 24, Environment, Science, Technology, and Health Officers from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) traveled to the Can Gio Biosphere Reserve where they met with local government officials to discuss a variety of environmental issues, including climate change, mangrove reforestation efforts, ecotourism, and payments for ecosystem services.  Located approximately 40 kilometers southeast …

The United States and Vietnam are conducting humanitarian assistance operations from March 23 to 30 in Quang Ngai province as part of Operation Pacific Angel (PACANGEL). Approximately 65 U.S. military members have traveled to Quang Ngai where they join their Vietnamese military counterparts, local health and engineering specialists, and air force doctors from Singapore, Thailand …

Working with three local artists, staff at the U.S. Consulate General took time out today to paint three large canvases for the 20th anniversary of Vietnamese-U.S. diplomatic relations. The paintings represent Washington D.C., Ho Chi Minh City, and a specially designed logo that celebrates the twentieth anniversary of re-establishing diplomatic relations. Preparations for the project …

In honor of February Black History Month, Consulate officers Malikat Rufai and Cameron Thomas-Shah led a discussion on African-American history and traditions. The three-hour event including a presentation, questions and answers, quizzes, and team activities. The program concluded with an introduction of Charles Drew, inventor of the bloodbank, the Tuskegee Airmen, and the iconic music …

On February 6th, the State Department’s Senior Advisor for Consular Affairs David Donahue visited the AC. He kicked off a program about studying in the United States and student visas, with more than two hundred students, teachers, and parents in attendance. The agenda included an introduction to U.S. education, study abroad experiences, and consular tips …

The long-distance course (MOOC) format continues to be popular at the American Center. ‘College Writing 2.2x: English Grammar and Essay Writing’ started on February 4th. Spanning the Vietnamese lunar new year holiday, the course attracted hundreds of students to three discussion sessions. Part of an academic writing course series, this set of three classes focused …

On January 29, 18 American students on World Learning’s SIT Study Abroad program visited the American Center, where they interacted with hundreds of Vietnamese students. The group discussed cultural differences, shared stories about college life, and talked about their educational experiences. Once they dispensed with the more serious topics, they turned their attention to dance …

Consul General Rena Bitter opened the Online Copyright Workshop organized by the Center for Further Training of Professional Journalists and the Vietnam Journalists Association (VJA) on January 28. Sponsored by the US Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, the workshop brought together editors and journalists from all over Vietnam to discuss an important issue …

The fifth MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) camp at the American Center: “Grow to Greatness – Smart Growth for Private Businesses, part 2” ran from January 12 until February 5, attracting many young professionals keen on starting their own business. Bringing in experienced business experts and facilitator Ted Nguyen helped participants understand the material and …

Dr. Geraldine L. Richmond, U.S. Science Envoy, came to Vietnam in support of President Obama’s initiative to strengthen the United States’ science and education relationships overseas.  She met with representatives from the scientific, academic and business communities to discuss ways to build and strengthen research collaboration between scientists and engineers in the United States and …

On December 30, the U.S. Consulate General Ho Chi Minh City and the Vietnam USA Society English Training Center (VUS) held a graduation ceremony for the USG-funded English Access Microscholarship program for 21 disadvantaged children in Ho Chi Minh City. During their program, these students received instruction in English, American culture, and information technology over …

On November 26, Consulate Officer Marshall Flynn and American guest speaker Joshua Rhodes gave a talk on Thanksgiving- history, traditions, and how people celebrate the holiday in the United States and around the world. The two-hour talk made use of pictures, videos, and little-known details. The event attracted more than a hundred students who engaged in …

On November 25th, the American Center celebrated the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women with a panel discussion hosting social activist Tran Thi Ai Lien, Founder and CEO of the Ban Cue Be organization, Dr. Nguyen Thi Hau, Deputy General Secretary of Vietnam Historical Science Association, and U.S. Consulate Cultural Affairs Officer …

To celebrate International Education Week and promote the Consulate Education Fair in Can Tho, the American Center, in partnership with the Vietnam Basketball Federation, organized a basketball tournament for students from the Mekong Delta regions. The week-long tournament attracted thousands of students, local government officials, administrators, teachers, and basketball fans. After a preliminary set of …

From November 17-21, Information Resource Officer Wendy Zaman traveled to Da Nang, Hue, and Ho Chi Minh City to meet with several contacts in different universities and libraries. In Da Nang, she met with Ms. Phan Thi Thu Nga, Director the Information and Learning Resource Center, Da Nang University. Next in Hue, Wendy gave a …

In November, hundreds of Vietnamese including teachers, students, and member of the community gathered at the American Center every week to participate in a talk series on Native American heritage presented by Information Officer Joe Freeman. The series included three sessions highlighting the history and traditions of tribes in the Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and Southwest. Through …

International experts in environmental research and policy gathered at a workshop on  November 13, 2014 at the Fulbright Economics Teaching Program (FETP) Ho Chi Minh City. The event kicked off the new Lower Mekong Public Policy Initiative ( LMPPI ), supported with funding from the United States Agency for International Development ( USAID ). The project fulfills goals of the …

The American Center Ho Chi Minh City, partnering with Ho Chi Minh City SME Partner Networking and Mentoring, continued to host another MOOC Camp on entrepreneurship course offered by University of Virginia “Growth to Greatness – Smart Growth for Private Businesses, Part I.”  Mr. Ted Nuyen, mentor from HCMC SME Networking and Mentoring, facilitated weekly …

The October Soft Skills Series focused on the monthly theme of “Start Your Business”. Gathering huge crowds of young and energetic students and professionals, the series spanned four sessions – ‘Selling Ideas’, ‘Customer Service’, ‘Planning’, and ‘Networking’. Practical scenarios and activities conducted by consulate officers helped participants map out how to start and run their …

To celebrate the new academic year and third anniversary of the American Center (AC), the AC hosted a Back-To-School Open Day on September 25. The aim was to inform students and other members of the community about opportunities for study in the U.S. It also showcased helpful services that the American Center and EducationUSA Advising …

In September and October, the American Center Ho Chi Minh City organized a MOOC camp featuring the ‘College Writing – Principles of Written English, part 1’ course offered by University of Berkeley in California. More than 500 students applied to join discussion sessions at the Center. Around one thousand others followed the course online. The …

On September 5, Consul General Rena Bitter attended a new school year ceremony at Nguyen Dinh Chieu School for the Blind. At this event, the Consul General also donated 17 titles of ‘talking books’ and 9 titles of braille books to the school. The books are produced by the Ho Chi Minh City Library of …

On September 29, the American Center hosted a Networking event for 105 participants who successfully completed all six sessions of the Soft Skills in Career Development series of events. Individual sessions proved to be exceedingly popular, with attendees showing up an hour or more early in order to get a good seat. This specific session …

During Discover America months (from June to August), students and American Center patrons explored U.S. culture and natural wonders by participating in the Discover America Essay Writing Contest. Students were asked to research and write an essay on a topic inspired by a Mark Twain quote: “What kind of views do you think you would …

Consul General Rena Bitter on August 19 opened the agricultural biotechnology conference “Growing the Future VII: The Role of Biotechnology in Emissions Reduction, Climate Change Adaptation, and Increased Farmer Prosperity” in Ho Chi Minh City.  The event was organized by the US Embassy in Hanoi in coordination with the Biotechnology Center of Ho Chi Minh …

On Friday, August 15 the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey visited the Da Nang thermal treatment system currently remediating 45,000 cubic meters of dioxin-contaminated soil at the Da Nang airport. General Dempsey hailed the project as an important milestone in the bilateral relationship and for the people of Da Nang. …

To celebrate the International Youth Day, the American Center organized a basketball event for HCMC youth on August 12. Hundreds of student athletes and sport fans participated in the games.  At the opening ceremony, Consul General Rena Bitter highlighted that sports are an important part of American culture, and that this is especially true for American …

The U.S. Consulate General hosted an education conference at the American Center on July 31 and August 1, 2014 entitled “Vietnam Education Dialogue: Higher Education Reforms.” The two-day event, organized by the Education Dialogue Group and University of Chicago professor and Fields Medal recipient Dr. Ngo Bao Chau, brought together senior government officials, educators, college …

Consul General Rena Bitter on July 29 visited the Thuan An Education Center for Children with Disabilities in Binh Duong province to attend the Summer Training Program organized by the US-based Global Foundation For Children With Hearing Loss. During the one month long program from July 7 to August 8, fourteen teaching professionals from the USA …

In observance of the 238th year of U.S. independence and the 50thanniversary of the Civil Rights Act in the United States, the U.S. Consulate welcomed distinguished businesspeople, government representatives, and prominent Ho Chi Minh City citizens to the Fourth of July Celebration at White Palace in Ho Chi Minh City on the evening of July …

On June 27, EducationUSA Advising Center hosted a Pre-Departure Orientation for Study in the U.S. at the American Center, geared for Vietnamese students enrolling to study in the United States for the 2014-2015 academic year. The program is designed to help students become well-prepared before leaving Vietnam to embark on their studies in the United …

On June 9, EducationUSA hosted an oral examination orientation for the Vietnam Education Foundation (VEF) Fellowship and Visiting Scholar Programs at the American Center. Dr. Lynne McNamara, VEF Executive Director, gave a lively talk about building confidence and how to best prepare for fellowship and grant interviews. More than 100 participants including VEF applicants and …

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Osumi-Class JS Kunisaki (LST 4003) carrying a multinational crew of U.S., Australian, and Japanese personnel arrived in Da Nang city, Vietnam on June 6 for the Pacific Partnership 2014, beginning collaborative medical and activities with the people of Vietnam. A welcoming ceremony took place pier side following the arrival of the …

During a State Department-sponsored visit to Ho Chi Minh City in early June, Professor Tobias Barrington Wolff held discussions with Vietnamese teachers of law, lawyers and the LGBT community. Venues included the National Academy of Politics and Public Administration Region II, the Ho Chi Minh City University of Law, and the LGBT rights NGO ICS …

The week before World Environment Day, 700 riders including Ho Chi Minh City government officials, the business community, and youth joined the first-ever bicycle ride to promote green urban living. Hosted by the American Center, Intel Vietnam, and Saigon Times Group, the theme of the ride was “Let’s ride for a Green Environment,” designed to …

On May 30, the U.S. Consulate General Ho Chi Minh City hosted the 2nd annual EducationUSA U.S.-Vietnam Joint Programs Mini-Fair with the representation of 16 universities and colleges in southern Vietnam, along with their U.S. counterparts.  This fair is unique in Vietnam as it is the only one to focus on joint programs forged between schools …

From May 29-31, English Language Fellows (ELFs) Jill Kester, Lesley Newman and Amanda Hilliard conducted colloquia on action research for 130 university English teachers, postgraduate students, and high school teachers in Danang and Hue, in Central Vietnam. Ten Vietnamese teachers submitted and presented their own action research projects, on topics including peer editing on English …

On May 28, visiting former NASA astronaut Jim Reilly made a visit to the American Center and spoke about “Life in Space” to 200 students and budding scientists. His inspiring talk was followed by an engaging discussion about space exploration and STEM careers. The following evening, Mr. Reilly met Vietnamese aerospace specialists, STEM educators, and …

On May 13, Consul General Rena Bitter led the first-ever EducationUSA presentation at Tay Nguyen University, in the historically sensitive Central Highlands province of Dak Lak.  Faculty and administrators at Tay Nguyen University worked with EducationUSA advisors to gather a group of more than 100 faculty and students. Consul General Bitter opened the session by …

Award-winning Jersey Boys star Jonathan Hadley conducted a workshop “Auditioning for Musical Theater” with a group of Broadway lovers on April 29, followed by a chat with more than 200 students about Broadway music the influences of musical and variety theater in American history. During the workshop, participants had a chance to do mock try …

On April 28th, 20 young U.S. Exchange Alumni and area students gathered at the American Center Ho Chi Minh City to watch a broadcast of President Barack Obama hosting the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Town Hall.  At the event with the President in Kuala Lumpur, selected alumni across the region asked the President …

On April 24, Consulate Officer Geoffrey Bishop gave a presentation on Jazz featuring stories, images, and music highlighting various jazz artists to more than 150 jazz lovers.  Numerous students jammed with Mr. Bishop and his band throughout the afternoon. The event was part of an annual observation of the Smithsonian Institution’s Jazz Appreciation Month held …

On April 18, Public Affairs Officer Alex Titolo opened a career talk with U.S. alumni on “Working in American Companies in Vietnam – How To Prepare?” at the American Center. The event was a joint program organized by EducationUSA and the United States Alumni Club of Ho Chi Minh City. Four Vietnamese panelists who studied in the United …

On April 4, the American Center kicked off its Month of Green Living with a discussion led by Philip Lopez, Fulbright English Teaching Assistant, “The Earth and Environment,” explaining why and how we should protect our environment and the vulnerability of the Earth to the climate change.  On April 11, Consulate Officer Sean Thompson kicked …

On April 3, English Language Fellow Lesley Newman conducted a 3-hour training workshop for a group of 20 English-speaking faculty at Tay Nguyen University.  Ms. Newman led the group through an interactive session on collaborative education classroom activities, followed by a discussion of practical applications in the English- and subject-matter classrooms. During the visit, the …

On March 31, Cultural Affairs Officer Anna Dupont moderated a discussion on the successes and challenges for women in the global workforce today at the American Center. The event ‘Women in Academia, Government, and the Private Sector: Reflections from Vietnam and the United States’ featured U.S. professor and Fulbright Scholar Dr. Heather Stur, Vietnamese education …

The American Center and EducationUSA took full advantage of a rare and prominent public space to distribute information and hold programs for the nearly one million visitors to Ho Chi Minh City’s 2014 book fair, one of the city’s largest cultural events held every two years. During the week-long fair, the American Center introduced and …

The U.S. Consulate General Ho Chi Minh City partnered with the American Film Showcase to bring two American documentary filmmakers, Eric Neudel and Alison Gilkey, to audiences in Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho City to screen and discuss their groundbreaking documentary history of the American disability rights movement, “Lives Worth Living.” The film, …

Approximately 1,000 students competed in the week-long English Language Olympics hosted by American Center Ho Chi Minh City in February.  At the closing ceremony, 25 medals were awarded to the best students who competed with their peers across the week in various English Language skill events including homophones/homonyms, spelling, freestyle speaking, conjunctions, rhyming words, and …

The U.S. Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade  jointly conducted a wind power workshop on February 20 in Ho Chi Minh City.  The workshop was an  opportunity for Vietnamese government authorities and Vietnam’s wind power developers to engage the U.S. government’s key developmental assistance agencies.  Speakers from the …

On February 19th, the U.S. Consulate hosted a “U.S. Higher Education Spring Fair” at its EducationUSA Advising Center at Diamond Plaza. The fair marked the first time that Vietnam featured as stop on the EducationUSA fair circuit, illustrating the large and growing interest of U.S. universities in recruiting qualified Vietnamese students.  The Fair hosted 23 …

On January 21, Dorie Clark, a former presidential campaign spokeswoman, frequent contributor to the Harvard Business Review, and author of the newly-released book “Reinventing You: Define Your Brand, Imagine Your Future,” gave lively talks at both Hoa Sen University and the American Center in Ho Chi Minh City. During each session, she provided students and …

On behalf of Ambassador David Shear, Consul General Rena Bitter on January 15 visited the Imperial City of Hue to launch the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation project to preserve this unique part of Vietnam’s heritage.  In partnership with the Hue Monuments Conservation Center, the U.S. Mission to Vietnam will support the restoration of three …

On January 7, Consul General Rena Bitter paid a courtesy call on the Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Le Thanh Hai. Consul General Bitter thanked Secretary Hai for his goodwill and highlighted her priorities in Vietnam. First and foremost, the two countries are negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, while many …