LookAtVietnam – The US has allowed Vietnam to open a consulate general in Houston, Texas while Vietnam has permitted the US to open a consulate in the central city of Da Nang.

The US Ambassador to Vietnam, Michael Michalak.

However, the US Ambassador to Vietnam, Michael Michalak, said that owing to budget restrictions, the US Embassy in Hanoi or the US consulate general in HCM City will temporarily assume the job of the regional office in Da Nang until the US administration allocates sufficient funds for the opening of a consulate in this central city.

Ambassador Michalak also said that the US is fulfilling necessary formalities to have an additional consul staff in Hanoi in charge of the office in Da Nang.

Le Dung, former head of the Information and Press Department and former spokesman of the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry, has been appointed as the head of Vietnam’s new consulate general in Houston, Texas, USA.

Dung has went to Texas with a working group to prepare for the opening of the new consulate general in Houston. He said the new consulate general in Texas will be opened at the latest in September 2009.

VietNamNet/Tuoi Tre