government: Prime Minister Phan Van KHAI (since 25
September 1997); First Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan DUNG (since
29 September 1997); Deputy Prime Ministers Nguyen Cong TAN (since 29
September 1997), Nguyen Manh CAM (since 29 September 1997), and Pham
Gia KHIEM (since 29 September 1997)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the proposal of the
prime minister and ratification of the National Assembly

elections: president elected by the National Assembly from among
its members for a five-year term; election last held 25 September
1997 (next to be held when National Assembly meets following
legislative elections in NA 2002); prime minister appointed by the
president from among the members of the National Assembly; deputy
prime ministers appointed by the prime minister

election results: Tran Duc LUONG elected president; percent of
National Assembly vote - NA%

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Quoc-Hoi (450
seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)

elections: last held 20 July 1997 (next to be held NA 2002)

election results: percent of vote by party - CPV 92%, other 8% (the
8% are not CPV members but are approved by the CPV to stand for
election); seats by party - CPV or CPV-approved 450

Judicial branch: Supreme People's Court (chief justice is elected
for a five-year term by the National Assembly on the recommendation
of the president)

Political parties and leaders: only party - Communist Party of
Vietnam or CPV [Le Kha PHIEU, general secretary]

Political pressure groups and leaders: none

International organization participation: ACCT, APEC, ARF, AsDB,
ASEAN, CCC, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission:
Ambassador-designate Nguyen Tam CHIEN

chancery: 1233 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036, Suite 400

telephone: [1] (202) 861-0737

FAX: [1] (202) 861-0917

consulate(s) general: San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Douglas B. "Pete" PETERSON

embassy: 7 Lang Ha Road, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi

mailing address: PSC 461, Box 400, FPO AP 96521-0002

telephone: [84] (4) 8431500

FAX: [84] (4) 8351510

consulate(s) general: Ho Chi Minh