COUNTRY CLEARANCE APPROVAL FOR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION

UNCLAS HANOI 000311 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AMGT OVIP PREL PGOV VM SUBJECT: COUNTRY CLEARANCE APPROVAL FOR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION MCCAIN TO VIETNAM, APRIL 6-8, 2009 REF: DTG: 011344Z ¶1. Embassy Hanoi warmly welcomes and grants country clearance for Senators John McCain, Lindsey Graham, and Amy Klobuchar and delegation to travel to Vietnam, April 6-8, 2009 per reftel. ¶2. Hanoi Control Officer: Brian Aggeler, Political Counselor Tel: (84-4)3850-5000 ext. 5119 Cell: (84)(090) 346-0114 Fax: (84-4)3850-5098 Unclass E-mail: AggelerB@state.gov Control Officer and Embassy vehicles will meet the delegation on arrival at Haiphong airport and Ambassador Michalak will meet the delegation on arrival in Hanoi. ¶3. Hotel reservations have been made at the Hotel Metropole Hanoi. Hotel Metropole Hanoi 15 Ngo Quyen Street Hanoi, Vietnam Tel: (84-4) 3826-6919, ext: 8513 Fax: (84-4) 3826 6920 www.sofitel.com/1555 ¶4. Security Information: a) Cities in Vietnam have the typical crime problems of other large cities throughout the world. Pickpockets and petty crime occur and appear to be increasing; though violent crimes such as armed robbery are still relatively rare in Vietnam. Drug use is becoming more and more of a problem in Vietnam. The Embassy recommends that travelers use only metered taxis. Traffic in Vietnam can appear chaotic and there is a real threat of being involved in a traffic or pedestrian accident. Pedestrians unaccustomed to walking across the street in Hanoi, HCMC or other Vietnamese cities should be extra cautious. b) Vietnamese security personnel may place foreign visitors under surveillance. Hotel rooms, telephone conversations, fax transmissions, and e-mail communications may be monitored, and personal possessions in hotel rooms may be searched. ¶5. Electronic Devices in the Embassy: The Embassy and Consulate General strictly control the entry of laptop computers, personal digital assistants (PDAS) and other electronic devices into Embassy and Consulate General facilities. If you plan to bring official electronic equipment to Post, please advise the control officer and the RSO of the equipment, make/model, and serial or other control number in your request for country clearance. Providing this information in advance will speed the entry of the equipment into the Embassy and Consulate General. Upon arrival, the Information Management Specialist or the Regional Security Office must inspect all laptop computers before entering Embassy or Consulate General facilities. Personally owned or unapproved USG equipment (which includes all PDA's, cell phones, and pagers) - may not enter the controlled access areas. MICHALAK