public affairs section

THE INFORMATION RESOURCE CENTER (IRC) 
 
The IRC provides up-to-date information to Vietnamese audiences and U.S. Mission staff on the United States, its people and its policies. The subject emphasis is on American politics and government, economics and trade, foreign affairs and defense, education and culture, as well as global issues such as narcotics, HIV-AIDS, and environmental and social issues.
 
Staffed by professional documentation and reference specialists and equipped with modern information retrieval technologies such as on-line databases, the IRC provides continually updated information to its users via phone, fax, email, mail and in-person (by appointment). 
 
Article Round Up: 
A monthly current events collection of 25 articles designed to keep the IRC users abreast of topics of interest in the United States. Upon receiving Article Round Up annotations, IRC’s users can send information requests via email, fax, and telephone.  
 
American Book Locker Program (Mobile Libraries):
This service provides small collections to selected universities, policy research institutions, and government offices for their staff to use for a period of up to six months. The collection consists of up-to-date books and CD ROMs on major topics: Economics and Trade, U.S. Foreign Policy, U.S. Politics and Government, U.S. Law and English Teaching, etc. Please contact the IRC for more information regarding terms of the service and contract.
 
American Corner (The U.S.–Vietnam Studies Project): 
Sponsored by the Bureau of International Information Programs of the United States Department of State, the IRC works with selected Vietnamese partners to establish American Corners or  “U.S. – Vietnam Studies Project,” throughout the Consular district which stretches from Hue to southern Vietnam.  The first center was established in 2004 at Da Nang University’s Information Resource Center.  This is a joint partnership project that promotes cooperation and understanding between the United States and Vietnam by providing open, accurate, and factual information about the United States in a variety of formats to the Vietnamese people.
 
Consulate General Website:
The IRC staff maintains the Consulate General public website at http://hochiminh.usconsulate.gov. The website serves as a gateway to useful information related to the U.S. including visa applications, education, economics and trade.  Please find materials in Vietnamese posted to both the Consulate General and the U.S. Embassy websites.
 
Periodicals: 
Approximately 40 – 50 magazines and newspapers are available for public use at the IRC.  These periodicals cover all aspects of American life. Readers may request photocopy service at the IRC, limited to one article per visit.
 
Reference Books:
The IRC currently has a collection of reference books in many fields such as public diplomacy, public administration, economics, trade, sciences and technology, etc.  The IRC does not issue membership cards. “Take home” requests will be considered on case-by-case basis.
 
Research/Reference Service:
Information provided upon request about U.S. policies in domestic and international affairs via phone calls, fax, mail, e-mail, and visits by appointment.
 
Translation project:
The IRC works with professional institutions to translate U.S. government documents such as Electronic Journals, Transcripts, and press clippings (from the Washington File) into Vietnamese in order to provide information of interest to Vietnamese audiences.

HUBERT H. HUMPHREY PROGRAM

This one-year, non-degree, academic and research public administration program is open to a maximum of five candidates each year from Vietnam. Participants spend one year at a U.S. university during which time they may also engage in an internship off-campus in their field.  Candidates in the fields of economics, law, public policy analysis, business administration, communications/journalism, TESOL, health, environmental studies, education, women’s issues, technology management, and urban planning are encouraged to apply. Candidates must pass the TOEFL exam with a score of 525 or more to be eligible for consideration.

THE FULBRIGHT SENIOR SPECIALIST PROGRAM

This program places one or two qualified American specialists at a Vietnamese institution from two to six weeks in order to conduct training workshops, assist in curriculum development, or otherwise act as a  consultant in such areas as economics, business administration, journalism, education, law, environmental science, American Studies, etc.  Interested institutions should contact the Public Affairs Section (PAS) in order to make a request which outlines the project dates and activities, details the required qualifications of the specialist, and provides a justification and desired result statement.  PAS bears all costs except lodging, which must be covered by the local host institution.

THE U.S. SPEAKER PROGRAM

The U.S. Speaker Program invites and pays for American scholars and experts to speak at interested Vietnamese institutions on various subjects such as economics, trade, legal reform, American history, culture, politics, U.S. foreign policy, etc.  PAS may also be able to assist with related costs such as hall rental, interpretation and translation of presentation papers.  Interested Vietnamese institutions are encouraged to contact PAS HCMC to discuss speaker programming.

FULBRIGHT PROGRAM IN VIETNAM

Started in 1992 with the goal of increasing mutual understanding between the people of the United States and Vietnam, the Vietnam Fulbright Program has expanded to include four elements: the U.S. Scholar Exchange Program, the U.S. Student Exchange Program, the Vietnam Scholar Exchange Program, and the Vietnam Student Exchange Program.  On behalf of the J. William Fulbright Board of Foreign Scholarships and the U.S. Department of State, PAS Hanoi co-ordinates with PAS HCMC to ensure a smooth and systematic development of the Vietnam Fulbright Program.

INTERNATIONAL VISITOR PROGRAM

Every year the U.S. Consulate General identifies candidates for participation in three-week thematic study tours to the U.S.  Grantees typically travel to several regions in the U.S. to meet with American professional counterparts and exchange ideas and methods relating to their fields of expertise.  Candidates are ideally between 30-45 years of age; have worked in their professional areas for at least five years; have demonstrated academic and professional excellence in their areas of specialty; and have obtained the agreement of their employer to participate in a U.S. government-sponsored exchange program.  Candidates in the fields of trade, economics, public administration, law, education, environmental protection, health, creative writing, women’s issues, arts management and international affairs are eligible for this program.  English language ability is not always required.

PRESS PROGRAMS

The Public Affairs Section (PAS) HCMC accepts and facilitates interview requests from Vietnamese and international journalists who are interested in the activities of the U.S. Consulate General in HCMC and in issues related to U.S.-Vietnamese relations.  Press releases and announcements about activities of the U.S. Consulate General in HCMC and issues of U.S.-Vietnamese relations are posted on the Consulate General’s website.  Additionally, from our Washington File, an electronic information source from the U.S. State Department in Washington, we select transcripts of official speeches, articles and commentaries from U.S. print and electronic press for translation and distribution to interested Vietnamese readers and to the local press for placement.

 
THE BOOK TRANSLATION PROGRAM

The Book Translation Program purchases copyrights and may also cover the cost of translating and publishing books by U.S. authors into Vietnamese.  Sponsorship is provided on a competitive basis to interested Vietnamese institutions that are encouraged to share the costs with PAS and must agree to distribute the books commercially.  Titles in the fields of social sciences and humanities, economics, as well as works of fiction are within the scope of this program.  This program is only available to publishing companies.

STUDENT ADVISING OFFICE

The Institute of International Education (IIE), a private, nonprofit organization headquartered in New York, has two branch offices in Vietnam in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. IIE was founded in 1919 to promote peace and understanding through cultural and educational exchanges.  As the largest and most active non-profit organization in the field of international education and exchange, IIE maintains 6 offices in the U.S. and 13 offices around the world, including Egypt, Hungary, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Mexico, Namibia, the Philippines, Russia, Thailand, Ukraine, and Vietnam.
 
IIE has been active in Vietnam since 1992, building and fostering educational relationships with the U.S. Our work encompasses all aspects of the higher education sector, including: 

- Free and impartial advising to prospective students, scholars and professionals considering opportunities for study in the United States.

- A library of standard reference books and university/college catalogues.

- Information, bulletins and study material for standardized examinations, including TOEFL, SAT, GRE, and GMAT.

- A collection of videos and CD-ROM disks on specific fields of study, universities, life in the U.S. and pre-departure information.

- Scholarship administration, such as the East West Center Fellowships and the Wesleyan Freeman Asian Scholarships, as well as financial aid information.

- Opportunities to meet with visiting college and university representatives.

 
IIE is located at 69 Hoang Hoa Tham Street, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

You may also contact IIE via email at edu.assistant@iievn.org or by telephone: (848) 510 8844 ; fax: (848) 551 1661. Additional information about IIE and its programs in Vietnam is available at www.iievn.org