U.S. envoy to Hanoi arrives in April

U.S. envoy to Hanoi arrives in April

HANOI (AFP): Douglas "Pete" Peterson is likely to be confirmed as the first ambassador to Vietnam this week and will arrive in Hanoi by April 1, a United States embassy official here said on yesterday.

Desaix Anderson, U.S. charge d'affaires, told U.S. businessmen at a local American Chamber of Commerce luncheon that Peterson was eager to get to Vietnam and start work.

Peterson, 61, was held prisoner by North Vietnam for more than six years after his Air Force jet was shot down during the Vietnam war.

Vietnam has unofficially chosen Le Van Bang to become the first Vietnamese ambassador to Washington where he is currently Vietnam's charge d'affaires.