United States Ambassador to South Vietnam


At the end of World War II in Asia, France attempted to regain control of Vietnam, as part of French Indochina, which it had lost to Japan in 1941. Following the First Indochina War, the country was split into two parts, the North and the South. The southern part was named the State of Vietnam under the leadership of Bảo Đại. In 1950, the United States recognized the Bảo Đại government, established diplomatic relations, and sent its first ambassador to Saigon in South Vietnam, officially known as the Republic of Vietnam following the rise of Ngô Đình Diệm in 1955. The US was opposed to the communist government of the North, led by Hồ Chí Minh, and did not recognize the northern regime.
Following the Vietnam War, the US Embassy in Saigon was closed and all Embassy personnel evacuated on April 29, 1975, just prior to the Fall of Saigon to North Vietnamese and Việt Cộng forces.

Ambassadors

PortraitNameTypeTitleAppointedPresented credentialsTerminated mission
Donald R. HeathCareer FSOEE/MPJune 29, 1950October 22, 1950June 25, 1952
Donald R. HeathCareer FSOAE/PJune 25, 1952July 11, 1952November 14, 1954
G. Frederick ReinhardtCareer FSOAE/PApril 20, 1955May 28, 1955February 10, 1957
Elbridge DurbrowCareer FSOAE/PMarch 14, 1957April 16, 1957May 3, 1961
Frederick E. Nolting Jr.Career FSOAE/PMarch 15, 1961May 10, 1961August 15, 1963
Henry Cabot Lodge Jr.Political appointeeAE/PAugust 1, 1963August 26, 1963June 28, 1964
Maxwell D. TaylorPolitical appointeeAE/PJuly 1, 1964July 14, 1964July 30, 1965
Henry Cabot Lodge Jr.Political appointeeAE/PJuly 31, 1965August 25, 1965April 25, 1967
Ellsworth F. BunkerPolitical appointeeAE/PApril 5, 1967April 28, 1967May 11, 1973
Graham A. MartinCareer FSOAE/PJune 21, 1973July 20, 1973April 29, 1975

Deputy Ambassadors