United States Ambassador to South Vietnam

Ambassador of the United States to South Vietnam
Seal of the United States Department of State
Incumbent None
Nominator	The President of the United States
Inaugural holder	Donald R. Heath as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
Formation	June 29, 1950
Abolished	April 29, 1975

After World War II, France attempted to regain control of Vietnam, which they 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. The US was opposed to the Communist government of the North, led by Ho Chi Minh, and did not recognize the northern regime.

Following the Vietnam War, the US Embassy, Saigon was closed and all Embassy personnel evacuated on April 29, 1975, just prior to the surrender of South Vietnam to North Vietnamese forces.

U.S. diplomatic terms

Note: U. Alexis Johnson arrived at Saigon on June 28, 1964, as the first of a series of Deputy Ambassadors to Vietnam. The Deputy Ambassadors and their periods of service in Vietnam are: U. Alexis Johnson (June 1964–September 1965), William J. Porter (September 1965–May 1967), Eugene M. Locke (May 1967–Jan 1968), Samuel D. Berger (March 1968–Mar 1972) Charles S. Whitehouse (March 1972–August 1973).