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.
Donald R. Heath – Career FSOTitle: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
Appointed: June 29, 1950
Presented credentials: October 22, 1950
Terminated mission: June 25, 1952 Promoted to Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Donald R. Heath – Career FSOTitle: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: June 25, 1952
Presented credentials: July 11, 1952
Terminated mission: Left post November 14, 1954
G. Frederick Reinhardt – Career FSOTitle: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: April 20, 1955
Presented credentials: May 28, 1955
Terminated mission: Left post February 10, 1957
Elbridge Durbrow – Career FSO
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: March 14, 1957
Presented credentials: April 16, 1957
Terminated mission: Left post May 3, 1961
Frederick Nolting – Career FSO
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: March 15, 1961
Presented credentials: May 10, 1961
Terminated mission: Left post August 15, 1963
Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. – Political appointee
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: August 1, 1963
Presented credentials: August 26, 1963
Terminated mission: Left post June 28, 1964
Maxwell D. Taylor – Political appointee
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: July 1, 1964
Presented credentials: July 14, 1964
Terminated mission: Left post July 30, 1965
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).
Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. – Political appointee
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: July 31, 1965
Presented credentials: August 25, 1965
Terminated mission: Left post April 25, 1967
Ellsworth Bunker – Political appointee
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: April 5, 1967
Presented credentials: April 28, 1967
Terminated mission: Left post May 11, 1973
Graham A. Martin – Career FSO
Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Appointed: June 21, 1973
Presented credentials: July 20, 1973
Terminated mission: Left post, April 29, 1975
