Ambassador Le Cong Phung is a career diplomat. He recently served as Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the United States of America, from 2007 to 2011. He began his diplomatic career serving in the Vietnamese embassies in the United Kingdom, from 1974 to 1977, China, from 1978 to 1980, and Indonesia, from 1984 to 1987. He served as Ambassador of Vietnam to Thailand between 1993 and 1997. Ambassador Phung later served as Assistant Foreign Minister, from 1999 to 2000, and Deputy Foreign Minister, from 2001 to 2004. He was the Chairman of the Committee on Border Affairs, and Chairman of the National Commission for UNESCO, between 2000 and 2004. He graduated from the College of Diplomacy of Vietnam in 1971, and is fluent in English and French.