VIETNAM

Official to Take PR Trip: The government is sending one of its deputy prime ministers to the United States to drum up American dollars for investment in the country’s free-market economy after the lifting of a 19-year trade embargo three months ago. Vietnam is also gearing up for a second round of talks in the United States on the opening of liaison offices in Washington and Hanoi and on U.S. war claims against the country, steps needed for full diplomatic relations. Deputy Prime Minister Tran Duc Luong will head a delegation attending a workshop on opportunity for business in Vietnam on May 19-20 in Washington, organized by the World Economic Development Congress, according to foreign ministry spokeswoman Ho The Lan.