The reception area of the British Embassy in Hanoi

The UK has had a diplomatic presence in Hanoi, capital of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, for over 60 years. We opened a consulate in Hanoi in 1946, which was upgraded to a consulate-general in 1954. It remained open throughout the war (at the same time, a British Embassy was also open in what was then Saigon, capital of South Vietnam). Following the establishment of full diplomatic relations in 1973, our consulate-general in Hanoi was upgraded to an embassy. The embassy grew substantially in the mid-1990s to meet the growing demand of the enhanced relationship. The Ambassador Mr Mark Kent arrived in December 2007. 

The British Embassy in Hanoi works to develop and sustain the important and long-standing relationship between the UK and Vietnam. This involves dealing with a wide range of political, commercial, security and economic questions of interest to the UK and Vietnam.