"We are delighted to welcome Ambassador Jennifer Wicks to Vietnam and look forward to further strengthening the partnership and enduring friendship between our two countries," the embassy said in a statement.

Jennifer Wicks brings more than two decades of experience at the US Department of State. Following confirmation by the US Senate, she became the first female US ambassador to Vietnam.

During her nomination hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on December 11, 2025, Wicks described Vietnam as one of the United States' most important partners in the region and emphasized that "a strong, independent and resilient Vietnam is in the interest of the United States."

She also highlighted Vietnam's significant support for war legacy programs, including efforts to repatriate the remains of missing American service members, and pledged to continue supporting initiatives aimed at addressing the consequences of war.

From November 2012, Wicks served as Director of Presidential Appointments, working across four US administrations. She is also a career civil servant with nearly 31 years of experience in the US government.

The most recent US ambassador to Vietnam, Marc E. Knapper, concluded his assignment earlier this year.

Vietnam and the United States normalized diplomatic relations in 1995. In September 2023, the two countries upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The United States is Vietnam's largest export market, while Vietnam is the eighth-largest trading partner of the United States and Washington's largest trading partner within ASEAN.

Vietnam has consistently expressed its desire to promote the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the United States in a stable, substantive and effective manner. For its part, Washington has voiced support for a "strong, independent, self-reliant and prosperous" Vietnam.

Tran Thuong