Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Hanoi
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The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vietnam (Chinese: 駐越南台北經濟文化辦事處; pinyin: Zhù Yuènán Táiběi Jīngjì Wénhuà Bànshì Chù; Vietnamese: Văn phòng Kinh tế và Văn hóa Đài Bắc tại Việt Nam) is the representative office of Taiwan in Vietnam, which functions as a de facto embassy in the absence of diplomatic relations. It also has responsibility for Laos.[2]
Vietnam (excluding southern regions) 
Laos- Liu, Shih-Chung, Representative[1]
| 駐越南台北經濟文化辦事處 Văn phòng Kinh tế và Văn hóa Đài Bắc tại Việt Nam | |
 | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1992 |
| Jurisdiction | Vietnam (excluding southern regions) Laos |
| Headquarters | Hanoi |
Agency executive |
|
| Website | Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vietnam |
Its counterpart body in Taiwan is the Vietnam Economic and Culture Office in Taipei.[3]
There is also a Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Ho Chi Minh City,[4] which has responsibility for relations with the southern regions of Vietnam as well as Cambodia.[2]
History
The Hanoi office, along with its counterpart in Ho Chi Minh City, was established in June 1992.[5] This followed visits to Vietnam by the Sino-Vietnamese Industrial and Commercial Association (SVICA) and Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) in 1991.[6]
Until 1975, Taiwan, as the Republic of China, had an embassy in Saigon.[7] However, the embassy suspended operations after the defeat of South Vietnam by the Communist North, which has diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China.[8]
In February 2014, a former Secretary of the Office was investigated by police for reportedly cooperating to take bribes to illegally grant visas to Vietnamese students two years earlier.[9]