The new United States ambassador to Vietnam has arrived in Hanoi and is ready to officially assume the position for 2017-2020.

Daniel Kritenbrink touched down in the Vietnamese capital at 11:30 pm on Saturday and is scheduled to present a credential letter to State President Tran Dai Quang on Monday morning.

He will then officially become the U.S. ambassador to Vietnam for the 2017-20 term, taking over the post of former Ambassador Ted Osius.

Kritenbrink’s first mission as the new U.S. ambassador will be accompanying President Donald Trump during his trip to Vietnam for attendance at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit week and a state visit to the Southeast Asian country.

The APEC Economic Leaders’ Week will take place in the central city of Da Nang from November 6 to 11, while the state visit will be conducted in Hanoi on November 11 and 12.

Ambassador Kritenbrink takes a selfie with a young Vietnamese girl at Noi Bai Airport. Photo: Tuoi Tre

According to the diplomat, his wife, son, and daughter will also come to Vietnam in early December, all of whom are excited to explore the diverse culture, amazing cuisine, and meet new friends in the country.

This is a great time to work in Vietnam, as the two nations now share common interests in security, trade and investment, and the exchanges between people, he remarked.

The ambassador pledged to push forward the bilateral relationship of the two countries.

Ambassador Kritenbrink speaks to the press upon his arrival in Hanoi. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Kritenbrink was among several individuals tapped by U.S. President Donald Trump for key positions in his administration in a plan released by the administration in late July.

The U.S. Senate confirmed in late October he would be the next U.S. ambassador to Vietnam.

Kritenbrink, 50, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Minister-Counselor, has served as an American diplomat since 1994, the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi said in a press release.

He was the Senior Advisor for North Korea Policy at the Department of State.

During his time serving as senior director for Asia at the United States National Security Council, Kritenbrink had significant contribution to the successful visit to the U.S. of Vietnamese Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong in July 2015, and the trip to Vietnam of former President Barrack Obama in May 2016.

He previously worked at the Embassy of the U.S. in Japan, Kuwait, and China.

Kritenbrink earned an M.A. from the University of Virginia and a B.A. from the University of Nebraska-Kearney. He speaks Chinese and Japanese.

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