The announcement on the Facebook page of the US Embassy in Hanoi reads: Due to the US Government's budget disruption, this Facebook account will not be updated regularly until operations return to normal, except for emergency information related to safety and security.
Currently, passport and visa services as scheduled in the US as well as at US Embassies and Consulates will continue to take place during the budget interruption if the situation allows.
The Embassy noted: "We will not update this account until normal operations are restored, except for emergency information on safety and security. For more information about our services and operations, please visit the website: travel.state.gov".
The US center in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City will be temporarily closed until further notice.
At 0:00 on October 1 US time (11:00 on the same day, Vietnam time), the US Government officially closed after both proposals from the Republican and Democratic Party, which were expected to approve a budget package worth 1.7 trillion USD for the US Government, were rejected by the Senate at the last minute.
Since fiscal year 1977, the US government has been under budgeted dozens of times. If including the closures that only lasted 1 day, the US government's closure will start on October 1, marking the 21st closure. It is not yet clear how long the US government's shutdown could last.
According to the US Congressional Budget Office, about 750,000 federal employees could be temporarily laid off during the closure. This figure could fluctuate if the closure continues.
