Communist-ruled Vietnam has a large Catholic population but has no formal diplomatic ties with the Holy See.
The appointment of Leopoldo Girelli, previously the Holy See`s ambassador to Indonesia, was announced by the Vatican in a statement.
Vietnam has Southeast Asia`s largest Roman Catholic community after the Philippines -- about six million among a total population of 86 million.
The Vatican and Vietnam have been at odds since the end of French colonial rule in 1954 over Church-owned land that was confiscated.
The regime severed diplomatic ties in 1975 at the country`s reunification following the Vietnam war, but relations have improved since 1990, with regular visits by Vatican cardinals to Vietnam.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung made a historic visit to the Vatican in 2007, marking a major thaw in relations. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
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