Based on QST articles, here is what was
indicated for Vietnam: In Feb. 1966 the Vietnam government
gave permission for only Bill Porter, K1YPE/XV5, to
operate. He also used XV5AA. No other authorizations
were given at that time. He was assistant ambassador to
Vietnam and eventually left. In January, 1973 only XV5AC
was authorized to work stations in other countries. In June
1974 XV5AA and XV5AB were also granted permission to
operate. These were the only exceptions to the banned
list. There have been other special permissions,
though. In August, 1958 I worked W3ZA/3W and was given DXCC
credit. He also operated as XV5A. After the end of
the Vietnam war the 3W and XV stations slowly started to appear.
It was a similar situation in Thailand with bans that were off
and on. In March 1957 I was given DXCC credit for HS1A, a
USAF major stationed in Bangkok. Cambodia was finally on
the air to work in mid-1972 when XU1AA appeared after many years
on the banned list.
Here are the QST references for Vietnam:
Feb. 1966, p. 67. Banned countries list. No changes to list of banned countries. However, a footnote states:
"K1YPE/XV5 has permission for international communications from the U.S. and Vietnamese administrations and is authorized to handle third-party messages with U.S. amateurs."
Jan. 1973, p. 81. Banned countries list. Notice from Vietnam. Full quote.
Amateur licensees are warned that international communications are limited by the following notifications of foreign countries made to the ITU under the provisions in Article 41 of the Geneva (1959) Conference.
The Director General of the Posts and Telegraphs Department of Vietnam has notified the ITU that there is no objection to communications between amateur stations in other countries and XV5AC. However, communication with other amateur stations in Vietnam (XV or 3W8) is forbidden. Canadian amateurs may not communicate with Cyprus, Gabon, Iraq, Pakistan, Turkey, Khmer Republic (except XU1AA), Vietnam, Libya, and Yemen. Prefixes to be avoided by Canadians are AP TA TR8 XU XV YI ZC4 3W8 4W 5A.
End quote.
June 1974, p. 10. League Lines states "The Republic of Viet Nam has announced that it has no objection to communications between stations XV5AA and XV5AB and amateur stations in other countries. These stations join XV5AC on the "okay to work" list for amateurs."
Tnx W6YA
United States Military Assistance Command. Vietnam APO San Francisco 96243 Dear Mr. Green: After many years with no amateur radio activity in the Republic of Vietnam the recent activation of an amateur radio station here has caused a great deal of interest in the ranks of amateurs worldwide and espe- cially among those amateurs now in, or about to come to Vietnam. ARRL bulletin #40, other published no- tices, and on-the-air discussions have caused this head- quarters to receive an unprecedented number of re- quests for information concerning authorization to op- erate here. Answering these requests imposes an added burden that can be ill afforded. It is the purpose of mis letter to explain the current status of amateur radio in the Republic of Vietnam and ask that you publish this Information in 73 Magazine. For many years the Republic of Vietnam has been torn by strife and it was in this setting shortly after independence was attained that amateur radio was banned and an exception to amateur operation was filed with the ITU. Until late in 1965 there was no legal amateur operation in this country. At that time the Government of Vietnam extended the privilege of amateur operating authorization to Deputy Ambassa- dor William J. Porter, K1YPE, as a courtesy to a high ranking United States diplomatic representative. Si- multaneously, action was initiated to withdraw the ex- ception to amateur operation filed with the ITU to enable other countries to recognize his operation. Ambassador Porter has been authorized by the Gov- ernment of Vietnam to vise the call XV5AA and there is no restriction on third party message and phone patch traffic. However, since other governments have not yet been notified of this action by the ITU. until they are Ambassador Porter is using the portable call K1YPE/XV5 for U.S. amateur contacts at the request of the FCC. His use of this call will cease when the ITU notification is received and he will then com- mence using the call XV5AA. He is already using XV5AA, however for contact with non-US amateur stations- v There have been some questions received concerning the prefix used for Ambassador Porter's call sign. The exclusive use of 3W8 for amateur stations seems to have been implied by certain published listings in which only 3W8 appeared, but this is incorrect and other listings correctly show both 3W8 and XVS.
CQ January 1968 reports that the K7LMU/3W8 operation took place after clearing the activity with the FCC to lift the ban, at least temporarily.
Tnx 5B4AHJ
Info courtesy of W6YA, 5B4AHJ