This is Governor-General Sam Mostyn’s first state visit to Viet Nam since taking office. The visit marks an important milestone, reaffirming the trust and determination of the two countries’ senior leaders to further deepen the fine, enduring friendship and the comprehensive strategic partnership between Viet Nam and Australia.
Situated in the South Pacific, Australia has consistently maintained a leading role in the region. The country’s domestic political situation is generally stable. In foreign affairs, Australia attaches importance to relations with Southeast Asia, including Viet Nam. At the same time, it places high value on cooperation in the South Pacific and endeavours to maintain stable relations with major powers. Australia gives priority to investment in science and technology, particularly scientific research.
Following the signing of the Paris Agreement on ending the war and restoring peace in Viet Nam, Australia was among the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with Viet Nam. The year 2023 marked the 50th anniversary of Viet Nam–Australia diplomatic relations, a precious shared asset of both nations and a solid foundation for the two countries to enter a new era of development.
In 2024, the two countries elevated their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, a significant step forward made possible by the tireless efforts of generations of leaders and people of both Viet Nam and Australia.
Over the past five decades, political trust between the two countries has been steadily strengthened. Regular exchanges of delegations at high and various levels, along with the flexible maintenance of more than 20 bilateral cooperation mechanisms, have provided a powerful impetus for the flourishing relationship.
Economic, trade and investment cooperation has produced many notable achievements. Australia is currently Viet Nam’s seventh-largest trading partner, while Viet Nam is Australia’s tenth-largest. Bilateral trade reached 14.1 billion USD in 2024, and 7.9 billion USD in the first seven months of 2025.
To realise the target of raising bilateral trade to 20 billion USD, both countries are taking practical steps. Recently, Australia opened its market to Vietnamese lychees, mangoes, dragon fruit, longans, passion fruit, and frozen shrimp products. Conversely, Viet Nam has expanded its imports of Australian fruit.
In terms of investment, by mid-2025 Australia had 864 investment projects in Viet Nam with total capital of 3.38 billion USD. Viet Nam, in turn, had 93 projects in Australia, making Australia the 11th out of 83 overseas investment destinations for Viet Nam. The presence of major Vietnamese enterprises such as TH, An Vien, VinFast, and Vietjet in Australia is vivid testimony to the increasingly close economic links between the two countries.
Australia is also one of Viet Nam’s largest bilateral providers of non-refundable ODA. In March 2025, Australia announced a record increase in ODA for Viet Nam to 96.6 million AUD for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, Australia has provided Viet Nam with more than 3 billion AUD in ODA over the past five decades.
Beyond economics, trade and investment, education cooperation stands out as a bright spot in bilateral relations. With nearly 37,700 students, Viet Nam ranks fifth among countries with the largest number of international students in Australia. The two sides have signed a supplementary agreement to the Viet Nam–Australia Human Resource Development Programme for 2021–2025, as well as an intergovernmental cooperation agreement for 2023–2027. These form an important basis for further expanding and deepening cooperation in education.
Science and technology cooperation is also highly valued by both sides. The two countries are effectively implementing the second phase of the Aus4Innovation Programme. The Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology and Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation have signed a new memorandum of understanding on cooperation in science, technology, and innovation for the next five years.
The Vietnamese community in Australia numbers about 375,000, ranking fifth among foreign communities in the country. They have been making steadfast contributions, building invisible yet enduring bridges connecting the two nations, spreading the cultural values of each, and bringing the two peoples closer together.
Cherishing the tradition of friendship and sound cooperation over more than half a century, Viet Nam and Australia continue to look towards a bright future with many further achievements in bilateral relations.
The welcome extended to the Australian Governor-General’s visit to Viet Nam reaffirms the consistent policy of the Vietnamese Party and State to attach importance to strengthening relations with South Pacific countries, including Australia, for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the wider world.
