During a working trip to Darwin in Australia's Northern Territory, Vietnamese Consul General in Perth Pham Hai Anh attended and delivered the opening remarks at the 2026 Viet Nam Lantern Festival on September 5. This is the fifth time the distinctive festival has been held in Darwin.
The Viet Nam Lantern Festival this year was attended by Northern Territory Minister for Tourism Marie-Clare Boothby; Northern Territory Minister for Multicultural Affairs Jinson Anto Charls; Minister for Trade, Business and Asian Relations Robyn Cahill; as well as many federal and Territory parliamentarians, the Lord Mayor of Darwin, and nearly 5,000 local residents and visitors.
In his opening remarks, Vietnamese Consul General in Perth Pham Hai Anh congratulated the Australian Vietnamese Family Association (AVFA) and the Vietnamese community on the fifth anniversary of the festival, while acknowledging the sustained contributions of the AVFA and the large number of volunteers.
From its modest launch in 2022, when it attracted around 800 participants, the festival has grown into an event drawing nearly 5,000 people this year. In 2024, it was honoured by the City of Darwin as the “Community Initiative of the Year”.
Consul General Pham Hai Anh stressed that, under the theme “Towards the South and the Mekong Delta”, the 2026 Viet Nam Lantern Festival is not only an occasion to preserve cultural identity and connect the Vietnamese community with their homeland, but also serves as a bridge bringing the image of Viet Nam and its people closer to Australians, thereby helping foster friendship and mutual understanding between the peoples of the two countries.
Amid the colourful glow of lanterns, residents and visitors enjoyed artistic performances and traditional Vietnamese cuisine, took part in family activities, wore Vietnamese traditional costumes, released lanterns onto the water and watched a spectacular fireworks display that brought the event to a close.
After five editions since 2022, the Viet Nam Lantern Festival has gradually established itself as one of the prominent community cultural events in Darwin, helping promote the image of Viet Nam, enhance the positive role of the Vietnamese community and further strengthen friendship between the peoples of Viet Nam and Australia.
