Governor-General's trip to Việt Nam sparks renewed potential for bilateral relationships, according to Ambassador
Australian Governor-General's State Visit to Vietnam Strengthens Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
The upcoming state visit of Australia's Governor-General, Samantha Joy Mostyn, to Vietnam, scheduled from September 9-12, 2025, marks a significant milestone in strengthening the friendship and cooperation between the two nations. This visit comes over a year after the two countries upgraded their relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
In Australia, the Aboriginal flag flies alongside the national flag at public institutions, symbolizing the government's respect towards indigenous people. Indigenous traditions are also included in major national events, reflecting the country's commitment to cultural diversity.
For Vietnam, hosting the Governor-General demonstrates the country's foreign policy of fostering relations with South Pacific nations, especially Australia. The Vietnamese community in Australia, numbering around 350,000, has made significant contributions to Australia's development. Vietnamese is the fourth most spoken language after English, Chinese, and Arabic in the country.
During her stay, Governor-General Mostyn will attend the Vietnam-Australia Forum 2025, inaugurate the Vietnam-Australia Policy Institute, and travel to Ho Chi Minh City. She is also expected to lay a wreath at the Monument to Heroic Martyrs, pay tribute to President Ho Chi Minh, hold talks with President Luong Cuong, meet other key Party and State leaders, and engage with leaders of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics.
The two countries signed an Action Plan to implement bilateral partnership for 2024-2027 in October last year. As of now, 96% of the 180 agreed actions in the Action Plan have been completed or remain on track. Strengthened collaboration in UN peacekeeping is a tangible outcome of the upgraded relationship. More balanced two-way trade is also a result, with nearly half a million Australian visitors to Vietnam in 2024.
The first-ever Ministerial Security Dialogue has taken place between the two countries, and the visit is expected to consolidate strategic trust between Vietnam and Australia and contribute to peace, stability, and development in the region. A highlight of the southern leg of the visit may include an exchange with Vietnam's peacekeepers, reflecting the two countries' increasingly effective defence cooperation.
For Australia, the visit reflects a consistent policy of attaching importance and giving high priority to ties with Southeast Asia, including Vietnam. The visit is a significant milestone in strengthening friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Australia, particularly in political ties.
The visit is expected to bring the two nations closer together, with the Governor-General's warm and open character likely to share her impressions of Vietnam with the Australian public. Cultural and people-to-people exchanges are playing a crucial role in the relationship, and this visit is set to further deepen these connections.
Ambassador Tam described Australia as one of the world's most successful multicultural societies, home to people from some 300 ethnic backgrounds. The visit is expected to contribute to peace, stability, and development in the region, making it a significant event in the diplomatic calendar for both countries.
