Australia, Vietnam enhance cultural ties through contemporary music initiative
VOV.VN - The Australian Embassy in Vietnam has announced ALL EARS: FOCUS AUSTRALIA 2026, a cultural programme featuring a collaboration between Australian singer-songwriter Matthew Ifield and Vietnamese artist My Anh, one of the leading voices of Vietnam’s new music generation.
Supported by the Australian Government, the initiative brings Matthew Ifield to Vietnam as part of his highly anticipated 2026 Asia Tour, creating a unique platform for cross cultural co‑creation, youth expression, and creative industry partnership between Australia and Vietnam.
The collaboration will make its debut on June 15, 2026 on the main stage of the prestigious Hue Festival 2026. Under the night skies of Vietnam’s ancient capital, Matthew Ifield and My Anh will present a specially curated joint performance, blending soul, R&B, and pop influences to celebrate the vibrant people‑to‑people connections at the heart of Australia - Vietnam relationship.
Following their performance in Hue, the artists will travel to Hanoi to participate in an intensive songwriting session, jointly exploring the full creative life cycle of a musical work, from the initial spark of an idea to the creation of a first demo recording.
An Open Talk and Showcase will be held on June 17 at VinUniversity. Open to young music lovers and professionals in Hanoi, the Open Talk will bring together Australian and Vietnamese artists and industry experts to discuss how the music industry operates and how international collaborations are developed.
The programme will then flow into a Showcase performance by My Anh and Matthew Ifield, offering audiences a rare opportunity to experience the artists up close and to hear, for the first time, the sounds of their collaboration.
This cultural initiative responds to "Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040", which identifies the creative industries as a priority sector for deepening economic ties between Australia and the region.
“We are thrilled to support this musical collaboration between Australia’s Matthew Ifield and Vietnam’s My Anh. Creative connections and exchange between young people in Australia and Vietnam will help build cultural understanding between our nations,” Gillian Bird, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam, said.
Reflecting on the collaboration, My Anh shared, "This time last year, Australia welcomed me with love when I performed at Vivid Sydney and Social Sanctuary in Melbourne. This year, I am beyond excited to perform with a very talented Australian artist - Matthew Ifield - at Hue Festival. I believe music and the arts is such a beautiful way to share ideas, make new friends and find inspiration from one another!"
Matthew Ifield also expressed his excitement, “To be able to perform at Hue Festival, surrounded by so much history and culture, feels really special. I’m grateful to be invited into that space and excited to bring my music to Vietnam in a setting that celebrates both heritage and contemporary creativity."
Australia and Vietnam continue to strengthen cooperation in a wide range of areas. Bilateral relations reached new heights with the Australia - Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership signed in March 2024.