From August 12 to 14, Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Pham Hung Tam accompanied a delegation from the central city of Hue, led by Chairman of the Hue People’s Committee Nguyen Van Phuong, on a working visit to Tasmania.

During the visit, Chairman Nguyen Van Phuong and Ambassador Pham Hung Tam paid a courtesy call on Governor Barbara Baker, met with various state leaders, Hobart Mayor Anna Reynolds, and held discussions with the leadership of the University of Tasmania.

At the meetings, Ambassador Tam said that since the two countries elevated ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in March 2024, cooperation between Vietnamese and Australian cities and localities has had greater momentum for growth. He viewed Tasmania as a partner with untapped potential in education, energy, sustainable development, trade, investment, and tourism.

On education, he expressed hope for stronger cooperation between the University of Tasmania and Vietnamese institutions, including in vocational training, and urged the state to continue identifying Vietnam as a priority partner in its 2026–2030 socio-economic development strategy.

Chairman Nguyen Van Phuong noted that Hue and Hobart, and Tasmania more broadly, share similarities in the environment, heritage, and cultural values, offering potential for cultural exchange, people-to-people links, educational cooperation, and tourism. He proposed boosting cooperation in investment, trade, science and technology, and clean energy, and encouraged the University of Tasmania to develop suitable initiatives with Hue University.

The Chairman and Ambassador also raised the idea of establishing sister-city or sister-state relations between Hue and Hobart or Tasmania. On this occasion, Chairman Phuong invited Governor Baker, Mayor Reynolds, and the state’s Minister for Arts and Heritage to visit Hue and send a delegation to the International Arts Festival Week in mid-2026.

Tasmanian leaders at all levels affirmed their appreciation of cooperation with Vietnam and its localities, and expressed a desire to strengthen the partnership across all aspects on a mutually beneficial basis. Both Governor Baker and Mayor Reynolds warmly welcomed the Hue delegation, agreeing to intensify cultural and people-to-people exchanges, tourism, and trade with the city. They also hailed the contributions of the Vietnamese community to Tasmania’s multicultural society.

State ministers noted that under Tasmania’s 2019–2025 development strategy, which lists Vietnam as a priority partner, cooperation in trade, investment, education, high technology, and human resources has expanded steadily.

Two-way trade between Tasmania and Vietnam has grown by an average of 15% annually, hitting AUD 340 million in 2024, making Vietnam the state’s fifth-largest export market. Vietnam is also Tasmania’s sixth-largest source of international students. Vietnamese enterprises such as Vingroup, TH True Milk, and VitaDairy are investing in golf courses, eco-resorts, and dairy farms in the state.

A representative from Tasmania’s Department of State Growth highlighted the state’s strengths as Australia’s leading maritime training hub, as well as its expertise in agricultural research, clean energy, metal production, premium food and beverages, salmon, and specialty fruits such as cherries. He expressed interest in furthering cooperation with Vietnam in general and Hue in particular.

During the visit, Chairman Nguyen Van Phuong chaired a business networking seminar between the Vietnam Business Association in Tasmania (VITA) and Hue enterprises in the delegation. VITA President and TPS Energy CEO Tien Ho, along with other members, updated the Chairman and Ambassador on VITA’s activities, involving more than 60 members across various sectors, and outlined future business development plans and cooperation opportunities. They pledged to foster links with Hue based on their existing business networks.

Ambassador Tam and VITA President Ho also visited the art gallery of painter Tran Xuan Thao and his wife, Nguyen Thi Tuyet Suong, one of Tasmania’s largest galleries and the only Vietnamese-owned art space in the state, which promotes Vietnamese art, culture, and people. The gallery is well received by local leaders and residents.

The Ambassador also met with other prominent members of the Vietnamese community in Tasmania, encouraging them to stay connected to their homeland and to support the growing partnership between Vietnam and Australia, and between Vietnam and Tasmania in particular.

Vietnam, Australia step up trade, energy, industrial partnerships

Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien held a working session with newly appointed Ambassador of Australia to Vietnam Gillian Bird on July 2, during which the host called for stronger cooperation in trade, energy and industry.