Australia’s Northern Territory proposes direct flight link with Vietnam

Leaders of the Northern Territory repeatedly raised the prospect of a direct flight link during meetings with Vietnamese Consul General in Perth Pham Hai Anh in Darwin on September 8, saying the route is seen as an important connection for advancing ties between Vietnam and Australia’s northern region.

The meetings took place during Consul General Anh’s working visit to the Northern Territory, which included diplomatic engagements in one day with key government and political leaders in the territory.

Vietnam, Northern Territory expand areas of cooperation

During the meetings, the two sides noted positive progress in Vietnam-Australia relations, particularly following General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam’s State visit to Australia in early August.

Building on this momentum, the Northern Territory expressed its wish to develop cooperation with Vietnam in line with the potential of both sides, expanding beyond traditional areas such as agriculture and education and training into new fields including critical minerals and liquefied natural gas (LNG), while strengthening connections among local authorities, businesses and people.

Administrator David Connolly said he wanted to further promote existing cooperation with Ho Chi Minh City, Khanh Hoa province and the former Ba Ria-Vung Tau province. He lauded the Vietnamese community’s contribution to the territory’s multicultural society, and pledged to facilitate Vietnamese business investment in the Northern Territory.

Territory Coordinator Stuart Knowles, a position established in May 2024 to coordinate priorities, reorganise priorities and accelerate development projects in the Northern Territory, affirmed that cooperation projects with Vietnam would receive priority and accelerated approval.

Minister for Trade, Business and Asian Relations Robyn Cahill also highlighted the potential for cooperation in education and training. She recalled her visit to Ho Chi Minh City in mid-August and said the Northern Territory is ready to facilitate opportunities for Vietnamese students to study, work and undertake internships locally.

Expectations for direct Darwin-Vietnam air link

At a roundtable discussion with officials responsible for trade, agriculture, education and engagement with Vietnam, Northern Territory representatives reviewed key areas of cooperation with Vietnam and explored additional ways to strengthen economic ties.

The two sides showed interest in increasing imports of Vietnamese agricultural machinery, which would contribute to a more balanced trade relationship. Alongside goods trade, the need to strengthen direct connectivity between the two sides was also highlighted.

During the meetings, Northern Territory leaders repeatedly expressed their wish to establish a direct air route between Vietnam and Darwin, a city often described as Australia’s “gateway to Asia.”

A direct air link is expected to facilitate travel, tourism, trade and investment, while creating more opportunities for businesses, workers and educational institutions on both sides to connect.

Darwin Mayor Peter Styles also highlighted the role of the Vietnamese community through cultural activities such as the annual lantern festival. He welcomed Vietnamese delegations seeking to explore cooperation opportunities and said Darwin City Council had approved a sister-city relationship with Ho Chi Minh City.

Opposition Deputy Leader Ed Smelt affirmed that both major political parties in Australia attach importance to relations with Vietnam and are ready to advocate for solutions to immigration and visa issues affecting Vietnamese students and workers.

Suzy Wilson, director of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Northern Territory Office, also agreed with the assessment of the positive trajectory of bilateral relations and pledged to support the Northern Territory Government in effectively implementing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework, including through engagement with Vietnamese authorities at all levels.

Facilitating opportunities for businesses, students and workers

Alongside efforts to strengthen connectivity, the Northern Territory recognised the contributions of the Vietnamese community and vowed to advance Vietnam’s proposals for more favourable visa arrangements for Vietnamese students and workers.

This is particularly relevant as the Northern Territory is seeking additional workers to meet the region’s rapidly growing development needs.

For his part, Consul General Pham Hai Anh voiced Vietnam’s determination to strengthen multifaceted cooperation with the Northern Territory and bring bilateral cooperation in line with the political relationship and potential of both sides.

He proposed further practical initiatives to promote trade, investment and education and training, while expanding cooperation into energy and critical minerals and seeking effective ways to increase opportunities for Vietnamese nationals to work in the Northern Territory in response to the region’s development needs.

He also proposed increasing exchanges of delegations at all levels to strengthen mutual understanding and trust and create more opportunities for cooperation.

During the visit, Consul General Anh met with representatives of the Vietnamese community in Darwin and surrounding areas, listening to their concerns and discussing solutions to address difficulties. He also met Vietnamese students in the territory, encouraging them to focus on their studies, develop themselves and strengthen mutual connections and support.

HCM City boosts education-training with Australia’s Northern Territory

VOV.VN -Ho Chi Minh City is keen on ramping up co-operation with the Australian state the Northern Territory, with a specific focus on education and training, including the building of education facilities to Australian standards in Vietnam.