Australian food showcased at Ho Chi Minh City expo

The expo was part of the 2026 Taste of Australia program launched by the Australian Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City in late March.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Consul General of Australia Brent Stewart said that the expo was highlighted by the participation of the Business Partnerships Platform (BPP) partners from the Mekong Delta.

BPP is part of Australia's development assistance program, which matches private sector funds with Australian government funds to support projects with high social impact and help promote the development of the Mekong Delta.

Fresh palmyra flower nectar, palmyra syrup, handbags made out of water hyacinth, and crackers made from floating rice grown in the delta were showcased at the expo, which closed at 4:30 pm the same day.

These products result from the Australian-backed projects aimed at creating sustainable livelihoods and protecting the environment.

Visitors were also treated to live performances at the expo, said the deputy consul-general.

“Australian food has strong growth potential in the Vietnamese market, and the expo is drawing large numbers of local visitors,” Stewart told Tuoi Tre News on the sidelines of the event.

A variety of Australian products such as beef, lamb, kangaroo meat, wine, milk, beer, juice and fruits were on display at the event, he said.

“A tasting booth of smoked kangaroo sausages is open to the visitors,” he noted.

“Kangaroo meat will soon be able to be imported into Vietnam,” he revealed.

“I realize that many participating Vietnamese visitors are interested in Australian food, which is very safe and produced in a sustainable way,” he shared.

Vietnamese food becomes popular in Australia

“I think that Australian people really like Vietnamese food,” he said.

Australians are very familiar with Vietnamese food such as pho (a type of Vietnamese soup, usually served with rice noodles, slices of beef or chicken, and herbs) and banh mi (a Vietnamese sandwich made with a crispy baguette filled with meats, pate, Vietnamese mayo, vegetables, and sauces).

“Banh mi has become one of the most popular fast foods in Australia,” said the deputy consul-general.

Lots of Vietnamese people have opened banh mi stores in Australia, so the dish is popular in the country.