Vietnam-Australia relations enter new era of opportunity: NSW minister

At a reception hosted by the governor of New South Wales for To Lam in Australia on August 10, Chanthivong was seated next to the top Vietnamese leader.

The Australian politician of Lao descent also appeared alongside Vietnam's top leader at a ceremony marking 35 years of air connectivity and tourism links between Vietnam and Australia later that day.

Chanthivong said it was a great honor for him to be invited to the reception and seated next to Vietnam’s Party chief and State President To Lam.

He added that the opportunity allowed him to discuss with the top Vietnamese leader and ministers the potential for cooperation between New South Wales and Vietnam.

The discussions went beyond diplomatic pleasantries, covering trade, education, science and technology, as well as people-to-people connections built over decades.

He emphasized that Vietnam is not only an important comprehensive strategic partner of Australia but also a market where New South Wales seeks deeper engagement in trade, education, innovation, and the digital economy.

He said he was particularly pleased that To Lam had chosen New South Wales, home to Sydney, as the first stop on his first visit to Australia in both of his current positions.

What impressed Chanthivong was not only the formal outcomes of the visit but also the realization that the partnership’s potential is limited only by the ambition both sides bring to it.

The minister expressed his hope that more New South Wales businesses would enter the Vietnamese market, particularly in agrifood, clean energy, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and education.

Education is already a major area of connection, with large numbers of Vietnamese students studying in Australia or enrolling in Australian-standard programs in Vietnam.

Chanthivong pledged to continue promoting economic and trade cooperation between New South Wales and Vietnam.

The comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Australia, he said, would open more doors for trade and economic opportunities.

The government of New South Wales, currently Australia’s most populous state, will roll out several programs to support businesses exporting goods to Vietnam or seeking to establish operations there, Chanthivong said.

Vietnam is a rapidly growing economy with a young population and significant opportunities ranging from education and healthcare to consumer goods, food and beverages.

The decision reflects a belief that market diversification is key to building a more resilient, dynamic, and flexible economy for the future.

New South Wales supports the Vietnam-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership and will continue seeking opportunities for businesses and industries from the state to expand in Vietnam, Chanthivong said.

He welcomed Vietnamese companies to expand in New South Wales across all sectors.

Asked about the possibility of establishing an innovation corridor between New South Wales and Vietnam, Chanthivong stopped short of making a specific government commitment.

Instead, he pointed to several examples showing that substantive foundations for cooperation are already in place.

One is EzyRemit, a fintech founded by Vietnamese-Australian entrepreneur Allan Nguyen, which has expanded its presence on a global scale.

Chanthivong also highlighted the University of Sydney Vietnam Institute, which has three offices in Vietnam and has contributed to vaccine development.

With more than 124,000 Vietnamese residents, New South Wales hosts Australia’s largest Vietnamese community, which he described as a strategic advantage for business ties thanks to cultural and linguistic connections.

He considers this a significant comparative advantage and wants to make greater use of it to encourage more businesses to expand into the Vietnamese market while drawing on the local knowledge already available.

The ultimate goal, he said, is to maximize economic benefits for the state and its businesses while further strengthening ties between Australia and Vietnam.

No sector, Chanthivong said, should be considered off-limits.

What is needed is creativity, sustained ambition, and the ability to effectively operate existing networks at every level: business to business, government to government, and government to business.

Through joint efforts, he expressed confidence that both economies could advance together and deliver broader prosperity for their people.

The knowledge economy, technology, and innovation will be part of the shared future between New South Wales and Vietnam.

He added that interest from both governments and bilateral cooperation could generate economic and knowledge benefits for Australia and Vietnam.

Following his meeting with To Lam in Sydney on August 10, Chanthivong said he saw broader room for cooperation between Vietnam and New South Wales.

The next step, he said, is to capitalize on existing advantages and turn signed agreements into concrete projects.

Chanthivong has visited Vietnam several times in different capacities.

His first visit to the Southeast Asian country came shortly after he became a minister in 2024.

At the time, he was impressed by Vietnam as a dynamic country undergoing rapid development, with broad opportunities for New South Wales businesses.

His more recent visit, during a family vacation, gave him a different perspective. The warmth, hospitality, and experiences in Vietnam gave his family memorable moments, he said.

It is therefore unsurprising, in his view, that Vietnam has become one of the leading destinations for Australian tourists.

He expects travel to grow further with Vietnamese low-cost carrier Vietjet’s upcoming direct flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Western Sydney International Airport.