The Victorian Government, through Global Victoria, is building on strong commercial and cultural ties with Vietnam in the 50th year of diplomatic relations between Australia and Vietnam.

While visiting Vietnam in January this year, the Minister for Trade and Investment Tim Pallas announced Victoria as the headline sponsor for the Australia-Vietnam Leadership Dialogue which brings together young leaders in business, academia, startups, government, not-for-profits and the arts.

Participants will be selected in the coming months, where ultimately 20 young leaders will collaborate, culminating in a five-day residential program to help boost connections between the countries.

This initiative builds on a Memorandum of Understanding between Victoria and Ho Chi Minh City signed in May 2022 and is the latest example of mutual interest in trade, investment, education and technology.

Vietnam is one of the world’s fastest-growing economies and is Victoria’s 10th largest two-way merchandise trade partner. In 2021-22, goods exports to Vietnam topped $960 million – an increase of almost 40 per cent on the previous year.

Victoria has a strong and long-standing education relationship with Vietnam. Melbourne is home to Australia’s largest proportion (over 40 per cent) of Vietnamese students, while Victorian education providers including RMIT University, Swinburne University and William Angliss Institute have campuses in Vietnam.

Group shot launch of the Australia-Vietnam Leadership Dialogue

There are more than 8200 Vietnamese students currently studying in Victoria, which places Vietnam behind only China and India in terms of students on- the-ground in the state.

The Study Melbourne Hub and Victorian Government Trade and Investment office (VGTI) – both located in Ho Chi Minh City – have been open since 2021 with staff working to enhance trade and investment pathways between Vietnam and Victoria.

The Vietnam VGTI has connected more than 150 Victorian businesses with local opportunities, while the Study Melbourne Hub has welcomed more than 6400 students and hosted events for Victoria’s alumni and education partners.