Ambassador’s Speech

At the Australia Day Gala Concert and Reception

Hanoi Opera House

Friday 21 January 2011

Vice Minister Your Excellency Mr Nguyen Quoc Cuong

Distinguished Guests,

Colleagues, Ambassadors and members of the diplomatic corps

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It’s a great privilege for me to welcome you all here tonight for the Gala concert and this reception to celebrate Australia Day 2011 and Australia-Vietnam relations.

And before I make further comments, I would first like to congratulate the Party and Government on the recent successful staging of the XIth Party Congress.

We certainly hope that the new Central Committee led by the Politburo will steer Vietnam successfully to strong, sustained socio-economic growth and development in the next five years. The choices to be made will be critical.

The Australian Government looks forward to assisting Vietnam in this.

We will build on the success of Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s meetings with Vietnam’s leaders in October last year into 2011 and beyond. We hope that further high level visits this year and new commitments between us will deepen our strong partnership.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Tonight, we have chosen to celebrate Australia-Vietnam cultural connections through the voices and musical talent of Vietnamese Australians and of Vietnamese studying music in Australia: Ms Nguyen Van Anh, Mr Thanh Bui and Mr Luu Hong Quang together with Vietnam’s famous diva, Ms My Linh.

Vietnamese Australians are an integral part of our Australian multicultural life today. From politics and public life, to the professions, business, education and cultural life they play an important part in our national community.

According to Wikipedia, the family name Nguyen is the seventh most common name in Australia and the second most common name in the Melbourne phone directory after the name Smith. Vietnamese is the fifth most common language in Sydney.

Figures such as Mr Le Van Hieu, the Deputy Governor of South Australia and Counsellor Thang Ngo of Sydney are well known and highly respected community leaders.

Comedians and entertainers Hung Le and Anh Do are household names. Chef Luke Nguyen is a national celebrity. And You Tube sensation Natalie Tran was recently voted one of the one hundred most beautiful faces in the world.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

On Australia Day it is our custom that the Governor-General announces the Australian and Young Australian of Year. We celebrate the fact that two young Vietnamese-Australians, the community activist Ms Tan Le and the filmmaker Mr Khoa Do, have won this accolade in previous years.

They are role models for young people in our country.

And, similarly one of tonight’s stars, Thanh Bui, is now a model of talent in both Australia and Vietnam following his strong finalist’s performance on Australian Idol.

And increasingly Vietnamese-Australians are an important bridge between our two countries.

We recognise that many of the more than 23 000 Vietnamese who studied in Australia in 2010 did so, at least in part, because they have family and friends who live in Australia.

And likewise the growing and popular daily air-routes between Vietnam and Australia’s cities owe much to the family connections – a fact strongly reinforced now just before the Tet holiday.

And there are a growing number of Vietnamese-Australians who have developed business links with Vietnamese partners.

Culturally, Vietnamese cuisine is now amongst the most favourite Asian cuisine in Australia and popular across many different communities in our country.

In the same way today’s concert underlines that enthusiasm for Vietnamese-Australian musical talent crosses ethnic boundaries.

Ladies and Gentlemen

Apart from Australia’s traditional Aboriginal owners, Australia is a nation of migrants, settlers from around the world.

The Vietnamese have earned their place as one of our most successful component communities – prosperous, confident, and outward looking.

I like you to join us in celebrating that and Australian-Vietnamese friendship tonight

And I’d like to wish all of you Chuc Mung Nam Moi, Tan Mao!

Chuc mung Lanh Dao Dang, Chinh Phu va Nhan Dan Cong Hoa/ Xa Hoi/ Chu Nghia Vietnam!

Chuc mung Quan he huu nghi Vietnam Australia!

Chuc Mung Thu Truong Ngai Nguyen Quoc Cuong!

Chuc suc khoe, hanh phuc, thanh cong!

Xin tran trong cam on!