Released on 11 January 2007

Australia Month in Hanoi

HANOI – 11 January 2007 - The Australian Ambassador to Vietnam, H.E Mr Bill Tweddell, today launched the start of “Australia Month”, which includes a series of high-proflie public events in Hanoi in January and early February 2007. The events have been organised by the Embassy’s Australian Education International and Public Affairs and Cultural Relations sections, will focus on two of our most interesting areas of cooperation - education and culture.

January will see five education related events including a pre-departure seminar for students going to study in Australia, a tennis tournament and a science competition for high school students to name just a few. In discussing the awading of ‘Australian Endeavour Scholarships’ to 17 young Vietnamese researchers, Ambassador Tweddel said that “…education is a vitally important element in the sustainable development of any nation and it also a highly successful part of our bilateral relationship.”

On the cultural side, the Embassy will hold its renowned Australia Day function one-day early this year to make way for the opening of the ‘Australian Embassy Film Roadshow” which will open on Friday 26 January at the National Cinema Centre. The 2007 festival will include a selection of six of Australia’s finest feature films and a short film will also be shown at each session. Each film will be shown in both English and Vietnamese. The festival will also be held in Ho Chi Minh City on 20-24 January.

The festival in Hanoi will run until 1 February and between 27 January and 4 February the Embassy will also screen one film in seven regional cities in northern Vietnam including Son La, Dien Bien Phu, Lai Chau, Sa Pa, Lao Cai, Ha Giang, and Cao Bang. “We at the Embassy are quite excited about this rather significant undertaking, not least because we are keen to showcase Australian cinema to all people in Vietnam, and particularly to those who may otherwise not have had an opportunity to see Australian movies before. As such, admission to all movies in all cities will be free” said Ambassador Tweddel.

Full details of all Australia Month events in Hanoi are attached. For enquires please contact:

Public Diplomacy:

Ms Nguyen Thi Thanh An
Public Affairs and Cultural Relations Manager
Tel. 04-8317755 Ext. 302, Mobile: 0903423440
Email: [email protected]

Australian Education International:

Ms Hoang Van Anh
Northern Vietnam Business Development Manager
Tel. 04-8317755 Ext. 434, Mobile: 0912006253
Email: [email protected]