Last night, over 1000 guests attended Taste of Australia’s Big BBQ at Hanoi’s Imperial Citadel of Thanh Long to celebrate Australian food, beverages and culture and to mark the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations between Australia and Vietnam.
The menu for the Big BBQ was curated by Taste of Australia Ambassador, leading Australian chef Luke Nguyen, who opened festivities at a BBQ station featuring renowned Australian lamb, grilled on a carousel created especially for the event. He acknowledged the significance of the event, saying: “This is the largest event being held this year to mark the 50th anniversary, and one of the biggest food and drink festivals Vietnam has seen. I’m excited and inspired to be here promoting the excellence of Australia’s produce.”
As well as the fire roasted lamb, guests enjoyed Australian salmon cooked on a cedar plank, 6-hour cooked Australian beef ribs and kangaroo “snags” (sausages), along with Australian wine, spirit and juices. The event also featured a showcase of Australian packaged produce available in Vietnam and a stand promoting Australian education.
During the evening, guests were treated to a performance from Indigenous Australian performer, Thelma Plum, who had travelled to Hanoi to promote Australia’s rich culture.
The event coincided with a visit from Australia’s Foreign Minister, Senator the Hon Penny Wong.
“Australians love Vietnamese food, and this was a great chance to give our friends in Vietnam a taste of Australia’s outstanding food,” said Foreign Minister Wong.
“The BBQ was also an opportunity to mark 50 years of relations between our nations, which are underpinned by longstanding people-to-people ties, as well as our trade and economic links and peacekeeping relationship.”
The event was also attended by Mr Hoang Thanh Tung, Chair of the National Assembly Legal Affairs Committee and Chair of Vietnam-Australia Parliamentary Friendship Group.
Taste of Australia is an annual series of events organised by the Australian Government in Vietnam to bring together producers, distributors, retailers, restaurants and organisations in both Vietnam and Australia to showcase the best Australia has to offer.
The Citadel is one of Hanoi’s most iconic and important historical locations. A UNESCO heritage listed site, the complex was constructed during the 11th century and served as a key political and military base of power for successive Vietnamese dynasties.
For further information, contact: Ms Nguyen Le Trang, Senior Communications Officer, [email protected], +84 24 3774 0216.