The Australian Embassy represents the Australian Government in Vietnam and is led by Ambassador to Vietnam, Her Excellency Ms Gillian Bird.
Embassy staff deal with a range of matters, including diplomatic relations, trade and two-way investment, education, security cooperation, policing, immigration and development cooperation.
The Embassy hosts a number of Australian Government agencies, including the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Defence, Home Affairs, Education, and Agriculture; the Australian Trade Commission (Austrade); the Australian Federal Police; and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research. All work together to promote Australia's interests in Vietnam.
The Embassy aims to strengthen Australia’s position as an enduring partner and friend of Vietnam. It seeks to elevate Australia’s reputation as an open and inclusive country with knowledge and expertise to share, and as an attractive place to study, live, visit and invest.
The Embassy also provides consular services for Australians living in and travelling through Vietnam, and is responsible for Australian passports, entry clearances and visas to enter Australia.
The Australian Government is also represented by a Consulate-General in Ho Chi Minh City.
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Australia's Ambassador to Vietnam
Ms Bird is a career public servant and diplomat. She served as Australia's
Ambassador to France from 2020 to 2024. She was Australia's Ambassador and
Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 2015 to 2019.
From 2004 to 2014, Ms Bird served as Deputy Secretary of the Department of
Foreign Affairs and Trade. Between 2008 and 2013, she held the additional role of
Australia's first Ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN).
Before taking up her position as Deputy Secretary, Ms Bird served as First
Assistant Secretary, International Division, Department of the Prime Minister and
Cabinet (2002-2004). Prior to this appointment, she was Head, Foreign and Trade
Policy White Paper Task Force (Advancing the National Interest) within the
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Her previous positions in the
department include First Assistant Secretary, South and South-East Asia Division
(1999-2002), First Assistant Secretary, International Organisations and Legal
Division (1997-1999), Assistant Secretary, Peace, Arms Control and Disarmament
Branch (1994-1997) and Assistant Secretary, Executive Branch (1993-1994). She
has also worked in the Office of the Minister for Trade Negotiations.
Ms Bird's overseas assignments have included UN New York (1990-1993), Harare
(1986-1987) and Paris OECD (1980-1983).
Ms Bird was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2012 for outstanding public
service in the field of International Relations. She was awarded an Honorary
Doctorate by James Cook University in 2020 for exceptional contribution to
international relations.
Ms Bird holds a BA (First Class Hons), University of Sydney and is a graduate of
the French Ecole Nationale d'Administration. She is fluent in French.
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