Photographic Exhibition on "Australia - Vietnam: Then & Now"

A special photographic exhibition entitled “Australia - Vietnam: Then & Now” is running from March 16 - 23, 2008 in Ho Chi Minh City. This is part of the Australian Consulate - General in HCMC’s cultural program to celebrate the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and Vietnam.

 

The exhibition has been curated by staff of the Australian Embassy in Hanoi and the Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City and will include a total of 58 photographs selected from submissions from Australians and Vietnamese (in Vietnam and Australia) as well as official photographs from historical archives in Australia. This collection of photographs, from 1973 until today, highlight important official moments in the bilateral relationship - such as the visit to Australia by former Vietnam Prime Minister Phan Van Khai in 2006, the visit to Vietnam by Prime Minister Paul Keating in 1994 to happy weddings between Australian and Vietnamese, and cultural exchange activities between Australians and Vietnamese, Australian volunteers in Vietnam. Such Australian icons as Uluru and Kangaroos, and a high profile symbol of Australian support in Vietnam, My Thuan Bridge, are naturally a part of this exhibition.

 

These links are vibrantly reflected in many strands, from Vietnamese visiting, living and studying in Australia and Australians visiting and working in Vietnam, to the close ties between Australia and Vietnam covering many areas, including trade, tourism, education, law enforcement and development assistance. The image of enthusiastic Vietnamese football fans supporting the Socceroos during their game against Thailand in Hanoi in 2007 in this photo collection is a testament to the close people-to-people links between Australia and Vietnam. “We are very pleased to present to the Vietnamese public as well as Australians who are visiting and living in Vietnam this special photo exhibition, which enables us to reflect on the many highlights of our relationship over the past 35 years and also look to the future, which I’m sure will mean an even stronger bond between our two nations,” said Mr Mal Skelly, the Australian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City.

 

Following the recent photo exhibition in Hanoi and HCMC, the exhibition will tour other southern provinces during the year 2008.