More than 500 Vietnamese alumni who have studied in Australia joined the Aussie Alumni Reunion in Hanoi.

The event celebrated alumni’s contributions to Vietnam’s development, the deepening relationship between Australia and Vietnam and the role of Australian education in supporting Vietnam’s continued inclusive growth.

Having graduated with Australian qualifications across a range of fields, the alumni are now sharing their expertise in Vietnam’s public, private, and civil society sectors. Many are making important contributions in government agencies, have set up their own businesses, or have established organisations to support women and other vulnerable groups.

Australian Chargé d’Affaires, Mark Tattersall said, “The calibre of our Australian alumni in Vietnam is outstanding. I’m truly impressed with how they are using the benefits of Australian education to contribute to Vietnam’s development”.

The event also launched the 2023 Australian Alumni Awards, to recognise and celebrate alumni. The Awards honour alumni and their different types of contributions to Vietnam, including in social and climate action, business and innovation, and female leadership.

The reunion also showcased products by 13 alumni businesses, including financial services, Vietnamese agricultural products, and cyber technology.

Bach Thi Thanh Van, alumna of Monash University and owner of Bach Hop Ancient Rice JSC, said “Thanks to our study experience in Australia, we are used to working in a flexible environment and were able to adapt our company’s operation amid the disruption caused by COVID-19. We quickly moved our marketing and communication to online channels, maintain connection with partners and customers, and successfully delivered our products.”

Nguyen Quang Thuan, alumnus of the University of New South Wales and founder of FiinGroup, said: “Education in Australia allowed me to expand my perspective while living and interacting in a multicultural environment. Most valuably, this experience allowed me to formulate business ideas for building up a leading company in financial data analytics and credit rating agency in Vietnam.”

A dynamic network of over 80,000 alumni of Australian education is in Vietnam, demonstrating the strong relationship between our two countries.

The Aussie Alumni Reunion is an annual event and is a key opportunity to showcase and celebrate the contributions made by Australian alumni in Vietnam.