Australia-Vietnam: Then and now photography exhibition

To celebrate the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and Vietnam, the Australian Embassy to Vietnam is opening a photography exhibition titled “Australia-Vietnam: Then & Now” at Ly Thai To gardens from 26 February till 7 March.

The exhibition is curated by staff of the Australian Embassy in Hanoi and the Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, and includes images spanning the 35 years of relationship.

After calling for submissions over the last 6 months, the Embassy and Consulate General received photographs from both Vietnamese and Australians. The Embassy also secured more than 30 official photographs from historical archives for the display.

Ambassador Tweddell said: “The photographs in this exhibition are significant for their portrayal of many official moments, such as the signing of the first Trade Agreement between Australia and Vietnam in 1974; and equally for the more personal moments such as a Vietnamese football fan supporting the Socceroos during their game against Thailand in Hanoi in 2007. The exhibition itself will make a valuable contribution to the collections of important historical information on the bilateral relationship.”

The longstanding and expanding relationship between Australia and Vietnam has been maintained continuously since February 1973. Since those early days, the bilateral relationship has grown to encompass cooperation across an incredibly broad range of areas such as education, development assistance, trade and investment, regional and multilateral political and economic isues, immigration, agricultural science, law enforcement and defence, to name just a few.

The Australian Embassy in Hanoi will also host a function for invited guests to celebrate the 35th Anniversary at the Hanoi Opera House on 26 February. The formal ceremonies will be followed by a collaborative performance by Australian soprano singer, Annalisa Kerrigan, and the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra. “The collaboration between Annalisa Kerrigan and the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra is an excellent example of the strength of our cultural ties,” said Ambassador Tweddell.

Souce: CPV