Sydney (VNA) – Economy, trade and business connectivity have emerged as important pillars of the Vietnam – Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, driving bilateral growth, head of the Vietnam Trade Office in Australia Tran Thi Thanh My told the Vietnam News Agency.
My said two-way trade remained steady at 14 billion USD in 2025, matching the level from 2024. Vietnam's exports to Australia topped 6.8 billion USD, rising 5.6%, while imports approached 7.2 billion USD, declining 5.3%. In the first two months of 2026, bilateral trade jumped 14.7% year on year to 2.4 billion USD, with Vietnamese exports reaching 1.12 billion USD and imports hitting 1.28 billion, up 11% and 18.2%, respectively.
Investment ties deepened as companies from both nations actively explored opportunities and conducted market studies in various fields like technology, telecommunications, information technology and health care last year. As of December 2025, Australian investment in Vietnam totalled 1.9 billion USD across 712 projects. Vietnamese firms maintained over 90 projects valued at 551 million USD in Australia, mostly in agriculture, real estate and mining.
Despite ongoing global volatility, My acknowledged ample opportunities for firms to boost trade. Vietnam’s major export groups include processed and manufactured goods, especially computers, electronic components, mobile phones and machinery, as well as apparel, handbags, footwear, and agro-forestry-fishery products. Construction materials are poised to gain traction as Australia advances major infrastructure projects.
Australian exports such as energy products, including coal and liquefied natural gas, along with mineral ores, are expected to see strong demand amid fuel supply constraints. Besides, Vietnamese consumers are increasingly drawn to Australian healthcare products and premium food, she noted.
The official added that several cooperation mechanisms and frameworks underpin bilateral trade, including the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy (EEES). The Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade and its Australian counterpart also maintain key cooperation mechanisms such as the Vietnam – Australia trade ministers’ dialogue and a memorandum of understanding on establishing a ministerial dialogue mechanism on energy and minerals.
According to her, business connectivity has evolved beyond basic export – import flows into deeper value chain collaboration, bolstered by the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and existing mechanisms. Business associations, industry groups, government agencies, diplomatic missions and trade offices on both sides have played key supporting roles. The Vietnamese business community in Australia also serves as a vital bridge, offering investors familiarity with legal and cultural landscapes in both markets to facilitate Vietnamese companies' access to opportunities in this Oceania market.
Australian firms and investors are showing particularly strong interest in Vietnam, drawn by its large market, consistent high growth, youthful demographics, and rapidly expanding middle class. Vietnam's favourable location for logistics and improving business climate adds appeal. The establishment of the international financial centre in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, combined with the ambition for double-digit GDP growth, is expected to accelerate Australian capital inflows, she said.
My noted that as Australia positions itself as a renewable energy superpower, major corporations are exploring Vietnam's renewable sector, focusing on energy transition and green economy. In addition, with Vietnam refining digital regulations, Australian players are leveraging their advantages to expand presence in electronic payments, digital banking and online education. Direct investment in sustainable, quality agriculture in Vietnam also grabs attention.
A notable example came on March 19 when the Vietnamese Ministry of Finance’s Foreign Investment Agency, in coordination with the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), hosted a bilateral trade and investment connectivity forum, attracting 28 leading Australian firms and numerous Vietnamese enterprises.
To support Vietnamese firms in the food and beverage sector, My said the Trade Office has registered a booth at Foodservice Australia, scheduled for May 24–26 at the International Convention Centre Sydney, and provides updates via its website https://thitruongnuocngoai.moit.gov.vn.
In May, a delegation from the City of Cockburn in Western Australia and an estimated 150–200 Australian companies are set to join the “Meet Australia” event in Ho Chi Minh City. My called these positive signals of Vietnam's rising appeal to Australian investors.
Clark Burns, a representative of an Australian export – import company, hailed Vietnam as one of Asia’s fastest-growing markets, with soaring consumer demand and a steadily improving business climate offering Australian firms multiple opportunities to boost investment and trade.
Samuel Fattal, a business adviser at PlanetBlue Travel, noted that many Australian travel agents see Vietnam as an increasingly leading destination in Southeast Asia. Tour demand has surged thanks to competitive pricing, rich cultural experiences and diverse offerings, from beautiful beaches like Nha Trang, Phu Quoc and Mui Ne to heritage sites.
According to travel agents, he noted, Vietnam is now the region’s fastest-growing destination for Australian travellers, outperforming many traditional markets, aided by expanded direct flights and a favourable visa policy.
Caterina Attard, a travel consultant at Encounter Travel, highlighted Vietnam's deeply immersive cultural experiences and strong revenue-generating potential as key advantages in tourism, calling the country a “hidden gem”. Clients returning from Vietnam have given highly positive feedback on its cuisine, culture and heritage./.
VNA
