Australian MP Dai Le: Looking back on the past, I see a very different Vietnam today
WVR - Although very busy accompanying Australian Senate President Sue Lines on her official visit to Vietnam, Trang Dai, a Vietnamese-Australian federal parliamentarian, still took the time to give an interview to The World and Vietnam Report.
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| Australian Senate President Sue Lines and the delegation attended the second Vietnam-Australia Forum co-organized by the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and the Australian Embassy. (Source: quochoi.vn) |
Hello MP Dai Le! Can you share a little about yourself and what made you join the Australian Senate President Sue Lines delegation on an official visit to Vietnam this time? Is this the first time you have visited Vietnam?
My name is Trang Dai Le, or Le Thi Trang Dai if you read it in Vietnamese. I was elected as the first Vietnamese Federal Member of Parliament to the Australian Parliament in 2022 as an Independent and have been proudly serving my constituents since taking office.
As Vietnam is my motherland, it was a great opportunity to join the delegation and share diverse perspectives between the Vietnamese and Australian Governments, as well as understand ways to strengthen international relations.
This is not my first time in Vietnam, as I still have family and friends there and have traveled back over the years to visit them.
Australian Senate President Sue Lines's visit had a vibrant schedule of activities. Can you share the highlights of the visit?
I appreciate that both the President of the Australian Senate and I have been welcomed warmly to Vietnam. This delegation's schedule was very busy, with various programs slotted in. At the same time, it allowed us to meet with Vietnam’s leaders and key ministries, Australian and Vietnamese businesses, the Vietnam-Australia Parliamentary Friendship Group, and many other organizations.
I particularly enjoyed visiting the non-profit KOTO (Know One Teach One) organization in Bac Ninh province. It was especially touching to see how, through our Development programs, Australia is helping young people out of poverty, develop professional skills, and contribute to their own communities and families.
Our delegation was also taken to Ninh Binh to see the fantastic UNESCA landscape and had such a warm and hospitable welcome.
We also had the opportunity to meet with Australian alumni and businesses that are helping to strengthen the relationship between our two countries across many sectors.
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| President of the Australian Senate Sue Lines and the delegation of the Australian Parliament visited RMIT University Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City. (Source: quochoi.vn) |
How do you assess the current relationship between Vietnam and Australia and between the two countries Parliaments?
In my view, Vietnam and Australia have developed a strong and strategic relationship throughout the years, such as through the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, as one of the most notable achievements of our long bilateral relationship.
What potential areas do you think the two sides need to focus more on? In your opinion, what are the most important cooperation opportunities between Vietnam and Australia in the near future?
It is important for Australia and Vietnam to continue to foster strong connections and explore opportunities to increase education, training, and institutional linkages. Education has the power to change many people’s lives and open doors to career opportunities. I understand that Australian universities have now opened foreign branch campuses in Vietnam, allowing young Vietnamese individuals to access further educational resources.
It would be great to see this approach continue in the future for the betterment of both country's education systems.
During this visit, the delegation visited some prominent places and landscapes of Vietnam. What were your impressions when visiting these places, and what advice do you have for Vietnam to further spread its image and beauty to the world?
There were so many places in Vietnam that I loved visiting during this delegation. Ninh Binh is absolutely beautiful. I visited this region with my husband, son, and late mother in early 2023 and loved the serene limestone formations and landscape. The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long was also impressive and a must-visit for any tourists coming to Vietnam.
In terms of the culinary experience, Hanoi’s historic Old Quarter we had both grand architecture and delicious food.
I don’t have any particular advice for Vietnam on spreading its beauty to the world, as the world already admires the country’s exquisiteness. However, Vietnam is increasingly becoming a popular tourist destination for Australians, with more frequent and direct flights and the ease of electronic visas (E-visas) for Australian visitors.
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| Australian Senate President Sue Lines led a high-ranking delegation of the Australian Parliament to visit and work at Saigon Newport Corporation, Ho Chi Minh City, on August 29. (Source: quochoi.vn) |
Did you and the delegation have any exciting stories during the visit? What are your feelings and impressions about this visit to Vietnam?
Vietnam is my birth country and mother tongue. I always love coming back to visit, and also to see my relatives, therefore it means a lot to me. As someone who has visited the country many times over the years, I have seen how much the country and people have progressed.
I remember my aunties and grandmother and cousins used to live in mud huts in Chon Thanh Binh Duong. Today, they are living in a proper house, and some of my cousins are doing so well in business and teaching in schools. Vietnam has prospered and slowly the people are also prospering. I know that it’s still a long way to go but from where the country was to where it is today, Vietnam has grown into a thriving economy.
Do you have any message you would like to send to the readers of The World and Vietnam Report on this occasion?
It was an absolute pleasure to be part of this delegation, and I am thankful to The World and Vietnam Report for giving me an opportunity to share more about myself as a Vietnamese-Australian politician.
To the readers, I equally welcome you to visit Australia and experience our rich culture and history.
Thank you, MP Dai Le, and I wish you good health and all the best!
