Vietnamese Tet in Western Australia and hearts turned towards Central Vietnam
Recently, Forrest Place Square in the heart of Perth was filled with the atmosphere of the Vietnamese Spring Fest – Homeland Spring 2025, the largest cultural community event for Vietnamese people in Western Australia.
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Thousands of overseas Vietnamese, international students, and locals attended, transforming the central area of the square into a miniature "Vietnamese Tet village", featuring music, traditional costumes, cuisine, and culture.
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| Delegates attending the event. (Photo: Organizing Committee) |
The event was organized by the Consulate General of Vietnam in Western Australia and the Northern Territory, in collaboration with the Australia-Vietnam Talent Network (AVTN) and the Vietnamese Women's Association in Western Australia (WAVNWA).
This year, the event was marked by its expanded scale and diverse activities, especially the strong community spirit evident in programs aimed at supporting Central Vietnam amidst historic storms and floods.
Warm spring atmosphere
Located in the Southern Hemisphere, Perth's spring lasts from September to November, a time when the city is bathed in sunlight and vibrant flowers. Hosting Homeland Spring during this period helps the Vietnamese Tet atmosphere blend in, offering unique emotions to the expatriate community.
By 11 am, crowds flocked to Forrest Place. The vibrant red entrance, check-in areas inspired by Vietnamese villages, and the graceful traditional costumes of the overseas Vietnamese created a "visual symphony" rich in Vietnamese spring colors.
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| Vietnamese Consul General in Western Australia Nguyen Thanh Ha. (Photo: Organizing Committee) |
In her opening remarks, Vietnamese Consul General in Western Australia Nguyen Thanh Ha emphasized: "Homeland Spring 2025 is organized to spread Vietnamese cultural values to international friends, bringing the Vietnamese spirit to the beautiful city of Perth, while also serving as a bridge to promote trade between Vietnam and Western Australia".
Nguyen Thanh Ha expressed gratitude to the Vietnamese community for accompanying the consulate's activities over the years, contributing to building a dynamic, united, and culturally rich Vietnamese image.
She also expressed appreciation for the quick response of associations to calls for support for storm and flood-stricken Central Vietnam: "In times when our homeland is struggling with rain and floods, the sharing of the overseas Vietnamese is invaluable. I appreciate the spirit of mutual support that the Vietnamese community in Western Australia has shown in recent days".
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| Vietnamese Tet in Western Australia and Hearts Turned Towards Central Vietnam. |
In his welcome speech, Perth Mayor Bruce Reynolds expressed his appreciation for the Vietnamese community: "The city of Perth is honored to host the Homeland Spring festival right in the city center. The Vietnamese community is an important part of our multicultural fabric, making significant contributions to the economy, culture, and society".
He affirmed that the city government always supports events like Homeland Spring to promote cultural exchange between communities.
Representing the organizers, AVTN President Hannah Vu shared: "We spent months preparing for the event with the hope that Homeland Spring will not only be a festival but also a symbol of connection. It is a place where we relive memories of our homeland and create new connections between the two countries".
Support for storm-hit Central Vietnam
Previously, the Vietnamese community in Western Australia organized various fundraising activities to support those in Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, Dak Lak... heavily affected by storms and floods.
Hannah Vu stated: "As soon as the consulate issued a call, AVTN and WAVNWA organized small fundraising events in Perth.
Many businesses and individuals in Western Australia have quietly contributed, sending funds directly to the Vietnam Fatherland Front or through the Vietnam-Australia Scholars and Experts Association (VASEA)".
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| AVTN President Hannah Vu shares at the event. (Photo: Organizing Committee) |
Not only contributing within the event's framework, numerous Vietnamese individuals and businesses in Western Australia had previously donated significant amounts.
Contributions through VASEA are recognized as one of the largest donations from the Vietnamese community in Australia during this storm and flood period. To date, fundraising activities continue among many Vietnamese associations and businesses in Western Australia.
Vietnamese identity shines through art
The art program at Homeland Spring 2025 lasted six hours, attracting a large audience.
During the exchange, designer La Pham shared: "I want to bring Vietnamese materials, brocade, and spirit to the world. These outfits are made from silk, hemp, local fabrics, and ethnic brocade with the aim of honoring Vietnamese culture in contemporary life. I bring to Perth not just fashion, but stories about Vietnamese materials, ethnic culture, and the hands of mountain artisans".
The collection includes 10 modernized ao dai and 10 brocade coats, showcasing a blend of tradition and modernity, creating a spectacular moment on stage.
The "Tet village" space recreated homeland memories with Vietnamese food stalls like pho, vermicelli, rice paper, grilled dishes, traditional sweet soups, and a display area for specialties like dry rice noodles, mixed rice paper, and canned sugarcane juice. Many local families eagerly explored Vietnamese culture, creating an interesting cultural exchange between the two cultures.
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| Fashion show at the event. (Photo: Organizing Committee) |
Hong Jackson, WAVNWA President, shared: "For us, every performance, every stall, every ao dai is a way to preserve Vietnamese culture within the community. No matter where we are, Vietnamese people recognize each other through shared values".
According to the program, the main stage featured over 40 continuous performances, with WAVNWA recreating the homeland atmosphere through the dance "Vietnam My Home".
Connecting business – education – community
Homeland Spring 2025 is not just a festival but also a platform for trade connections, with the participation of major universities like UWA, Curtin, ECU, along with Vietnam Airlines, Vietnamese entrepreneurs, and Vietnam-Australia businesses.
Study abroad, import-export, and Vietnam – Australia service booths attracted the interest of many young people and local businesses.
On the sidelines, Global Trade Connection President Nguyen Trang Ngoc Minh Thu shared: "Homeland Spring is not just a cultural festival, but also a meeting place for businesses from both countries. Many Australians visited our booth and expressed a desire to collaborate in the fields of cuisine, trade, and tourism".
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| Exhibition space at the event. (Photo: Organizing Committee) |
Nguyen Trang Ngoc Minh Thu believes that the Vietnamese community in Western Australia is entering a mature phase, with many capable young entrepreneurs, paving the way for the development of Vietnam-Australia trade connections in the future.
At the end of the day, the entire Forrest Place resonated with song during an emotional closing session. Artists, volunteers, and hundreds of attendees sang Mua Xuan Long Phung sum vay, concluding a fulfilling festival day.
The organizers expressed their gratitude: "We hope Homeland Spring will not only be a cultural event but will become a symbol of connection for Vietnamese people in Western Australia – united, compassionate, and culturally rich".
Some beautiful images from the event:
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