2024-25 bilateral allocation [budget estimate]

$64.2 million

2024-25 total Australian ODA [budget estimate]

$95.7 million

2023-24 total Australian ODA [actual]

$96.6 million

2022-23 total Australian ODA [actual]

$95.3 million

Australia is working with Vietnam to support a prosperous, secure and stable Vietnam. Australia and Vietnam agreed to upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in March 2024 and the partnership now extends across political, security, economic, development and people-to-people activities. Since 1973, Australia has provided over $3 billion in development assistance to Vietnam. This includes technical and financial support to construct two bridges, 26.4 million COVID-19 vaccinations and over 7,000 Australia Awards Scholarships.

Australia is supporting Vietnam to achieve its 2030 socio-economic development targets and its goal of becoming a high-income country by 2045. Australia's development partnership with Vietnam focuses on economic growth; skills and human resource development; climate change; and gender equality, disability and social inclusion. These areas reflect Australia's strengths, as recognised by the Government of Vietnam, and complement the efforts of other partners working in Vietnam.

Joint Objectives of the Australia – Vietnam Development Partnership

The overarching goal for the Australia - Vietnam development partnership is a prosperous, resilient and stable Vietnam.

The Australia – Vietnam Development Partnership Plan (2025–2030) (DPP) translates into action the development priorities Australia shares with Vietnam. The DPP sets out agreed objectives, how we will work together to deliver shared outcomes, and how progress will be monitored. It also identifies where Australia can add value to Vietnam's national development priorities and how Australia will work with other development actors, ensuring the Australian Government's contribution to Vietnam's development ambitions is well coordinated.

Objective 1 - An inclusive, resilient, sustainable and prosperous economy

Australia will support Vietnam's efforts to become a modern, competitive economy by 2045 by enhancing private sector development, productivity and competitiveness and strengthening Vietnam's innovation and digital capacity.

Australia will look for opportunities to work with Vietnam to strengthen policy implementation and reform, especially in social inclusion and climate change. These efforts will complement our strong economic partnership and support implementation of

Invested: Australia's Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040  and the Vietnam-Australia Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy (EEES).

Objective 2 - Strengthened human resources to meet socio-economic development objectives

Australia will continue supporting Vietnam to strengthen the human resources required to achieve its development objectives. Australia will enhance the capability of Vietnam's leaders through knowledge exchange and skills development with Australia and improve the quality and accessibility of Vietnam's vocational education and training (VET) system.

Advancing women's leadership will be central to Australia's approach in line with our Vietnam Equality Strategy 2022-27.

Objective 3 - Strengthened climate resilience, adaptation and emissions reduction

Australia and Vietnam each have an important role to play in international efforts to combat climate change. Australia will support Vietnam's locally-led inclusive approaches to climate change adaptation and mitigation especially in the Mekong Delta. These include a focus on improved food security, climate resilient agriculture practices and environmental management. We will also work with Vietnam to support energy transition towards 2050 net zero emissions targets.

Objective 4 - Inclusive and participatory social and economic development

Australia will deepen our efforts on gender equality and women's and girls' empowerment, while increasing our focus on people with disabilities, ethnic minority groups and LGBTQIA+ people. We will work to break down barriers that exclude people from participating in livelihood and skills opportunities and strengthen pathways to help them benefit from Vietnam's economic growth.

Climate Change

Vietnam is highly vulnerable to climate change and is one of the most hazard prone countries in Southeast Asia. Tackling climate change is a key priority for Vietnam, which announced its target to achieve net zero by 2050 during the COP26 World Leaders' Summit in 2021. Australia is committed to achieving the same net zero target. Both countries have agreed to greater collaboration under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Australia is well positioned to provide support and bring substantive whole-of-nation expertise based on our own experience in transitioning to net zero by 2050 and adaptation, particularly in agriculture and water.

We will also ensure that climate change risks and adaptation are considered across the entirety of the development partnership, both in new programs and incorporating climate change into existing programs, particularly in climate-sensitive sectors. 

GEDSI

Vietnam has a proud record of achievements on gender equality and addressing social inclusion is a priority in Vietnam's Socio-Economic Development Strategy 2021-2030. Despite Vietnam's overall progress, there remain groups that are not able to fully participate in, and benefit from, Vietnam's rapid development, including ethnic minority groups and people with disability. Ensuring all Vietnamese people can contribute to Vietnam's development and share benefits equally is critical to becoming a high-income country by 2045. Australia is committed to continuing to work closely with Vietnam to enable women, children, people with disability and members of ethnic minority groups and LGBTQIA+ communities to live more secure, dignified lives and encourage social inclusion across Vietnam's policies and programs.