Dao ethnic minority women work at a tea processing factory in Lào Cai Province, a project part of the Gender-Responsive Equitable Agriculture and Tourism (GREAT) programme funded by Australia's ODA. — Photo courtesy of the Australian Embassy in Việt Nam

HÀ NỘI — The Australian Government has increased its Official Development Assistance (ODA) allocation for Việt Nam to AUD 98.3 million for the 2026–27 fiscal year, reaffirming its commitment to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

According to a media release issued by the Australian Embassy in Việt Nam, the new allocation marks an increase from AUD 96.6 million in 2025-26.

Australian Ambassador to Việt Nam Gillian Bird remarked that the funding increase underscored Canberra’s long-term commitment to Việt Nam.

“In a time of global uncertainty, Australia is Việt Nam's trusted and reliable partner,” Bird said.

“Our development programme in Việt Nam is supporting Việt Nam's inclusive, sustainable economic growth, and helping to build a peaceful, stable and prosperous region for us all.”

Australia has provided more than AUD 3 billion in development assistance to Việt Nam since 1973, making it one of the country’s longstanding development partners.

Current cooperation programmes focus on supporting Việt Nam's ambition to become a high-income country by 2045, with investments targeting economic growth, human resource development, climate action, gender equality and disability inclusion.

The Australian Government said its overall ODA spending for 2026-27 would reach AUD 5.2 billion, up 2.2 per cent compared to the previous fiscal year.

Of that figure, the Southeast Asian region is expected to receive AUD 1.35 billion in development assistance, AUD 73.6 million higher than the 2025-26 budget allocation. — VNS