Vietnam
| About this Item |
Subjects | Vietnam; Museums; War; Foreign Affairs |
Speakers | Judge Ms Virginia |
Business | Private Members Statements |
Page: 20871
Ms VIRGINIA JUDGE (Strathfield) [5.40 p.m.]: I draw to the attention of the House my recent visit to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, as the immensely lucky winner of the first prize in a raffle held at the National Multicultural Marketing Awards ceremony in 2005. I was delighted to visit this beautiful country. It is a nation with a long and distinguished history. While so much has been written and said on the conflict that beset this country some 30 years ago, Vietnam is today emerging as an important partner and ally of Australia. Australia's bilateral relationship with Vietnam is politically, strategically and economically important.
During the 1980s, when Vietnam was internationally isolated, Australia provided aid to it through multilateral organisations such as the United Nations Development Program. Indeed, Australia was also one of the first countries to restore its bilateral aid program following the withdrawal of the Vietnamese presence from Cambodia and the signing of the Paris Peace Accord in October 1991. Tourism is clearly emerging as an important sector in Vietnam, and I believe it offers unique opportunities for both Vietnamese and Australian businesses, as well as the many Australians who now have the opportunity to visit this magnificent country.
Vietnam has a population of 82 million, which is approximately four times the size of Australia's population. Hanoi in the north is a fascinating city. It has an amazing history and culture, the antiquity of which I was not previously aware. There is evidence of human settlement in northern Vietnam as far back as 500,000 BC to 300,000 BC, and perhaps even earlier, and in the third century BC, King An founded Au Viet. China occupied northern Vietnam from 189 to 939 AD and from 939 to 1860 AD local kings ruled the area. The French colonised Indochina from 1860 until the end of World War II in 1945. When the war ended, France attempted to re-establish colonial control, but failed after it was decisively defeated at Dien Bien Phu.
The Geneva Accord subsequently divided the country into North Vietnam and South Vietnam, separated by a demilitarised zone, with the Democratic Republic of Vietnam founded in the north under president Ho Chi Minh and a separate administration established in the south. The succeeding period in Vietnamese history centres upon probably the most infamous conflict of the modern age, and perhaps it is the bloodiest and most tragic chapter of Vietnamese history. It goes without saying that the Vietnamese people place strong significance on the importance of their history and their proud struggle for autonomy. The many museums in and around Hanoi are a testament to that focus. I highly recommend the Museum of the Vietnamese Revolution, which provides a graphic illustration of the contemporary history of Vietnam, as well as the revolutionary history of the Vietnamese nation under the leadership of the Communist Party.
There are over 3,000 exhibits, documents and photographs displayed by the museum. I am told that, in addition, almost 100,000 historical photographs, exhibits and documents from 1858 to the present are kept in the archives. I found the exhibits describing the growth from 1951 to 1976 of the Vietnamese Labor Party, which later evolved into the highly centralised system dominated by the Communist Party of Vietnam [CPV], of particular interest. Their portrayal of working people, both urban and rural, and their efforts in striving for justice and more extensive participation in the political process of their country was of exceptional value. I vividly recall seeing a wooden hand grenade made by the Vietnamese to deceive their opponents: they often lacked actual weapons to defend themselves. The Vietnamese people's resourcefulness in times of extreme hardship has continued to demonstrate itself through the decades.
I also recommend the wonderful Vietnamese History Museum, which is just across the road from the revolutionary museum in Hanoi. Similarly, the Fine Arts Museum is also a real treasure. Some of the exhibits there are breathtaking in their artistic beauty and value. The Buddhist and Hindu relics there were simply amazing. Within a short distance of the Fine Arts Museum is the Temple of Literature, with its emphasis on the spoken and written word and philosophy. A truly remarkable poetry festival is held every year. It certainly would be uplifting if there were something similar here in New South Wales. I also recommend the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, in which one can enjoy displays and objects relating to spiritual practices, craft making and the arts in a realistic setting which attests to the richness of Vietnamese culture.
In addition to the fabulous cultural centres I have already described, I should mention the Women's Museum, the Army Museum, and Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum, all of which are full of fascinating history. Indeed, there is something there for everyone to savour. Being passionate about painting and the arts, I was quite overwhelmed by the importance of visual art in Vietnam. Apart from the formal cultural institutions, I might mention the many outstanding art studios along the streets that contained paintings of outstanding quality. I was also impressed by a performance I was privileged to see by one of Vietnam's leading performance artists, Lap Tran, who does a free performance once each year. His creative work was quite amazing and explored themes such as sexuality and instinct, acceptance and resistance, subservience and the self, and the boundaries of culture, with the melding of music, movement and mood. That freedom of thought within the context of a seemingly restrictive political system was enlightening, and a refreshing reminder that, as human beings, we share so much that we have in common. For anyone who loves to try interesting food, Vietnam is a gourmet's delight.
There is much work to be done to rebuild this nation and there are a number of accountable non-government organisations [NGOs] which need support. Hopefully, we can help organisations such as the Highland Education Development not for profit Organisation [HEDO], which has a number of projects in the mountainous and ethnic minority areas. The organisation's methodology is community based and encourages local people to participate in the planning, implementation, evaluation, and follow-up activities of various projects in the key areas of education, health and poverty reduction.
In conclusion I must thank those who were very helpful, such as the hardworking staff of the Australian Embassy in Hanoi, under the guidance of His Excellency the Ambassador, Mr Bill Tweddell, who was most hospitable and helpful. Apart from the embassy's usual areas of immigration, education and the usual operations of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, it has other major areas of co-operation with AusAID and the Australian Centre for Internal Agriculture Resources. I must also mention the Vietnamese Consul, Nguyen The Piet, the deputy Director General of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Nguyen Thac Dihn and Ms Quan Kieu Anh, an official at the Australia desk attached to the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hanoi, for their outstanding knowledge, assistance and support for this visit. Vietnam is an exceptional place in which to spend some time, and I highly commend it to everyone.