Explore Governor-General Mostyn’s Vietnam homecoming

THE HANOI TIMES — At the State Banquet hosted by Vietnam’s President Luong Cuong in Hanoi on the evening of September 10, Governor-General Sam Mostyn of the Commonwealth of Australia appeared radiant in a special ao dai (Vietnamese traditional dress), the first time she’s worn one as Governor-General.

The iconic tunic was gifted to her by the wife of Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Pham Hung Tam. Its design blends the blue of the Australian flag with Australia’s national floral emblem wattle, and stars on its sleeves.

It captured everyone’s gaze and underscored the theme of her state visit, which conveys deep friendship and shared identity.

Speaking at the banquet, Mostyn could not hide her emotion as she recalled her  first visit to Vietnam , more than thirty years ago. As a young woman traveling with friends, she spent three weeks moving from Ho Chi Minh City through Hue, Danang, Da Lat, and finally to Hanoi.

“In every place we arrived, we were welcomed with overflowing warmth and generosity. We learned then more deeply about the importance of nature, people, and culture,” she said.

Early images, Hoan Kiem Lake, local markets and simple homes, remain vivid in her memory.

Now, welcomed again by Vietnamese friends, she said she was struck by the country’s transformation: bustling streets, rising towers, expanding universities, thriving businesses and innovation centers, and young people speaking foreign languages with global connections.

“It is hard to imagine that from those early 1990s moments until now, just a few decades later, I am here witnessing one of the most successful and prosperous economies in the region. It is astonishing!”

Her journey from tourist to Governor-General, she added, symbolizes the Australia–Vietnam people-to-people ties: friends, students, tourists, and scholars crossing seas and time to make lasting connections.

The shared stories of food, hospitality, and curiosity, she said, have helped build trust beyond diplomacy.

During this visit, Mostyn met top Vietnamese leaders, attended cultural events, paid respects at historical sites, and promoted cooperation in education, innovation, climate, trade, and peacekeeping.

Her emotional return to places she once knew when Vietnam was quieter and slower added a human dimension to the state visit, showing that relationships built through travel and friendship carry power.

Her story, past and present, frames Vietnam’s transformation and the friendship between the two nations, rooted in shared memories, gratitude, and hope for the future.