Special memories of a very special place

After two years serving as Australian Ambassador to Việt Nam, Andrew Goledzinowski is leaving his position to return to his homeland. Before his departure, he wrote a farewell piece for Viêt Nam News.

Australian Ambassador to Việt Nam Andrew Goledzinowski with just a few of the many friends he made during his work here. Photos courtesy of Andrew Goledzinowski

It is said that people who depart Việt Nam after living here awhile, leave a piece of themselves behind. As I approach my own departure, I feel the truth of that statement.

Việt Nam News, which I think provides a great service to the English-speaking community, has invited me to share some personal reflections of my time in this amazing country.

That is easier said than done.

There are so many impressions and memories that it is difficult to sort through them.

For my wife and I, and our little dog Millie, living in Hà Nội has been a joy.

We first visited here nearly 20 years ago as tourists and, even then, we thought that we would like to come back for a longer stay.

A lot has changed in Hà Nội over those 20 years. But a lot hasn’t. It is still a beautiful and poetic city that wears its age with dignity and grace. At street level, it is a jumble of shops and motorcycles and street vendors; people eating outdoors, drinking coffee in cafe windows or just trying to navigate the crowded footpaths.

But, when we lift our eyes above road level (while still watching our feet), it is impossible not to be charmed by the elegant architecture that has managed to survive war, weather and development.

The streets are like a living theatre, on two wheels. Motorbikes carry everything from fridges to families. To be Vietnamese is to have an unerring sense of balance, including four-legged friends, the boys on their phones, and the ladies riding side-saddle while fixing their make-up.

Australian Ambassador to Việt Nam Andrew Goledzinowski with his wife Lyn and dog Millie. Photo courtesy of Andrew Goledzinowsk

We love walking in Hà Nội, but it is not for the faint-hearted!

Hồ Chí Minh has a totally different vibe. It is cosmopolitan and outward looking. Serious about business but also serious about fun. I’m proud that Australia has a large Consulate-General there, as well as a strong business community – many of whom are Vietnamese Australians who have been generous with their advice and support.

Beyond the big cities, Việt Nam is a richly complex tapestry of culture, food and scenery. Every province, town, and village has its own character and its own flavour – quite literally. All countries are proud of their food, but no country more so than Việt Nam. And with good reason!

The late Anthony Bourdain had a special love for Vietnamese cuisine, and that is something that we have also acquired and will take with us.

We have also come to appreciate the cultural life of Việt Nam. Lyn and I first met through the arts.

So, experiencing the museums, theatres, galleries and handicrafts has been a joy. Our only regret is that we haven’t done more than scratch the surface.

But the strongest memories are of the people. The Vietnamese we have met have been overwhelmingly kind, generous, and sincere. There is a gentleness here that belies the toughness and resilience that Việt Nam has had to develop over its long and difficult history.

There is no doubt that Vietnam’s greatest asset is a population that is as young, smart and hard-working, as anywhere in the world. I make this observation as a professional diplomat who has travelled to over 100 countries and lived and worked on five continents. Việt Nam really IS special.

Australians and Vietnamese know each other well. More than 50 years of business, education, migration, and tourism have brought us closer together and created mutual respect and affection.

Australians have an overwhelmingly positive impression of Việt Nam. But having now lived here, I believe that even we need to update our understanding of this extraordinary place. The ao dais and water buffaloes will remain as iconic images of Việt Nam, I hope.

But contemporary Việt Nam – not future Việt Nam, but the present - is all about EV‘s and renewable energy; semiconductors and critical minerals; digital services and world-class education. The old will not have to make way for the new – I believe the two will come to live harmoniously side-by-side.

That is the modern Việt Nam I have come to know and admire - and that the rest of the world will get to know and appreciate very soon.

There is a great tradition of former Australian ambassadors remaining closely engaged with Việt Nam. That is a tradition that I intend to uphold and build on. I’d like to thank everyone who has made this posting so special for us. We look forward to staying in touch with the many friends we have made here and visiting as often as possible.

See you again soon, Việt Nam!