Australian and Vietnamese artists team up to celebrate Australia Day

Vietnamese and Vietnamese Australian performers joined on the stage Friday night at the Hanoi Opera House for a special gala concert celebrating Australia-Vietnam ties on the occasion of Australia Day 2011.

The concert featured Vietnamese Australian singer Thanh Bui who reached the top 8 on Australian Idol in 2008, outstanding Vietnamese Australian pianist Nguyen Van Anh, alongside young talented Vietnamese pianist Luu Hong Quang and much-loved Vietnamese pop star My Linh.

Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Allaster Cox welcomed the concert as a further demonstration of the strong people-to-people ties between the two countries: “We’re proud to be able to showcase the voices and musical talents of Vietnamese-Australians and of Vietnamese studying music in Australia: Nguyen Van Anh, Thanh Bui and Luu Hong Quang.”

“Vietnamese-Australians play a key and prominent part in our Australian multicultural life today. Strong and growing ties between Vietnamese-Australians and Vietnam will be a driving force in relations between the two countries,” he added.

Thanh Bui made his debut performance in Vietnam last year when he released a hit local single with pop star Ho Ngoc Ha. He was born in Adelaide to Australian-Vietnamese parents. Thanh found fame in Asia in the popular boys group \'North\' before reaching the Top 8 on Australian Idol in 2008. Van Anh entered the Sydney Conservatory at the age of 4 and has performed in Europe, Asia and the United States with her edgy, crossover style.

Hong Quang has studied piano at the Australian International Conservatory of Music since 2006 and he has wowed judges in Vietnam and around the world, winning first place in the Australia Chopin Competition in 2009. As one of Vietnam\'s most-loved singers, My Linh has been invited to perform throughout the world, including special guest appearances in Australia, the United States and the Republic of Korea.