Australia is home to one of the world’s largest Vietnamese diaspora communities — a community that traces its roots to the post-1975 refugee arrivals and has grown steadily through family reunion, skilled migration and student pathways over five decades. Today, Vietnamese Australians are one of the most established multicultural communities in the country, with deep roots in Fairfield, Cabramatta, Richmond and Footscray.

For Vietnamese people considering the move to Australia in 2026, the pathways are clearer and more accessible than ever. This guide covers everything you need to know.

---

The Vietnamese community in Australia

At the end of June 2024, 318,760 Vietnamese-born people were living in Australia — 39.5% more than a decade earlier — making the Vietnamese-born population the sixth largest migrant community in Australia.

Vietnamese Australians number 334,767 by ancestry according to the 2021 Census, representing 1.3% of the Australian population.

The community is concentrated in:

Sydney: The largest Vietnamese community in Australia. Sydney’s Vietnamese community is concentrated in Fairfield, Bankstown, Liverpool and Canterbury. Cabramatta — known as “Little Saigon” — is the spiritual and commercial heart of Vietnamese Sydney, with Vietnamese restaurants, bakeries, grocery stores, Buddhist temples and community organisations along John Street.

Melbourne: Richmond and Footscray are Melbourne’s most established Vietnamese precincts. Victoria Street, Richmond — lined with Vietnamese restaurants, pho shops and grocery stores — is one of Melbourne’s most vibrant multicultural streets. Springvale in Melbourne’s south-east has a large and growing Vietnamese community.

Brisbane: Inala and Sunnybank Hills have significant Vietnamese communities. Brisbane’s Vietnamese food scene has grown strongly in the past decade.

Adelaide and Perth: Both cities have established Vietnamese communities, concentrated in the inner suburbs.

Vietnamese is the fifth most commonly spoken community language in Sydney other than English — ranking above Italian. The community is notable for its strong Buddhist and Catholic faith, family networks, entrepreneurial culture and food traditions.

---

Visa options for Vietnamese moving to Australia

Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482) — the main work pathway

The Skills in Demand (SID) visa replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa and is the primary pathway for Vietnamese skilled workers with a job offer from an Australian employer.

Requirements:

• Job offer from an approved Australian sponsor employer
• Occupation on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) or Essential Skills List
• Earnings at or above the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT): AUD $79,423 per year from 1 July 2026
• English language: IELTS 5.0 in each band (or equivalent)
• Skills assessment from the relevant Australian assessing authority
• Meet health and character requirements — police clearance from Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security required

Duration: Up to 4 years. Pathway to permanent residence through the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) after 3 years.

Most in-demand for Vietnamese professionals in 2026: Healthcare and nursing, software engineering and IT, civil and structural engineering, construction trades, aged care and disability support.

---

Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) — points-based permanent residence

Vietnamese professionals can apply for permanent residence through the points-based skilled migration system without a job offer or state nomination.

Requirements:

• Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect
• Score at least 65 points across age, English language, qualifications, work experience and other factors
• Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA)
• Skills assessment from the relevant Australian body
• English: Competent English (IELTS 6.0 in each band) minimum; higher scores earn more points

Key points factors for Vietnamese applicants:

• Age (25-32 earns maximum points)
• English language (Superior English at IELTS 8.0+ earns maximum)
• Australian work experience (significant points boost)
• STEM qualifications

---

Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) — state-sponsored

Each Australian state and territory nominates skilled workers for occupations in demand locally. A state nomination adds 5 points to your SkillSelect score.

Useful for Vietnamese applicants who may not have enough points for a 189 invitation — a 190 nomination from a state can bridge the gap. Check each state’s nomination criteria at their migration department websites.

---

Student visa (subclass 500)

Australia is a popular study destination for Vietnamese students — with approximately 24,800 Vietnamese students enrolled in Australia as of early 2026. Six of Australia’s universities rank in the world’s top 100.

Pathway: Student visa → Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) → skilled migration → permanent residence.

English requirement: IELTS 5.5-6.5 depending on institution and course level.

Cost: AUD $20,000-$45,000 per year tuition depending on the institution and course.

---

Working Holiday visa (subclass 462)

Vietnam is eligible for the Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) — for Vietnamese citizens aged 18-30 who meet education and English requirements.

Requirements:

• Vietnamese passport, aged 18-30
• Completed at least 2 years of tertiary education
• Functional English (IELTS 4.5 or equivalent)
• Support letter from the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Proof of funds approximately AUD $5,000

Annual cap: A cap applies — check the current status at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/whm-program/status-of-country-caps.

---

Family and partner visas

If your partner or close family member is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, you may be eligible for a partner visa (subclass 820/801 onshore or 309/100 offshore) or family visa. Partner visa processing times are typically 12-24 months.

---

Where to live in Australia

Sydney — the largest Vietnamese community

Sydney’s Fairfield-Cabramatta corridor in the south-west is Australia’s most significant Vietnamese precinct. Cabramatta’s John Street is lined with Vietnamese restaurants, bakeries, grocery stores, Buddhist temples and community organisations. The Vietnamese community here is multigenerational — grandparents who arrived as refugees in the late 1970s alongside recent skilled migrants and international students.

Best suburbs for Vietnamese community: Cabramatta, Fairfield, Bankstown, Liverpool, Bonnyrigg.

Jobs: Finance, healthcare, tech, construction and hospitality are strong in Sydney. Average one-bedroom rent: AUD $2,400-$2,800 per month in the inner suburbs; AUD $1,700-$2,100 in the south-west.

---

Melbourne — Richmond and Footscray

Melbourne has the second-largest Vietnamese community. Victoria Street, Richmond is one of Australia’s most famous Vietnamese food streets — pho restaurants, banh mi shops, Vietnamese coffee cafés and grocery stores stretching for several blocks. Footscray in the inner west has a younger, more diverse Vietnamese community with excellent Vietnamese food and a strong sense of neighbourhood identity.

Best suburbs: Richmond, Footscray, Springvale, Box Hill, Dandenong.

Jobs: Melbourne is particularly strong for healthcare, education, IT and professional services. Average one-bedroom rent: AUD $2,200-$2,600 per month.

---

Brisbane — Inala and Sunnybank

Brisbane’s Vietnamese community is concentrated in Inala and the Sunnybank corridor. A more affordable alternative to Sydney and Melbourne. Strong demand for healthcare and construction workers.

Average one-bedroom rent: AUD $1,900-$2,300 per month.

---

Cost of living

Australia is significantly more expensive than Vietnam — but salaries are proportionally higher. The national minimum wage is AUD $26.44 per hour from 1 July 2026.

Biggest cost shocks for Vietnamese migrants:

• Rent — significantly higher than Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi
• Groceries — 2-3x more expensive than Vietnam
• Eating out — a basic restaurant meal AUD $20-$35 per person

What’s cheaper: Vietnamese food is widely available and very affordable in Cabramatta and Footscray — often better value than comparable Australian dishes.

---

Healthcare

Australia and Vietnam do not have a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA). Vietnamese migrants on temporary visas are not eligible for Medicare until permanent residence.

While on a temporary visa: Arrange Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) — approximately AUD $50-$150 per month. Student visa holders must hold Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) — a mandatory visa condition.

Permanent residents: Eligible for full Medicare from date of grant.

---

Banking

ANZ, CommBank, Westpac and NAB all serve Vietnamese migrants. CommBank offers the most straightforward pre-arrival account opening. ANZ accepts overseas address documents for identification.

Apply for your TFN (Tax File Number) immediately on arrival at ato.gov.au — without it, employers must deduct tax at 45%.

---

The Vietnamese-Australian food scene

Vietnamese food is one of Australia’s most beloved cuisines — pho, banh mi, broken rice (com tam), Vietnamese iced coffee (ca phe sua da), fresh spring rolls and banh cuon are mainstream across Australian cafés and restaurants. For recent arrivals, finding familiar food is easy in any major city.

Best places for Vietnamese food:

• Sydney: Cabramatta (John Street), Bankstown, Fairfield
• Melbourne: Victoria Street Richmond, Footscray Market
• Brisbane: Inala Shopping Village, Sunnybank Plaza

---

Fun facts: Vietnam and Australia

• Pho is Australia’s favourite international food — the dish Vietnamese migrants brought to Australia has become one of the country’s most popular and most eaten cuisines, with pho restaurants in every suburb and every regional town
• Vietnamese is the fifth most spoken language in Sydney — above Italian; a testament to the community’s size, cohesion and continued growth
• Australia was one of the first Western countries to resettle Vietnamese refugees after 1975 — with over 200,000 Vietnamese refugees resettled between 1975 and 1985; that founding generation is now grandparents and great-grandparents
• Vietnam and Australia signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2023 — the highest level of diplomatic relationship Vietnam offers; bilateral trade exceeds AUD $20 billion annually
• The AUD/VND exchange rate has been broadly supportive in 2026 — fee-free transfers from Australia to Vietnam mean every dollar sent home goes further

---

Sending money from Australia to Vietnam

OrbitRemit supports fee-free AUD to VND transfers — no transfer fee on any amount from Australia.

• AUD to VND: fee-free — no transfer fee
• Fee-free above AUD $10,000 on all transfers
• Direct to all major Vietnamese banks — Vietcombank, BIDV, VietinBank, Techcombank, MB Bank, ACB and more
• Over 85% of transfers arrive within 2 hours
• Rate locked at confirmation — no hidden charges
• Regulated by ASIC in Australia (AFSL: 470646)
• Rated Excellent on Trustpilot from over 34,000 reviews

---

FAQs (frequently asked questions)

---

This guide is for general information only and does not constitute immigration or legal advice. Visa requirements and fees are subject to change — always verify current requirements at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au or consult a registered migration agent before applying. Last updated August 2026.

Sources: Department of Home Affairs — Vietnam Country Profile (homeaffairs.gov.au) | Wikipedia — Vietnamese Australians | liveinmelbourne.vic.gov.au — Vietnamese community | lottalingo.com — Moving to Australia from Vietnam (April 2026) | skilldirect.com.au — Migration Program 2025-2026 | sydneyvisas.com — Immigration to Australia from Vietnam (February 2026) | National Archives of Australia — Vietnamese migration