Prime Minister Anthony Albanese devours banh mi and beer in bustling Vietnamese venue

Anthony Albanese has enjoyed a banh mi and a beer during an official visit to Vietnam, claiming Australia and the Asian nation are “on a roll” when it comes to agricultural exports.

Anthony Albanese drinks at a street vendor's restaurant during an official visit to Vietnam in Hanoi. Picture: Nhac Nguyen

Anthony Albanese has tucked into two traditional Vietnamese delicacies loved by Aussies – banh mi and beer.

The Prime Minister caught the attention of unassuming locals as he arrived at the Bia hoi Ngoc Linh diner in the heart on Hanoi on Saturday afternoon.

There, he picked up a traditional sandwich from a street cart before heading inside the bustling beer hall.

Australia is the largest supplier of malted barley to Vietnam. Picture: Nhac Nguyen

Mr Albanese trying a fish cake with chopsticks. Picture: Nhac Nguyen

Sitting on a low plastic chair at a table held up by beer kegs, Mr Albanese with chopsticks in hand also tried a fish cake, which he washed down with cold beer.

“The banh mi and beer tasted even better knowing that it was made with Australian wheat and barley,” Mr Albanese said.

Rounds of beers were flowing across the packed venue as the mercury reached the high 30s outside.

Crowds of locals huddled around chanting “cheers” as he took sips of the beer with Australian-trained chef Sam Tran and others.

Mr Albanese speaks during lunch at a street vendor's restaurant in Hanoi. Picture: Nhac Nguyen

Mr Albanese said the ‘banh mi and the beer tasted even better knowing that it was made with Australian wheat and barley’. Picture: Nhac Nguyen

Asked what his favourite Vietnamese food was, Mr Albanese said pho.

Mr Albanese, who arrived in Hanoi on Saturday, marvelled at the pace of the city.

As the largest supplier of malted barley to Vietnam, which is also one of Australia’s top three wheat export markets, our high-quality agricultural exports play a vital role in their beer and bread production.

Australia exported $13.7bn worth of goods to Vietnam in 2021-22, up more than 50 per cent from the previous year, with coal and iron ore top of the list.

Ninety nine percent of Vietnamese beer is made using Australian barley, and a lot of the banh-mi baguettes are made with Australian wheat. pic.twitter.com/MmYEihK2T7

— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) June 3, 2023

Earlier in the day, Mr Albanese used a visit to the RMIT Hanoi campus industry and innovation hub to reinforce Australia’s commitment to strengthening education ties between the two nations, as Vietnam’s growing middle class looks for tertiary opportunities.

“Education is the biggest and most powerful weapon we have against disadvantage,” he said.

On Saturday night, Mr Albanese will rub shoulders with business representatives from both Vietnam and Australia, including those from Vietnam airlines, Bluescope, ANZ and Deloitte.

He will then attend high-level meetings with Vietnam’s national leadership on Sunday in a bid to grow lucrative trade and investment ties, further action on climate change, and address regional security challenges such as the South China Sea.

Mr Albanese said Australia and Vietnam share a view that the conventional Law of the Sea needs to be upheld.

He is also expected to announce a further $105m to help the transition to clean energy.

The elevation of the bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which is expected to occur later this year, will also be on the agenda.

Mr Albanese who arrived in Hanoi on Saturday, marvelled at the pace of the city. Picture: Nhac Nguyen

Meanwhile, Australia has rebuked claims from Ukraine’s Defence Minister that it will soon announce another support package for the embattled nation.

Oleksii Reznikov took to Twitter to reveal that more security assistance would be announced in July – which coincides with when NATO meets – after a “meaningful meeting” with Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

Ukraine has been pushing for Australian-made Hawkei armoured vehicles.

But Mr Reznikov said he requested training for Ukrainian pilots, medical evacuation vehicles and means of electronic warfare against drones from their “Australian friends”.

Asked if there was going to be an additional assistance package in July, Anthony Albanese said: “No, I can’t confirm”.

Mr Albanese waits to deliver his keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore on Friday: Picture: AFP

“My government is a considered, adult government,” the Prime Minister said.

“We make the announcements when they are ready, when they’ve been considered by all of our processes, including our Cabinet, because I lead a proper government that governs in an orderly way, and produces outcomes.”

Mr Albanese said Australia had been “substantial contributors” and was continuing to deliver Bushmaster vehicles, technical support and training for Ukrainian soldiers.

Asked if he would raise Vietnam being silent in its condemnation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Mr Albanese said Australia respected the rights of nations to determine their position.

“We regard the Russian invasion of Ukraine as illegal, as immoral, as an attack on international rules, and as an attack on national sovereignty,” Mr Albanese said.

“The implications are there for the whole world, and we pay tribute to President Zelenskyy and to the people of Ukraine on what they have done.”

Mr Reznikov said he invited Mr Marles to visit Ukraine, after being moved by his remarks of “admiration for Ukraine’s extraordinary bravery”.

Mr Albanese delivers his keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore. Picture: AFP

Defence Minister Richard Marles on Saturday met with his Chinese counterpart, following a key trilateral meeting with Japanese and US counterparts.

A handshake between US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and China’s National Defence Minister Li Shangfu at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Friday night was deemed not a “substantive exchange” according to the Pentagon, after Mr Albanese using his key speech to call on Beijing to talk with the US.

Mr Albanese who sat at the same table as the pair last night said he had a “constructive” conversation with Mr Li.

“That was one of the more interesting tables that I’ve had over dinner in my life,” he said.

Mr Li will on Sunday outline China’s vision on global and regional stability at the region’s premier defence summit in Singapore.