FOOTSCRAY – A ceremony to celebrate the development of Footscray’s Saigon Welcome Arch has taken place in the western suburb of Melbourne on Saturday.

As local residents and members of the public gathered around, distinguished members from the Vietnamese and Australian community took turns to speak.

La Khai Nguyen, President of the Footscray Asian Business Association (FABA), opened the program and introduced the guests including MPs representing the Premier of Victoria and the Opposition Leader as well as Maribyrnong City councillors, association representatives and Vietnamese-language media.

The million-dollar archway – designed as a pair of giant cranes – will be constructed near the corners of Leeds and Hopkins Streets as part of the Little Saigon precinct redevelopment that will include a new building with ground-floor retail and multi-level parking, a pocket park, street trees and a Byron Street upgrade.

After 20 years, the gate has been made possible through funding from Maribyrnong Council ($300,000), the State Government ($420,000) and around $200,000 raised by the Vietnamese-Australian community.

It will reflect the Vietnamese culture and community settlement in Australia.

FABA’s chairman said if everything goes according to plan, the inauguration will take place on August 26.

The six-hour ceremony which began at 10am, included the flag-raising and singing of the national anthem of Australia and the Republic of Vietnam. Local artists also entertained the audience throughout the event.

At the end of the ceremony, all guests were invited to lay down a brick in the main area where the Saigon Welcome Arch will be built and asked to sign a painting of the future archway.

– TiVi Tuan-san