The annual Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces’ Day was celebrated in Melbourne’s west on Sunday, June 18.

About 200 people attended the ceremony to honour South Vietnamese military veterans who served and sacrificed their lives for their country.

Located at the Footscray RSL, the event was organised by the Vietnamese Veterans Association of Victoria.

It began with a colour guard – representing all branches of the South Vietnam armed forces – such as the Navy, Air Forces and Marines.

Both the Australian and the Republic of Vietnam national anthems were sung, followed by a minute of silence.

A number of guests gave speeches throughout the ceremony.

President of the Vietnamese Veterans Association of Victoria, Minh Nguyen, said each year, South Vietnamese veterans around the world still remembered their homeland and those who died fighting for freedom.

“Though our homeland is far away, we see the lives of refugees all around the world. We still remember our duty, responsibility, fatherland. We have this day (to) commemorate our fallen soldiers, reminding us that our duty was not completed,” he told the crowd in his opening speech.

The South Vietnam Armed Forces’ Day ceremony was at the Footscray RSL in Melbourne’s west. (Photo: TiVi Tuan-san)

President of the Vietnamese Community in Australia – Victorian Chapter, Vivienne Nguyen thanked the servicemen and women who sacrificed their lives.

“We who are here today, the survived… and we survived because of the honour and sacrifice from those men and women and those freedom-loving people who lay down their lives,” she said.

As the ceremony came to a close, wreaths were laid to honour all the lives lost during the Vietnam War.

The event concluded with light refreshments and musical entertainment.

Over 350-thousand South Vietnamese soldiers died during the Vietnam War, together with more than 64-thousand of their allied forces.

521 Australian soldiers were among those killed.

Click on the video below to watch the event.