Sunshine Lunar New Year Festival –Celebrating the lunar calendar: a time of renewal
Post Event Coverage – Sunshine Lunar New Year Festival
On Sunday 26 January 2025, the Sunshine shopping precinct in Victoria, came to life with their annual Lunar New Year festival. Now in its fourth year, the event celebrates renewal, it’s a day of family fun filled with music, cultural entertainment, stage and street performances including magical Lion and Dragon dancing.
Sponsored by the Australian Government’s Smartraveller, the festival saw over 45,000 people visit the event. This is an important Vietnamese and Asian cultural event that brings communities together in a safe and fun environment.
For those inspired by the festival to book an overseas trip, Smartraveller representatives were on hand to encourage people to make Smartraveller their first destination. Smartraveller includes travel advice on over 175 destinations, passports, visas, travel insurance and more. Smartraveller also offers essential resources in multiple languages.
Justin, a festival attendee and avid adventurer, stated, “I never leave for a trip without checking Smartraveller first. Their advice on local laws and safety saved me from a few close calls while backpacking in Southeast Asia.”
Another attendee, Mai, shared, “before visiting my family in Vietnam, I checked Smartraveller for tips on travel insurance and staying healthy overseas. I also signed up for the Vietnam travel advice updates. It gave me peace of mind to enjoy my trip without worries.”
Smartraveller’s travel tips for your future overseas adventures:
- Research and confirm visa and entry requirements for your destination. Reach out to the relevant embassy or consulate for up-to-date information.
- Learn about recommended vaccinations and health precautions for your destination. Check your medication’s legality and requirements.
- Don’t forget your travel insurance and make sure you read the fine print on your policy.
- Be aware of how dual nationality may affect your travel plans and consular services.
- Respect the laws of the country you’re visiting, as they may differ from those in Australia.
- Be mindful of the culture and places of significance in the regions you explore. This includes wearing appropriate clothing at places such as temples.
- Use social media responsibly, as posting sensitive content or comments on political issues can have consequences in some countries.
- If travelling alone, take extra precautions, such as using official transport and not disclosing that you’re travelling solo.
- Keep your bags and belongings close – don’t leave them on the ground or the back of a seat. This gives thieves a perfect opportunity to steal them.
- Leave a copy of your travel itinerary and insurance details with someone back in Australia.
- If you don’t already have a passport allow at least six weeks to receive it.
For more information about Smartraveller, and to access in-language travel advice, please visit https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/consular-services/communities or scan the QR code
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