<P> Up until 1975 there were fewer than 2,000 Vietnam - born people in Australia . Following the takeover of South Vietnam by the North Vietnamese communist government in April 1975 , Australia , being a signatory to the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees , agreed to resettle its share of Vietnam - born refugees under a refugee resettlement plan between 1975 and 1985 . After the initial intake of refugees in the late 1970s , there was a second immigration peak in 1983 -- 84 , most likely a result of the 1982 agreement between the Australian and Vietnamese governments ( the Orderly Departure Program ) which allowed relatives of Vietnamese Australians to leave Vietnam and migrate to Australia . A third immigration peak in the late 1980s seems to have been mainly due to Australia 's family reunion scheme . Over 90,000 refugees were processed , and entered Australia during this time . </P>
<P> Up until 1975 there were fewer than 2,000 Vietnam - born people in Australia . Following the takeover of South Vietnam by the North Vietnamese communist government in April 1975 , Australia , being a signatory to the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees , agreed to resettle its share of Vietnam - born refugees under a refugee resettlement plan between 1975 and 1985 . After the initial intake of refugees in the late 1970s , there was a second immigration peak in 1983 -- 84 , most likely a result of the 1982 agreement between the Australian and Vietnamese governments ( the Orderly Departure Program ) which allowed relatives of Vietnamese Australians to leave Vietnam and migrate to Australia . A third immigration peak in the late 1980s seems to have been mainly due to Australia 's family reunion scheme . Over 90,000 refugees were processed , and entered Australia during this time . </P>
when did the first vietnamese refugees arrived in australia
when did the first vietnamese refugees arrived in australia
the late 1970s
the late 1970s