NT Business and Asian Relations Minister Robyn Cahill will lead a delegation to Vietnam this week with representatives from numerous local education providers including CDU, Alana Kaye College and Haileybury Rendall School, which she said will “strengthen ties” with the one-party authoritarian state and comes the same day the Vietnamese president was in Canberra to strengthen economic ties with the Commonwealth.

A statement issued Tuesday about the trip called Vietnam a “trusted partner” of the NT’s, with a “dynamic relationship…built on trade, investment and regional cooperation”. A list of who Ms Cahill was meeting with was not provided.

The total cost of the delegation for all parties was also not released, but Ms Cahill’s office said it was estimated the Minister would cost taxpayers an estimated $5,600 for the three-day, two-night voyage from August 11 to 13.

While mentioning Vietnam as a key destination for the NT’s live cattle and buffalo exports, and for potentially cotton, “tropical agriculture and sustainable food systems”, Ms Cahill said the trip would also involve discussions about “aviation connectivity” and strengthening the Territory’s “role as a strategic gateway to Southeast Asia”, in hopes of securing flight partnerships.

It was unclear who she would be meeting with to discuss flight options.

Ms Cahill is also Minister for International Education.

“International education is a cornerstone of that relationship [with Vietnam] and a key driver of economic growth,” she said.

“Vietnam is one of the largest sources of international students for the Territory, and growing this cohort is a key government priority.”

The delegation includes representatives from CDU, the International College of Advanced Education, Alana Kaye College, Canterbury Institute of Management, Darwin City College, Australian City International College, Haileybury Rendall School, and the Chamber of Commerce NT.

Ms Cahill said Vietnam was “one of the largest sources of international students for the Territory and growing this cohort is a key government priority”.

But the Federal Government controls the number of international students studying in the Territory.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met with Vietnam’s president To Lam in Canberra Tuesday where the leaders reiterated their commitment to “rules-based multilateral trading” and welcomed stronger cooperation across defence, maritime and border security, the digital economy, agriculture, energy, minerals, science and innovation.

Mr Albanese said he was “particularly pleased that Vietnam has agreed to provide market access for Australian kangaroo and deer meat”. President To Lam has previously announced that VietJet will fly into the new Western Sydney airport from next year.

Vietnamese ex-pats in Australia and human rights groups raised concerns Tuesday about what they say is Vietnam’s poor human rights record and undemocratic practices that have led to the country being a one-party state.