Vietnam, Western Australia, Sydney

[Geraniu]

We are travelling to Australia to see family in August next year. Thinking it would be nice to see Vietnam too so thinking of doing 6 nights in Vietnam, 6 nights in Perth and 8 days in Sydney (where family is).

Is August a good time to travel to Vietnam? How do we fly there? Are 6 nights there enough?

In Perth we want to stay 2 nights and go to Ningaloo reef, Margaret river, Kauri forest.

Is this too much? We are thinking 3.5 weeks.

We are flying from London

Personally I wouldn't as that's a lot of flying/travel plus August isn't a great time for Vietnam (it's the wettest month of the year). Have you been to Australia before? If you haven't, surely it would make more sense to explore more of Australia?

Don't get me wrong, I love Vietnam and I love Australia but there's reason why you don't hear people mentioning stopovers in Vietnam on the way to/from Australia.

I think it's 2 much for one holiday. I've been to Vietnam and to Australia, one month in each but that was 2 separate holidays.

We could have spent longer in either country - especially Australia because of the size of the country.

Our main holiday is always in August because I'm a teacher so we often end up visiting countries in the rainy season but still have a good time. I wouldn't let that put you off if you also need to go away in August.

Western Australia is huge and Ningaloo Reef is nowhere near Margaret River. I'm guessing the driving distance is about 1000 miles

Thank you. Yes, been in Australia 6 times but have not seen Western Australia; have seen other places though.

These are some ideas at the moment and not sure we will do Margaret river but definitely want to do Ningaloo reef. Maybe better to give Vietnam a miss as it doesn’t seen the best time.

August is wet season for Vietnam (the wet season runs from June-November)

The Ningaloo reef is over 700 miles away from Perth but there are flights from Perth to Learmouth which is the closest airport.

The town of Margaret River is about 150 miles away from Perth to the south.

Central Vietnam is dry then, but can be very hot and humid. I have been to Hoi An and Hue at that time and also Hanoi which was wet at times, but not every day. I lived in China so flew direct to DaNang, but from London i imagine it’s HCMC or Hanoi which then takes more time to transfer if you only have 6 days.

Margaret River is three hours south of Perth and is beautiful. Great for wineries and also surfing. I love WA and have been 6/7 times to Margaret River, Broome, Albany, Denmark, Perth etc. I have been in July and Perth was cool, but Broome was dry and hot.

Singapore is an easy stopover to Perth as is HK. HK to Perth is about 7.5 hours, day flight and no time difference. This was our preferred route with Cathay Pacific.

Thank you, maybe better to spend more time in Sydney and Western Australia than add another country to the mix.

We also want to go to Japan but it is very hot and humid in August; so that maybe a separate trip again? Just want o use the tickets and stop over to see another place as those are the most expensive.

I've been to Vietnam in august and the weather was nice. It was dry for most of the day and the rain is obviously much more tolerable than English rain. I also think it sort of makes sense to add Vietnam on the route seeing as you're going that sort of way anyway. I know it's more flying, but you're doing a load of flying just going to Australia, what's a few hours more.

Thank you; will look at stopping in HK, haven’t stopped there for a long time and only with DD1 when was very little.

That’s have been my thinking but need to look at flights and connections.

Maybe we take 4 weeks; since we are going so far it would be good to see another place and use the tickets which are probably around 5k or more for 4.

I will research into Vietnam and Japan end of August on the way back.

Ningaloo is amazing - good call! The distances in WA are huge though, and as pp said, to fit it in to a short stay in WA you really need to fly.
If you have extra time in WA, try to squeeze Rotto (Rottnest Island) in. No cars, only bikes, and lots of quokkas.

I used this website
https://www.selectiveasia.com/japan-holidays/weather#main-menu:where-to-go-when
when I lived in Asia to check weather in different areas.

Thank you for the advice will look at the link; also at Rottnest Island; maybe expending more time is WA is probably best and look a flying as don’t want to spend the holidays driving.

You do realise that August is Winter in Sydney? Probably the only month I would advise people not to come as it can be bloody freezing and often Aussie houses are just not geared up to cold. We live in Sydney but spend August in Bali 😂 I know loads of families who have had holidays in Vietnam, not sure what time of year but everyone has loved it so great idea.

Yes, DH is from OZ, we have been various time as we are stuck to school holidays and need at least 3 weeks. Queensland is fine, Sydney can be cold as you said but the last few apartments were not too bad; and the sun shined during the day. Not sure about Perth that time of the year.

MIL house can be freezing but won’t be stay there

NR is North, as you will know of WA. Gorgeous place to visit. MR is South so that’s a heck of a lot of travelling in a short space of time. Do-able but tiring I’d say. I love MR. We always stay in Dunsborough. Right on the coast. Lovely beaches, nice town, good walks and not far from Simmo for an ice cream, some of the best wine you’ll ever drink and then there is the food.

Maybe we can stay 2 nights in Pert; then drive to Margaret River, drive back to Perth and then fly to Ningaloo Reef. or just fly to both places and rent a car when on each place

you can only drive to Margaret River. It takes about 3 hours depending if you are north or south of the river in Perth.

Hi I live in Perth and have lived in Sydney too.

I liked Sydney weather in July/August, cool but often sunny and good for sightseeing.

In Perth July/August can be very wet and windy, even if not particularly cold. Regular cold fronts. The majority of Perth's 700 mm year approx annual rainfall comes May to September, and then can months without raining in Summer. Quite different pattern to Sydney.

I'm off North to Broome next week to escape . Ningaloo should be OK as fairly far North in WA too. I would fly to Ningaloo, I've driven it before from Perth and it's 14 hours each way, so would take up too much of your holiday.

The weather in Central VN will be better than the other two parts, North and South of VN at that time.
March/ April is the best travel time in VN.