Thailand / Vietnam in August

[PiratePenguin]

Hey, Does anyone have any experience of travelling in Vietnam or Thailand during August? We want a 'big holiday this summer to celebrate several family events. We had looked at going to the US, but accommodation prices are just nuts. I know August is the rainy season - how rainy is it? Is it still worth going? Anyone been and willing to share their experiences? 4 people - husband and i and two daughters 17 and 15. We love adventure and I need this holiday to be one to remember. Other destination suggestions welcome.

August is rainy season in west coast of Thailand and you can be lucky with just heavy afternoon downpours, but I think the main issue is potentially rough seas, which can impact island hopping by boat or boat tours (which I’d say is the must see when visiting there!). Koh Samui weather is better that time of year, I believe.

i haven’t been to Vietnam but we considered going to Da Nang in august but a friend said it’s incredibly hot and humid, to an unenjoyable level, so we are still thinking about that…would be interested in others’ experience.

Have you considered Bali/Lombok? We went to the Gili Islands about 10 years ago and it was so beautiful, incredibly special, but they’ve become much more popular and did see some tripadvisor posts about it being too crowded.

and have never been, don’t know much about, but would love to go - Sri Lanka? I googled and that time of year is fine weather wise and would be a really special trip that suits all ages!

Vietnam you would want to stick to the middle bit, Hoi An and Hue, not ideal time for N or S

Thailand - not the west coast. East coast like Ko Samui is better - but still hit and miss whether you get good weather with the odd shower or grey skies with more rain

Other suggestions with good weather in August :

Sri Lanka (avoid south and west coasts but east/north should be good)

Malaysia (east coast islands like Perhentian, Redang, Tioman) and Singapore

Borneo

Indonesia: Lombok, Gili islands, Bali, or further afield if you want more off the beaten track

Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia (but not beachy)

Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana

How long have you got?

It will be rainy in North and South of Vietnam while dry in Central Vietnam (Be ware of typhoon season in North, especially far North).

Definitely rainy in a lot of Thailand then. And I presume the corresponding areas of Vietnam.
So it's probably not the best. When it rains it literally does so constantly, heavily every single day. You really can't do anything outdoors.