Pahn Thiet, Vietnam - in August

[StarGuitar]

Hi. Has anyone been to Pahn Thiet in Vietnam in August and if so, would you recommend it for a family holiday? We were planning to spend a few weeks travelling around Vietnam for the last three weeks of the summer holidays this year, but for various reasons can no longer do this, so are looking for a two-week beach holiday with some sightseeing instead. This is coming up as an option, but I am just a bit worried that there might not be enough to keep us occupied for two-weeks, especially if the weather is really bad (we know it's the rainy season so would expect rain, just not sure how much!). Is there much to do in the surrounding area? Thanks

Phan Thiet, sorry!

We’re going to Vietnam in April and tbh I don’t think I’d pick it for a mainly beach holiday. Generally the beaches look ok but not amazing and they tend to have pretty rough waves and some washed up litter in rainy season. It will be hot and humid in August and busy with domestic tourists.

Vietnam has loads of sightseeing though so depends on what balance you want between beach and sightseeing?

What about Indonesia - good weather there in summer. Lombok could be a good option for mainly beach with some sightseeing. Or Sri Lanka perhaps (north & east coasts have good weather then?) Or east coast Malaysia

I was there in January. Loved Vietnam but wouldn’t have wanted 2 weeks in Phan Thiet. The sea was pretty rough - no idea what it would be like in August.

Litter on the beaches was pretty shocking and I wonder about less obviously visual pollution.

Have you looked at Phu Quoc?

Hoi An in central Vietnam would be better in August.

Other good options in the Central part of Vietnam that you should consider are Quy Nhon, Nha Trang, Hoian and Danang for your beach time, weather wise.

I loved Hoi An. Lots of beaches there - although it wasn’t beach weather when I was there. Am sure August would be better.

Thanks all. I think if we have a base, sightseeing will be ok – as long as we have somewhere to come back to at the end of the day. The plan had been to travel with no more than 3 or 4 nights in each place, but due to some mobility issues we can’t really do this anymore.

I was wondering whether flying into and out of Ho Chi Minh to spend a few days here and then arranging flights separately up to the Hoi An area (or Phu Quoc) for a week or so during the holiday might be a better option. I’ll also have a look at Lombok, Sri Lanka and Malaysia 😃

We enjoyed Ho Chi Minh but wouldn't want to spend more than 3/4 days there, but it was v hot in February.

HCMC good for about 3-4 days. I did a day trip to the Mekong but you might find a good overnight trip? Also a couple of museums and a cooking course at Saigon cooking school - v good. In Jan it was v hot and not sure I would want long there in August.

I've just come back from Vietnam - we flew into HCM and was there for 3 days, went to the tunnels etc. Then got a 'VIP bus' to Can Tho in the Mekong Delta and spent 3 days staying just outside in an eco type resort - went to floating markets and did a nature tour. Then flew to Da Nang and stayed there, and in Hoi An - which is an easy taxi ride away, and is indeed lovely. From there we carried on to Hue, Hanoi and Ha Long Bay, but it'd be easy I think to just get another flight from Da Nang, either back to HCM or on to Hanoi.

There's quite a lot to do around Da Nang and Hoi A that we didn't get round to - the Cham Islands, Ba Na Hills, My Son Sanctuary. Da Nang itself isn't all that, although the Marble Mountains was great - but not so much if mobility is an issue. Lots of people we met were coming the other way, from Hanoi south, and heading ultimately to Phu Quoc.

What I don't know about is the weather in the summer though - definitely needs a careful eye.

August is in the wet peak season on Phu Quoc island.