Travel tips: Is Vietnam a good destination to escape the winter?

WITH A SPECIAL BIRTHDAY COMING UP I'D LIKE TO TAKE MY TWO ADULT SONS AND THEIR PARTNERS AWAY IN JUNE. I WAS THINKING OF VIETNAM BUT IT MAY BE TOO HOT THEN. SUGGESTIONS? D. CHRISTIANSEN, SANDRINGHAM

The weather in Vietnam is mixed in June. In the south it's wet, in the north it's the peak of summer, with high temperatures and the possibility of rain and storms. However, central Vietnam is prime in June. That includes the old imperial capital of Hue as well as resort areas such as Hoi An and Nha Trang. You could base yourselves in this region, and a resort with airconditioned rooms and a palm-shaded pool makes any heat bearable, and perhaps make a side trip to Hanoi, it's a fascinating city with great cultural interest. Another option is Bali, which shines in June, but it also draws big crowds from Europe at this time of the year. One place where the June weather is outstanding in South-East Asia is along the east coast of the Malay Peninsula. This is a region that extends right up into the Gulf of Thailand. It includes not only the east coast of Malaysia itself, between Kuantan and Kota Bharu, but also the islands off the coast of Thailand such as Koh Samui, Koh Yao and Koh Similan. My one reservation is that these are mostly resort areas. While they have some fine hotels, they don't have the same cultural impact as Vietnam. If that's an important part of your holiday, I'd stick with Vietnam.



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