Vietnam vs Bali for a pickleball holiday: an honest guide for Australians

For a lot of Australians, the next pickleball holiday comes down to two names: Bali or Vietnam. The short answer: Bali is closer and easier for a lazy beach week with a few games; Vietnam is the better trip if you want to play a lot, with locals, and see more than one place. Below is an honest side-by-side on the things players care about: courts, getting a game, flights, visas, weather and what it costs in Australian dollars.

Vietnam vs Bali at a glance

Which has better pickleball, Vietnam or Bali?

Vietnam, by a long way. Pickleball took off in Vietnam from 2023 and is now played by people of every age in every city, from 5:30am until late at night. In Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City you'll find clubs with ten courts or more, groups who play every morning, and local tournaments most weekends. Our post on Vietnam's pickleball boom tells the story.

Bali's scene is real but small. The courts cluster in a few areas:

• Near Canggu: PickleBali Clubs in Dalung, with indoor courts, open play and beginner clinics.
• Sanur: several newer venues, including Kampus Pickle, Prime Padel & Pickle and a Liga.Tennis site.
• Ubud and Nusa Dua: a few clubs and resort courts, such as those at the Conrad in Nusa Dua.
• Amed, East Bali: a small club a long drive from the south.

The difference you feel on court is who you play with. In Bali you'll mostly meet other Australians, Europeans and expats. In Vietnam you'll be rotated into games with local players who are fast, friendly and curious about where you're from. For many visitors, that is the best part of the trip. Read how to get a game in Vietnam and our court guides for Hanoi, Da Nang and Saigon.

Which is easier to get to from Australia?

Bali is easier: about 3.5 hours from Perth and 6 to 6.5 hours from the east coast, with more flights and more airlines. Vietnam is about 6 to 7.5 hours from Perth and 8.5 to 9.5 hours from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, with nonstop flights to Ho Chi Minh City from all four cities and to Hanoi from Sydney and Melbourne.

For a long weekend, Bali wins. For a trip of ten days or more, the extra three hours to Vietnam matter much less, and you get a country, not an island. Our guide to Vietnam from Australia covers the routes and the e-visa.

Is Vietnam cheaper than Bali?

On the ground, Vietnam is usually cheaper: meals, taxis and courts all cost less, and there's no tourist levy. In October 2026 an Australian dollar bought about 18,000 dong.

These are typical ranges from 2026, not quotes. Bali's prices vary hugely between a warung and a Canggu beach club. In Vietnam, the cheapest courts are in the early morning. Our full Vietnam pickleball trip cost guide has sample budgets.

Which has better weather for pickleball?

In the Australian summer, southern Vietnam is the better bet: Ho Chi Minh City and Phu Quoc are dry from December to April, while Bali is in its wet season from November to March. In the Australian winter, Bali's dry season and Vietnam's central coast (Da Nang and Hoi An, dry and sunny from February to August) are both excellent.

• December to February: Vietnam's south is dry and hot; Hanoi is cool, 15 to 20°C, and pleasant for long sessions. Bali has heavy afternoon storms.
• March to May: good in both, and the best months to see all of Vietnam in one trip. See Vietnam in March.
• June to August: Bali's best months; also the best time for Da Nang and Hoi An. Hanoi and Saigon are hot, so play early.
• October to December: avoid Vietnam's central coast, the flood season. Hanoi is lovely in October and November.

Wherever you go, the heat and humidity are real. Read playing pickleball in the heat before your first session, and see the best time to visit Vietnam for each month.

Which is better off the court?

It depends what you want from the afternoons. Bali is about the pool, the villa, the beach club and the spa. Vietnam is about seeing things: Ha Long Bay, Hoi An's lantern-lit old town, Hanoi's street food, the Mekong Delta.

Bali is one island, and most visitors stay in one or two bases, which is relaxing but can feel the same after a week. Traffic in the south, especially around Canggu and Seminyak, eats a lot of time. Vietnam is a long country with three distinct regions, so a two-week trip feels like three holidays: the cool, busy north, the beaches and old towns of the centre, and the heat and energy of Saigon.

Food is a matter of taste, but Vietnam's edge is variety: pho and bun cha in Hanoi, cao lau in Hoi An, the street stalls of Saigon. Our what to eat in Vietnam guide will show you why. If you're travelling with a partner who doesn't play, Vietnam usually gives them more to do; see pickleball trips with a non-playing partner.

Who should choose Bali, and who should choose Vietnam?

Choose Bali for a short break of a week or less, especially from Perth or Darwin; if the pool and the villa matter more than the games; or if you want to stay in one place and not plan much.

Choose Vietnam if you want to play every day with local players; if you have ten days or more; if you travel in the Australian summer and want dry weather in the south; or if you want a trip with variety: cities, bays, old towns and beaches.

Been to Bali three times already? Vietnam is the obvious next step. For a first trip, the Valleys to the Bay route covers the north, and our tailor-made trips build a route around the courts you want to play. Comparing more options? Read Vietnam vs Thailand, or Phu Quoc if you'd like an island in Vietnam.

Vietnam vs Bali: FAQ

Is Vietnam or Bali better for pickleball?

Vietnam, if playing is the point of the trip. Pickleball is a mass sport in Vietnam, with courts in every city and thousands of local players who play from 5:30am. Bali has a growing scene, mostly expats and visitors at a handful of clubs around Canggu, Sanur, Ubud and Nusa Dua.

Is Vietnam cheaper than Bali?

On the ground, usually yes. Food, transport and court hire cost less in Vietnam, and there is no tourist levy. Bali is often cheaper to reach, especially from Perth and Darwin, so for a short trip from the west coast the total can come out close.

How long is the flight to Bali compared with Vietnam?

From Perth, Bali is about 3.5 hours and Ho Chi Minh City about 6 to 7.5 hours. From Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, Bali is about 6 to 6.5 hours and Vietnam about 8.5 to 9.5 hours.

Do Australians need a visa for Bali and Vietnam?

Yes, for both. Bali's visa on arrival costs 500,000 rupiah, plus a 150,000 rupiah tourist levy, about A$60 to A$65 in total for 30 days. Vietnam's e-visa costs US$25, about A$36, for up to 90 days and must be applied for online before you fly.

Is Bali or Vietnam better in December and January?

Southern Vietnam is better. December and January are in Bali's wet season, with heavy afternoon rain, while Ho Chi Minh City and Phu Quoc are dry and sunny. Hanoi is cool and dry then too, but the central coast around Hoi An is still rainy in December.

Can a non-playing partner enjoy a pickleball trip to Vietnam?

Yes. Vietnam has more to do off the court than Bali for most people: Ha Long Bay, Hoi An's old town, the food in Hanoi and Saigon, cooking classes and boat trips. Games are done by 9am, so the rest of the day is shared. See our guide for non-playing partners.

The bottom line

Bali is the easier holiday; Vietnam is the better pickleball trip. If you have a week, live in Perth and mainly want a pool and a few games, go to Bali. If you have ten days or more and want to play every morning with local players, then spend the afternoons on Ha Long Bay, in Hoi An or in Saigon's food streets, go to Vietnam, ideally between December and April for the south or February to August for the centre. Start with Vietnam from Australia for flights and the e-visa.