Australia visa for Vietnamese passport holders: subclass 600, direct flights, and VND tips
Australia is home to over 300,000 Vietnamese-Australians. Vietnam Airlines and Bamboo Airways fly direct from both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The subclass 600 takes 20–40 days — apply early. Wise or Revolut provide the best VND-to-AUD rate.
Visa requirements
Vietnamese nationals apply online at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au. A$190 fee. Processing 20–40 days. Australia has 300,000+ Vietnamese-Australian residents — sponsored visits by relatives can strengthen the application.
Documents required
- ✓Valid Vietnamese passport (6+ months validity)
- ✓Online visa application
- ✓Bank statements 6 months
- ✓Employment letter
- ✓Hotel bookings and return flights
- ✓Travel insurance
- ✓Family sponsor letter if visiting relatives in Australia
Flights from Vietnam to Australia
Money, cards & forex fees
Best VND→AUD rate for Vietnamese travellers
Zero forex weekday VND→AUD
Vietnamese credit card with international acceptance
ATMs in Australia
Best ATMs: Commonwealth Bank, ANZ, NAB, and Westpac branch ATMs. Avoid airport currency exchange kiosks — they offer rates 3–4% worse than bank ATMs. Coles and Woolworths supermarket checkouts offer cash-out with purchases, often free.
Typical surcharge: A$2–3.50 at non-bank ATMs; most major bank branch ATMs free for their customers
Withdrawal tip: Withdraw A$300–500 at a time. Many regional, rural, and coastal Australia businesses are still cash-only. Carry some AUD when leaving major cities.
Top cities in Australia
Sydney
Australia's iconic gateway city. The Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge are two of the world's most recognised structures. Bondi Beach is a short bus ride from the CBD, The Rocks district preserves colonial sandstone architecture, and the Blue Mountains make a stunning day trip. Most first-time visitors to Australia start and end here.
Melbourne
Australia's cultural and coffee capital. Melbourne's laneway street art scene, Queen Victoria Market, and world-class restaurant scene set it apart. The Great Ocean Road drive is one of the world's best coastal routes. AFL football culture, live music venues, and the Yarra Valley wine region make it endlessly layered.
Cairns & Great Barrier Reef
The only access point to the world's largest coral reef system. Day trips to the Outer Reef for snorkelling and scuba diving leave from Cairns marina daily. The Daintree Rainforest — the world's oldest tropical rainforest — is 90 minutes north. Kuranda Scenic Railway and Skyrail offer another angle on the rainforest landscape.
Brisbane & Gold Coast
Surfers Paradise beach strip, theme parks (Movie World, Sea World, Dreamworld), and the cultural precinct of South Bank define the Gold Coast. Brisbane itself is a relaxed riverside city that's increasingly cool — West End, Fortitude Valley, and the Gallery of Modern Art are worth a day. The Sunshine Coast's Noosa is 90 minutes north.
Perth & Margaret River
Western Australia is a different country within Australia. Perth is isolated — closer to Singapore than Sydney — with a relaxed beach lifestyle, pristine coastline, and almost guaranteed sunshine. Rottnest Island (home to the famously friendly quokkas) is a 30-minute ferry. Margaret River wine region is a 3-hour drive with world-class pinot noir and surf beaches.
Subclass 600 and the Vietnamese-Australian community
Vietnamese nationals apply online for Australia's Visitor visa (subclass 600) — A$190, 20–40 days processing. Applications from Vietnamese nationals visiting family in Australia should include a sponsor letter from the Australian resident confirming the relationship. Melbourne's Footscray and Sydney's Cabramatta are the cultural hearts of Vietnamese-Australian life — Vietnamese grocery stores, bánh mì shops, phở restaurants, and community organisations are concentrated there. Vietnamese cuisine is extremely popular across all of Australia.
On-arrival tips
- 1Vietnam Airlines and Bamboo fly direct from Hanoi and HCM City to Sydney and Melbourne — 9 hours
- 2Apply for visa 5–6 weeks ahead
- 3Footscray (Melbourne) and Cabramatta (Sydney) are centres of Vietnamese-Australian community and food
- 4Australia has over 300,000 Vietnamese-Australians — a welcoming destination
Key takeaways
- ✓Apply for subclass 600 online — A$190 fee, 20–40 days — apply 5–6 weeks ahead
- ✓Vietnam Airlines flies direct Hanoi and HCM to Sydney and Melbourne — 9 hours
- ✓Use Wise for VND→AUD — standard Vietnamese bank cards charge 2%
- ✓Footscray (Melbourne) and Cabramatta (Sydney) are welcoming Vietnamese-Australian community hubs
- ✓Declare all Vietnamese food at customs — A$420 fines
Related visa guides
Visa information is based on publicly available government sources and official embassy data. Entry requirements, fees, and procedures change frequently — always verify with the official embassy or consulate of Australia before travelling. ForexFee is not a legal adviser.