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Phuong Nguyen
As the capital of Western Australia, Perth has long been considered the world’s most “isolated” metropolis with a population of over a million, as it lies 3,600 km away from Sydney and more than 2,600 km from its nearest neighbouring city, Adelaide. Located in the western part of the Australian continent, Perth has a mild climate, boasting the most clear sunny days per year of any city in Australia.
A vibrant metropolis
Most tourists visiting Australia choose to start with the large cities located in the southeast of the continent, such as Sydney or Melbourne. I wanted to explore further west and chose Perth.
Like most other cities, Perth has a romantic river. The Swan River originates deep within the continent, meandering across and embracing Perth before emptying into the vast ocean. The river contributes to the charm of this coastal city and gives Perth a climate relatively similar to the Mediterranean, with clear sunshine all year round. Where it flows through the city, the banks of the Swan River are well-maintained and improved with green parks along both sides, interspersed with bike trails and pedestrian paths, creating a peaceful yet dynamic atmosphere. Perth is always rated as one of the most livable cities in the world, partly due to its well-protected environment and the harmony between humans and nature.
You will feel Perth’s vibrant and youthful spirit, simply because it is a typical immigrant city in the southern hemisphere, attracting tens of thousands of settlers from all continents. Home to people of all ethnicities and cultures, this city is youthful, creative, and densely populated. This is completely different from what I had imagined, having believed that a city in the far west of Australia would be much quieter…
Living slowly amidst beautiful nature
During peaceful days in Perth, I often cycled or strolled around Kings Park and the adjacent botanical garden. Set over a large area, the park is positioned directly facing the Swan River, surrounded by countless ancient trees, with more than 3,000 plant species preserved in the botanical garden. This place is paradise for those who love greenery, especially wandering guests from equatorial cities with scorching summer sun like me.
If you get bored of walking or cycling, you can try many interesting activities on the Swan River, such as kayaking or river surfing. Further away lies the famous Hillarys Boat Harbour, a marina from which visitors can embark on many ocean-related tours and activities, including glass-bottom boat rides, whale watching, jet skiing, or sightseeing by helicopter, as well as more challenging adventures like diving with sharks.
Perth has an extremely peaceful pace of life with very friendly and sincere locals. They have many reasons to feel proud of this area. Many people still call Perth the “City of Light” to commemorate astronaut John Glenn’s first-ever orbit of the Earth on the Friendship 7 spacecraft in 1962. At that time, Perth residents lit up every house and street in the city in hopes that the astronaut could see Perth as he flew by. This shows the lovely spiritual beauty of Perth’s residents.
Most travel enthusiasts find memorable aspects when visiting new lands. I love Perth thanks to the city’s gentleness. Perth does not have four distinct seasons like Sydney or Melbourne, but its peaceful sunny days seem to last forever. Not too hot, not too cold, in Perth, everything is as harmonious as the people and the greenery, like the gentle river that flows through the heart of this city.
Vietnam Airlines offers flights linking Hanoi and Hochiminh City with Perth.
Useful travel and ticket information may befound at www.vietnamairlines.com.
