Dalat, Lan Ha Bay named among Asia's most underrated destinations

Dalat and Lan Ha Bay are in the list of 18 Asia's most underrated destinations tapped by CNN Travel's network of colleagues and contributors.

Dalat

Dalat, also called Vietnam's ‘Little Paris’, in Lam Dong province is the most charming town on any tour to Vietnam's Central Highlands.

"With its fresh mountain air and pine forests in the Central Highlands of Vietnam, Dalat is a popular destination for local Vietnamese that isn't as well known among international travelers," the U.S. cable news channel says.

It notes, at 1,500 meters above sea level, the city's cooler weather is a welcome reprieve from the tropical humidity found elsewhere in the Southeast Asian country.

"Centered around the romantic Xuan Huong Lake, Dalat boasts everything from French colonial architecture, a holdover from its days as a hill station, to the "Crazy House," the Seussian creation of architect Dang Viet Nga, with its twisting stairwells and whimsical sculptures. Plentiful waterfalls and a vibrant flower industry mean that delights abound in the city for honeymooners and nature lovers," it adds.

Ha Lan Bay

According to CNN Travel, Ha Long Bay in northern Vietnam is no secret, with the UNESCO listed waterway popular with backpackers and luxury travelers alike.

But "visitors who want to ply the waters with a lot fewer neighbors should head to Lan Ha, south of Ha Long Bay. Like its more famous sibling, Lan Ha Bay is a stretch of shimmering water broken up by limestone (karst) islands that can be enjoyed by day trip (kayak, canoe) or overnight (cruise ship, junk boat)," CNN gushes.

It suggests "Most travelers get here by bus or car from Hanoi or Haiphong, and it's easy to set up door-to-door service with tour companies in advance. Leave from Cat Ba Island to explore Lan Ha Bay's grottoes, caves and white-sand beaches."

In July, Lan Ha Bay had been listed among the most beautiful places to visit in Southeast Asia by U.S. travel site Thrillist.

"The floating village of Cat Ba Island, which contains around 200 homes, dates back thousands of years. The bay itself is home to several hundred islands, of which Cat Ba is the largest (you can rent a boat to explore, or spend the day swimming)," wrote Kastalia Medrano, Thrillist travel writer.

"There are well over 100 hotels in the immediate vicinity, so you can take your time if you (understandably) want to stay in the area a while."

Lan Ha Bay, adjacent to Ha Long Bay, is shaped like an arc adorned by 400 different large and small islands and 139 fine white sand beaches at the foot of mountains. It was singled out for its beauty by the Association of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World in 2020.

The same year, Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio, praised the natural beauty of Lan Ha Bay’s fishing village and called for it to be protected from tourism impacts.

The other destinations in the list are: Ipoh (Malaysia), Isaan (Thailand), Leshan (mainland China), Skardu (Pakistan), Nikko (Japan), Davao (Philippines), Meghalaya (India), Pulau Ubin (Singapore), Samosir Island (Indonesia), Pakse (Laos), Bangladesh, Tengchong (mainland China), Gogunsan Islands (South Korea), Kenting (Taiwan), Banteay Chhmar (Cambodia), and Jaffna (Sri Lanka).