Hanoi among 12 best destinations for solo female travelers

Hanoi has been ranked fourth on a list of 12 best destinations for solo female tourists by Southeast Asia's leading travel magazine Tripzilla.

"Violent crimes against tourists are rare and most locals are friendly," it wrote.

The magazine suggested that "Hanoi has a wealth of cultural attractions, so take your time to delve into them. The city’s Old Quarter exudes an eccentric charm with its narrow alleys, quaint shophouses, and medieval architecture. The late Gothic St. Joseph Cathedral is also found here. The church is dedicated to Vietnam’s patron saint and resembles Notre Dame in Paris."

"To understand Vietnam’s pre-colonial past, visit the Temple of Literature, an 11th-century Confucian temple dedicated to the nation’s scholars, and the Ngoc Son Temple at the center of Hoan Kiem Lake, which honours three important figures in Vietnamese history. Afterwards, stop by one of the best cafes in the city to relax and enjoy authentic Vietnamese coffee," it added.

According to Tripzilla, since Hanoi is a budget-friendly destination, visitors won’t need to worry about costs as a solo traveller.

"A stay in a Hanoi luxury hotel can cost as little as S$200, and meals cost around S$14 per day. Feel free to pamper yourself while staying in this beautiful city, which is undoubtedly one of the best places to travel alone as a woman in Southeast Asia," it noted.

Other destinations on the list in order were: Seoul (South Korea), Tokyo (Japan), Taipei (Taiwan), Singapore, Bangkok (Thailand), Yogyakarta (Indonesia), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Amsterdam (Netherlands), Zurich (Switzerland), Seattle (U.S.), and Montreal (Canada).

In August, 2022, CNN selected Hanoi as one of the 12 best places to go for fall, calling the capital a "bright spot".

"Asia tourism in general has been the slowest to bounce back (Japan, for instance). But Vietnam is the real bright spot right now," CNN quoted Scott Keyes, the founder of flight deals and travel advice site Scott's Cheap Flights, as saying.

In July, Hanoi was selected as one of the six best destinations to explore by bike by Booking.com, a global online travel website.

"The capital city of Hanoi is one of Asia’s most popular cycling destinations, known for its centuries-old architecture, lakes, parks and over 600 temples and pagodas, the city offers a network of fantastic cycling paths that allow travelers to explore amongst locals on bicycles and scooters," according to the website.

"Visitors can park up in the city’s colorful Old Quarter and refuel on delicious Vietnamese street food like beef noodle soup and shrimp cakes," it added.