Vietnam's capital city of Hanoi, its largest island Phu Quoc, and colonial retreat town Tam Dao have been honored as world’s leading tourist destinations at the annual World Travel Awards.
Hanoi
Hanoi, home to UNESCO heritage site Thang Long Imperial Citadel, surpassed 15 other nominees to win the title as world’s leading city break destination at the awards ceremony held in Dubai on Friday.
The city welcomed 22.6 million tourists in the first 11 months of 2023, an increase of 32.4% year on year, official data shows. International tourists accounted for 4.1 million, three times higher compared to the same period in 2022.
Hanoi earned total tourism revenue at VND84.25 trillion ($3.5 billion) in the period, a rise of 58.4% year-on-year.
Phu Quoc
Phu Quoc Island off the southern province of Kien Giang was named world’s leading nature island destination at this year’s awards. It beat other nominees such as Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Isle of Skye in Scotland, Lofoten in Norway, Reunion Island and Zanzibar in Tanzania to win the title.
Covering an area of 567 square kilometers and home to 180,000 people, Phu Quoc is the largest island in Vietnam and the nation's first island city.
Well known for its long, sandy beaches with turquoise waters and dense forests, the island is also home to a marine sanctuary and a national park famous for trekking activities.
A series of South Korean airlines have announced plans to start direct services to the island this year. Jeju Air launched a daily Seoul service last month, and Korean Air and Jin Air in late November and December.
Tam Dao
Once a favored summer retreat by the French in late 19th century, Tam Dao has been voted world’s leading town. It surpassed other nominees such as Český Krumlov in Czech Republic, Hāna in the U.S., Sauraha in Nepal, Shirakawa Village in Japan and Wānaka in New Zealand to claim the title.
Located 90 kilometers northeast of Hanoi, Tam Dao, or "three islands" in Vietnamese, boasts year-round cool climate and foggy landscape.
Dotted with French-built villas and decades-old hotels, Tam Dao has become a popular weekend escape for Hanoians in recent years.
The World Travel Awards has been called the "travel industry's equivalent of the Oscars" by The Wall Street Journal.
The winners were chosen based on votes by the public and travel professionals across the globe.