Three Vietnam cities among 25 world's most polular tourist destinations

Hanoi, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City were named among Travelers' Choice Best of the Best Awards as designated by the world's largest travel platform TripAdvisor.

Hanoi was ranked 17th in the list of the world's 25 most popular tourist destinations this year.

"The charming Vietnamese capital has aged well, preserving the Old Quarter, monuments and colonial architecture, while making room for modern developments alongside," TripAdvisor wrote.

The other destinations in the list in order are: Dubai (United Arab Emirates), Bali (Indonesia), London (U.K.), Rome (Italy), Paris (France), Cancun (Mexico), Crete (Greece), Marrakech (Morocco), Dominican Republic, Istanbul (Turkiye) Playa del Carmen (Mexico), Barcelona (Spain), New Delhi (India), Hurghada (Egypt), Madrid (Spain), Phuket (Thailand), Cairo (Egypt), Florence (Italy), Lisbon (Portugal), Edinburgh (U.K), Bangkok (Thailand), New York City (U.S.), Doha (Qatar) and Rio de Janeiro (Brazil).

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 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," Booking.com wrote.

"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.

Meanwhile, Hoi An and HCMC were ranked second and 11th in TripAdvisor's list of the world's 25 most trending destinations in 2023.

The other destinations in the TripAdvisor's list of the world's 25 most trending destinations in 2023 in order are: Cuba, Mauritius, Siem Reap (Cambodia), Chiang Mai (Thailand), Grand Cayman (Cayman Islands), Fes (Morocco), Baku (Azerbaijan), Kathmandu (Nepal), Krakow (Poland), Lanzarote (Canary Islands), Santiago (Chile), Juneau (Alaska), Panama City (Panama), Panay Island (Visayas), Lombok (West Nusa Tenggara), Ilha do Sal (Cape Verde), Vienna (Austria), Paphos (Cyprus), Agadir (Morocco), Marmaris (Turkiye), Bucharest (Romania), Brussels (Belgium) and Copenhagen (Denmark).

"This city on the central Vietnamese coast is a well-preserved example of the important Southeast Asian trading port it was from the 15th-19th centuries. Already a common stop for backpackers, it is becoming better known to tourists," the travel platform noted about Hoi An.

"On the 14th day of each lunar month, the town trades its electric lights for traditional colored lanterns. Sights include the Japanese Covered Bridge and the Quan Cong Temple. Let the town’s expert tailors make you some bespoke clothing," it added.

In July, the ancient town of Hoi An in central Vietnam was ranked 20th in Travel + Leisure readers' list of 25 best cities in the world for their mix of culture, food, and friendliness. Previously, in 2019, the magazine honored Hoi An, a UNESCO-recognised heritage site in Quang Nam province, as "the best city" in the world.

"Hoi An is a charming city with ancient roots, distinct architecture, a contagious energy, and arguably one of the best street food scenes on the planet. Most importantly, Hoi An is home to friendly people who are eager to share the best their city has to offer," Travel + Leisure commented on its website in July 2019.

About HCMC, TripAdvisor wrote: "Vietnam's bustling largest city sets the cultural and economic pace for the country. The former Saigon boasts charming French colonial architecture and wide boulevards, usually thronged and choked with traffic. Taxis are an option for seeing the sprawling city. The War Remnants Museum shows the Vietnam War through Vietnamese eyes."

Generally warm year-round, fall marks the end of the rainy season as temperatures cool, making it a good time to visit city landmarks like Cu Chi Tunnels, the underground defense system in Cu Chi district, 70 kilometers northwest of HCMC; the Notre Dame Cathedral; and Ben Thanh Market, the oldest market located in District 1, it wrote.

Ben Thanh Market is a cultural symbol of HCMC and also the largest shopping attraction for international tourists visiting the city.

Meanwhile, built in 1909 in honour of the supreme Taoist god (the Jade Emperor or King of Heaven, Ngoc Hoang), this is one of the most atmospheric temples in HCMC, stuffed with statues of phantasmal divinities and grotesque heroes.