Vietnam among 12 most affordable honeymoon destinations

New York-based travel magazine Travel + Leisure has selected Vietnam as one of the world's 12 "perfect" honeymoon destinations that won’t break the bank.

It describes Vietnam has a "generally less-expensive alternative to Thailand's famous tourist destinations".

In Vietnam, newly married couples can "visit the Valley of Love in Dalat or enjoy scenic views of the Muong Hoa Valley or Fansipan Mountain," it says.

The Valley of Love is located about five kilometers north of downtown Dalat in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong.

The Muong Hoa valley, meanwhile, nestles amidst a range of magnificent mountains, about 10 kilometers southeast of Sapa town in the northern highlands province of Lao Cai.

Spread over eight square kilometres, the valley is at an altitude of 1,000 meters above sea level. Its romantic beauty, unspoiled nature and cultural diversity as home to ethnic minority communities has made it a favoured tourism spot.

The Fansipan Mountain, about 9 kilometers from the center of Sapa town, is the highest mountain in Indochina peninsula (comprising Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia) at 3,143 m above sea level.

As an urban destination, the magazine suggests: "Book a stay at the luxurious Sofitel Legend Metropole in Hanoi where you'll find an oasis in the center of a buzzing city".

Located on Ngo Quyen street in Hanoi's Hoan Kiem district, Sofitel Legend Metropole recently ranked eighth in the list of 15 best city hotels in Asia as voted by Travel + Leisure readers.

Metropole Hanoi Hotel was first opened in the early years of the 20th century by two independent French investors. On July 1, 2009, it became the first Sofitel Legend Hotel in the world.

"Honeymooners searching out beaches, spa and relaxation will want to head to Con Dao, a group of islands off the coast that offers an affordable honeymoon filled with white-sand beaches and scenic trails," Travel + Leisure notes.

Con Dao Island, located around 230 kilometers (143 miles) southeast of Ho Chi Minh City, was recently ranked 10th in the list of top 10 islands in Southeast Asia by the magazine’s readers.

"Check out Con Dao's Six Senses resort, which is also a protected national and marine park with plenty of beachfront," Travel + Leisure exhorts.

The other places on the affordable honeymoon list are: Belize, Key Largo (Florida), Bermuda, Jamaica, Napa and Sonoma (California), Mexico, Honolulu (Hawaii), Costa Rica, Portugal, Niagara-on- the-Lake (Ontario, Canada) and Guatemala.

According to WeddingWire's 2020 Wedding Report, which is based on data from more than 25,000 U.S. couples who were married in 2019, couples spend roughly $28,000 on their ceremony and reception and an additional $5,000 on their honeymoon, on average.

In September, Vietnam has been ranked ninth among the world's 10 money-saving travel destinations to suit any budget by Canadian travel site The Travel.

"It is one of the cheapest countries to visit, and it is among the most underrated! Eating local will only set you back a few dollars per meal, and a cup of strong, aromatic coffee is less than a dollar," it wrote.

Previously, in July, Travel + Leisure had listed Vietnam as one of the eight cheapest countries to retire with the overall cost of living about 49% lower than in the U.S., and rents about 75% lower, depending on the location.

"In Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), home to the largest expat community according to International Living, the cost of living is 62% lower than in New York, and housing is about 83% lower," it commented.