Hoi An ancient town in central Quang Nam province is nestled peacefully on the banks of Hoai river. (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) - Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City of Vietnam are two destinations on the list of favourite cities in Asia in the World’s Best Awards 2023, voted by readers of by US travel magazine Travel + Leisure.
Travel + Leisure said that for its readers, a hop across the Pacific is well worth it for a chance to experience some of Asia’s most thrilling urban destinations.
This year’s picks stretch from coastal Japan (Osaka, at No. 11) to western India (Mumbai, at No. 6) and as far south as the Balinese city of Ubud in Indonesia (No. 3).
“Whether you’re honeymooning in a dreamy Indian capital or eating your way through an awe-inspiring Japanese megalopolis, this year’s reader picks for the 15 best cities in Asia all share a wealth of options for fantastic food, layers of history, and a glimpse at the magic that happens when ancient history and modernity intersect,” it wrote.
The friendliness of local people and impeccable, welcoming services are what voters in the survey experienced.
Perhaps the experience of visiting any of these cities can best be summed up by one reader’s glowing review of Tokyo: “worth every penny and the jet lag for the travel destinations you can experience in your life.”
Udaipur of India tops the Travel Leisure readers’ 15 favourite cities in Asia of 2023. This is the second time this city has secured the spot over the last five years.
With 87.86 points, Hoi An ranks 13th, followed by Ho Chi Minh City with 87.64 points.
Over the years, Hoi An has maintained its position in the rankings of Travel + Leisure as well as many prestigious international magazines.
Located in the central province of Quang Nam, Hoi An has long been known for its ancient quarters, a world heritage site, with a typical architectural heritage complex.
Serving as a trading port from the 15th to the 19th century, today it is easy to see the vibrant and lively atmosphere remains mostly unchanged in this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hoi An is a walk of life, which is full of things to see, eat and do.
Previously, Hoi An was also honoured by Travel + Leisure many times as the most wonderful city in the world in 2019, the leading city in Asia in 2020, the top 10 Asian cities in 2018 and in 2021, or one of the 50 best places to travel in 2019.
This city has also maintained its position as one of the world’s 13 most romantic destinations, as selected by CNN.
The headquarters of the People’s Council and People’s Committee of HCM City is always a magnet for international visitors. (Photo: VNA)Unlike the tranquility in Hoi An, Vietnam’s cosmopolitan metropolis, HCM City, appears as one of the busiest hubs in the country. The city draws together old and new and historical landmarks that give this city its distinct appeal. The city is also famous for its lively night life filled with bars, live music and plenty of entertainment for solo travellers looking for fun after dark.
In HCM City, visitors can enjoy street food at Ben Thanh Market, one of the city's oldest surviving structures. To better understand the heroic resistance wars of the southern army and people, visitors can take a tour of the War Remnants Museum and Cu Chi Tunnels.
Others in the list are Kyoto, Tokyo and Osaka (Japan); Ubud (Indonesia); Bangkok and Chiang Mai (Thailand); Mumbai and Jaipur (India); Luang Prabang (Laos); Siem Reap (Cambodia); Seoul (the Republic of Korea); and Singapore.
The World's Best Awards survey of Travel + Leisure aims to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Nearly 165,000 Travel + Leisure readers completed the 2023 survey, an increase of nearly 25% over pre-pandemic voting levels./.
