Vietnam’s capital Hanoi ranked second in a list of Asia’s 25 best destinations as part of Tripadvisor’s 2026 Travelers’ Choice Awards: Best of the Best Destinations, up five places from last 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.
“Hanoi may have shrugged off several former names, including Thang Long but it hasn’t forgotten its past, as sites such as Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and Hoa Lo Prison attest. Lakes, parks, shady boulevards and more than 600 temples and pagodas add to the appeal of this city, which is easily explored by taxi.”
Indonesia’s Bali topped the list. Thailand’s Bangkok ranked third, followed by Cambodia’s Siem Reap and Japan’s Tokyo.
The ancient city Hoi An in central Vietnam ranked seventh, up four places from last year.
The 2026 Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best Destinations are calculated based on the quality and quantity of reviews, specific to each award subcategory, for accommodations, restaurants, and things to do in destinations from travelers globally on Tripadvisor between Oct. 1, 2024 through Sept. 30, 2025.
The awards highlight travelers’ favorite destinations, helping people plan unforgettable trips and discover the world’s best experiences.
In 2025, Hanoi welcomed more than 33.7 million visitors, up 20.8% from 2024. International arrivals exceeded 7.82 million, a 22.7% year-on-year increase. Total tourism revenue was estimated at more than VND134.46 trillion (about US$5.1 billion), a 21.5% rise year on year.