Vietnam’s Con Dao island in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau has been listed among top ten the world’s best and romantic destinations for 2011 by the UK’s Lonely Planet magazine.

Other islands in the list are Socotra from Yemen, Torres Strait from Australia, Yacyana from Japan, Iles du Salut from Guiana (France), Ulleungdo from the Republic of Korea, San Blas archipelago from Panama, Penghu from Taiwan (China), Bay archipelago and Hog island from Honduras and Ssese from Uganda.

According to the Saigon Travel Service Company (Saigontourist), in the wedding season this year, Con Dao also became one of the most popular honeymoon destinations for young couples.

The magazine also listed Ha Long Bay, in the northern province of Quang Ninh, as one of the 10 most outstanding coastal destinations for tourists.

The other nine locations are the Norwegian Fjords, the Amazon River, the Franklin River in Australia, the Quetico Provincial Park in Canada, the Kerala backwaters in India, New Zealand's Milford Sound Bay, the Greek islands, Disco Bay in Greenland, and the Galapagos Archipelago off the coast of Ecuador.

The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism reported that about 500 ships ply the waters of Ha Long Bay, carrying millions of tourists every year. Quang Ninh has attracted 5.3 million visitors so far this year, 2.5 million of whom visited Ha Long Bay./.