A corner of Hoan Kiem Lake in the heart of Hanoi (Photo: VNA) The awards revealwhere travellers ventured in 2020, while travel was open, as well as where theydreamed of going while the COVID-19 pandemic kept them stuck at home.
“The charmingVietnamese capital has aged well, preserving the Old Quarter, monuments andcolonial architecture, while making room for modern developments alongside,”wrote the world's largest travel platform.
It added that Hanoimay have changed its names several times, including Thang Long, or"ascending dragon," but the capital city hasn't forgotten its past,as sites such as President Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and Hoa Lo Prison attest.
Lakes, parks, shadyboulevards and more than 600 temples and pagodas add to the appeal of thiscity, which is easily explored by taxi.
Destinations whichcame before Hanoi in the rankings included Bali (Indonesia), London (the UK),Dubai (the United Arab Emirates), Rome (Italy) and Paris (France).
In addition, theancient city of Hoi An in central Quang Nam province occupied the 11th spot.
“This city on thecentral Vietnamese coast is a well-preserved example of the important SoutheastAsian trading port it was from the 15th-19th centuries. Already a common stopfor backpackers, it is becoming better known to tourists,” Tripadvisor noted.
On the 14th day ofeach lunar month, the town trades its electric lights for traditional coloredlanterns. Sights include the Chua Cau (Japanese Bridge) and the Quan CongTemple, it continued, advising that “Let the town’s expert tailors make yousome bespoke clothing”.
The other categories ofthe awards are Trending and Emerging destinations around the world. And at atime when travellers are enjoying the great outdoors more than ever, 2021brings with it a new category - National Parks, according to Tripadvisor./.
VNA
