Hanoi ranked among top 15 most popular cities for tourists

The list highlights a shift in global travel preferences, with Hanoi standing out for its rich cultural heritage, historic landmarks, and distinctive cuisine.

Visitors at the Temple of Literature in Hanoi (Photo: VNA)
Visitors at the Temple of Literature in Hanoi (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam’s capital city of Hanoi has been ranked 11th among the world's top 15 cities most favoured by tourists in 2025, according to a recent article by Time Out titled “The cities tourists are ditching and where they’re heading instead.”

The ranking is based on year-on-year analysis of Google search data for flights, hotels, and itineraries, conducted by UK-based travel insurance firm InsureandGo.

The list highlights a shift in global travel preferences, with Hanoi standing out for its rich cultural heritage, historic landmarks, and distinctive cuisine. Notable attractions such as the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, the Temple of Literature, and the Old Quarter draw millions of visitors annually. Additionally, Hanoi's culinary offerings, including pho, bun cha, cha ca La Vong, and Thanh Tri steamed rice rolls that have garnered international acclaim.

The top 15 cities tourists are turning to include Tokyo (Japan); Rio de Janeiro (Brazil); Bejing (China); Lucerne (Switzerland); Kuwait city (Kuwait); Seville (Spain); Chicago (US); Belize city (Belize); Chiang Mai (Thailand); Tbilisi (Georgia); Hanoi (Vietnam); Nassau (Bahamas); Jakarta (Indonesia); Santiago (Chile); and Buenos Aires (Argentina).

The study also notes a decline in tourist interest for certain destinations. Havana (Cuba) experienced the most significant drop, with a 28% decrease in search interest. Other cities seeing reduced interest include Miami (US), Kingston (Jamaica), Nadi (Fiji), Gdańsk (Poland), Las Vegas (US), Apia (Samoa), Stockholm (Sweden), Brussels (Belgium), Berlin (Germany), London (UK), Wellington (New Zealand), Singapore (Singapore), Dubai (UAE), and Delhi (India).

This trend underscores a growing desire among travellers to explore destinations that offer authentic cultural experiences and are less impacted by overtourism. Hanoi's unique blend of history, culture, and cuisine positions it as an increasingly attractive option for global tourists./.

VNA

See more

The Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex is a major attraction for visitors to Ninh Binh. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam tourism accelerates green transition to power 2026 growth

Looking ahead to 2026, the tourism sector targets about 25 million international arrivals, 150 million domestic holidaymakers and total revenue of around 1.12 quadrillion VND (approximately 43 billion USD), reflecting its ambition to develop tourism into a spearhead economic sector in line with the Government's goals.

Fireworks illuminate the Han River during the 2025 Da Nang International Fireworks Festival. (Photo: VNA)

Da Nang announces theme of signature international fireworks festival

The Da Nang International Fireworks Festival 2026 will feature two Vietnamese teams and eight international teams from China, Italy, Germany, Portugal, France, Japan, Macao (China) and Australia. Four of these teams will be participating in the festival for the first time, promising fresh highlights and surprises.

Built in 1895, the stone church has been carefully restored and preserved in its original state, and remains an iconic symbol of the misty town of Sa Pa. (Photo: VNA)

Sa Pa listed fastest-growing destination in Asia: Agoda

Based on Agoda’s comparison of accommodation bookings between January-November last year and the same period in 2024, Sapa climbed 15 places in the rankings of Asia’s top 100 destinations, making it the fastest-growing destination in the region.

Tourists visit the Dien Bien Phu Victory Monument, which was built to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory. (Photo: VNA)

Positive signal for Dien Bien’s tourism sector in 2026

Tourism in the north-western province of Dien Bien is showing clear signs of revival in the opening days of 2026, reflecting efforts to realise the resolution of the 15th Provincial Party Congress, which identifies tourism as a spearhead economic sector.

Tourists enjoy exploring Ho Chi Minh City by Vespa. (Photo: VNA)

Ho Chi Minh City tourism pivots to quality-driven growth

Tourism development is being steered towards a multi-product, multi-space model that closely links the city centre with riverside, coastal and ecological forest areas, within the broader vision of a post-merger mega-city.

Foreign tourists in Vinh Long. The Mekong Delta locality welcomed nearly 9.5 million visitors in 2025, with a total revenue of 8 trillion VND. (Photo: VNA)

Vinh Long tourism gears up for breakthrough in New Year

The Mekong Delta locality has enhanced tourism promotion activities with an emphasis on sustainability and eco-friendliness, steadily building the brand of Vinh Long as a safe, hospitable, and high-quality destination.

In Dong Van, the beauty of karst formations formed hundreds of millions of years ago remains the soul of the journey. (Photo: VNA)

Dong Van transforms advantages into smart tourism

Dong Van is opening a new journey, where each scan by visitors is not only a marker on their travel map but also a stream of live data helping the highland region step into the era of smart tourism.

Quang Ninh province welcomes first foreign visitors on the occasion of the New Year holiday. (Photo: baoquangninh.vn)

Quang Ninh sees tourism surge during New Year holiday

From December 31, 2025 to January 2, 2026, Quang Ninh welcomed around 530,000 visitors, including 44,400 foreign tourists. The number of overnight guests was estimated at 158,000, while total tourism revenue reached approximately 1.28 trillion VND (over 48.55 million USD).