Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - The northern mountainous province of Ha Giang and Hoi An city in the central province of Quang Nam have been ranked among the Top 44 most beautiful places in the world by renowned UK-based travel magazine Time Out.
The magazine ranked Ha Giang in tenth place, saying the winding mountain passes, terraced rice paddies and 43 different ethnic groups that call this place home, all combine to give Ha Giang its otherworldly air.
According to Time Out, Tham Ma Pass is an obvious pull, winding its way through six successive hairpin bends, while the Ma Pi Leng Pass carves a mountain edge, overlooking the Nho Que River 3000 feet below.
"However, my personal favourite vista in Ha Giang affords a different kind of beauty, the kind to confront you with your own teeny-tiny mortality. In La Si and its surrounding region you'll glimpse mountain after mountain, as far as the eye can see, of terraced rice paddies. It's taken thousands (yes thousands) of years of hard toil to tame these mountains into the rice producing expanse that it is today", wrote the magazine.
Meanwhile, Time Out describes that life in Hoi An moves like molasses – slow and sweet.
Tourists cycle along in Hoi An ancient town in Quang Nam province. (Photo: VNA)
"When I lived in this dreamy little community, I spent mornings sipping coconut coffee in cafes and afternoons biking through swaying rice paddies past grazing buffalo. Now, I spend a few months a year here, watching lantern-lit boats glide along the Thu Bon River, cycling through Old Town before the evening crowds gather, and lounging on one of Vietnam's most beautiful beaches", a writer for the magazine noted.
Over 50 years since its foundation in London, Time Out has become a global media and hospitality brand influencing how tens of millions of people go out around the world, with content covering 333 cities in 59 countries.
Time Out's high-quality content, curated by expert journalists, now spans a global network of websites, social media channels, videos, live events and Time Out Markets.
Nearly 7.7 million foreign arrivals travelled to Vietnam in the first four months of this year, a year-on-year increase of 23%, the National Statistics Office reported.
The surge in international arrivals affirms the effectiveness of Vietnam's tourism stimulus initiatives, layin🉐g a strong foundation for the country to meet its 2025 targets of welcoming between 22 to 23 million foreign visitors./.
Beyond improving housing, the housing initiative is regarded as vital to enhancing livelihoods, reducing poverty, and strengthening social stability across Ha Giang’s remote areas.
Rammed-earth houses are a distinctive cultural feature of the Hmong people living in the Dong Van Karst Plateau, the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang. Traditionally, these homes are considered a measure of a family's wealth and heritage, reflecting how long a Hmong lineage has settled in the region.
According to the UK-based travel magazine Wanderlust, Vietnam is among the world’s top destinations for cave explorers and adventure seekers; and leading the way is the breathtaking natural wonder: Phong Nha–Ke Bang National Park.
In the first quarter of 2025, Ha Giang recorded over 848,000 tourist arrivals, including nearly 108,000 international visitors and more than 740,000 domestic travellers.
Demand for travel is rising, with a shift towards high-quality, experience-based tourism over mass-market, budget travel. To capitalise on this trend, the management board is launching initiatives to support 85 partner businesses and potential members of the geopark’s network.
To offer competitive pricing with diverse experiences, Vietravel has collaborated with both domestic and international service providers, including national tourism boards from Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong (China), the Republic of Korea, and Japan.
In this ranking, Phong Nha stands out as the most budget-friendly destination in Asia, making Vietnam a top choice for those yearning for a complete adventure while still saving money this spring.
The plan envisions developing Mui Ne into a global tourism centre, fueling economic growth and boosting the competitiveness of tourism in both Binh Thuan province and Vietnam. The area, spanning 14,760 ha, includes key locations in Phan Thiet city, Bac Binh district, and Tuy Phong district.
As the number of tourists surge at Mang Den ecological tourism site in Kon Plong district, the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum, local authorities are working to balance tourism development with environmental protection.
Together with Tra Que Vegetable Village and Thanh Ha Pottery Village, Kim Bong is one of the most famous craft villages in Hoi An, of the central province of Quang Nam.
Condé Nast Traveler ranks Vietnam as one of the most budget-friendly destinations for travel in 2025, with Phu Quoc being highlighted as a must-visit location in the S-shaped country thanks to its pristine beaches and resorts that cannot be found anywhere else.
Ba Den Mountain is not only known as the roof of Southern Vietnam but also as a destination rich in historical and cultural significance in the eyes of international travellers. This landmark has been recognised by the world-renowned travel guide Lonely Planet as one of the top 15 must-have experiences when exploring Vietnam. It is also recommended for those looking to delve into history, culture, and fascinating legends in Tay Ninh.
Phu Quoc, one of the most beautiful islands of Vietnam, has made its way onto a list of the five most outstanding destinations published by Travel Off Path.
With a 3,260 km coastline, over 4,000 islands and bays, and deep-water ports, Vietnam is rapidly positioning itself as a premier stop for international cruise lines.
Bestowed with year-round mild climate, pristine ecological landscape, and distinctive ethnic minority cultures, the Ba Be National Park holds huge potential for ecological tourism, wellness retreats, educational visits, cultural exploration, and adventure tourism.
Kien Giang has been recognised as one of the world's top 10 friendliest destinations as part of the 13th Traveller Review Awards. This accolade is a well-deserved tribute to the region's natural beauty.
In its list of 25 Places to Visit in 2025, CNA ranked Phu Quoc at No. 7, making it the only Vietnamese destination on the list and one of the few Asian locations, alongside Koh Samui (Thailand), Manila (Philippines), and Singapore.
The Con Chim (bird islet) community-based tourism site in Chau Thanh district, the Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh has won the ASEAN Community-based Tourism Award (CBT-ASEAN) 2023 at a ceremony held in Malaysia, according to the provincial department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.
Nearly 100 domestic and foreign delegates, including leaders of the Da Nang city People's Committee and the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, along with ambassadors and representatives from diplomatic agencies in Vietnam and those from travel firms, gathered in the central coastal city of Da Nang on January 17 for a seminar on advancing tourism development through international cooperation.
