Our famous Travel and Leisure Magazine has just announced 15 cities across the Globe that serve the highest rankings based on traveler’s choice. The second old quarter in Vietnam was proudly placed at the 8th place on the chart. What is so cool about Hoian that our Globetrotters picked it their best holiday destination in Vietnam? Scroll down for details!
What are on the chart?
Travel and Leisure Magazine fans had ranked their favorite cities around the World in terms of landmarks, tourist attractions, culture, cuisine, friendliness, shopping services and city’s general value. In 2018, San Miguel de Allende, an oasis in the Central Highland of Mexico was surprisingly leading the chart.
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico (Source: Internet)
India and Southeast Asia are still showcasing their hidden beauty to visitors. According to Leisure and Travel, the romantic Udaipur of India located at the bank of the lake, Ubud, the religious center of Bali and Chiang Mai, the paradise of leisure, holy shrines and tuk-tuk in the mountainous retreat of Thailand are newly emerging charms selected by the magazine’s fans.
Udaipur, India (Source: Internet)
“Chiang Mai is a perfect destination to visit if you are looking for a serene ambiance and relaxation. Yet it is still holding great potential as a shopping heaven and restaurants” – a reader said.
“We visited an elephant sanctuary located outside of the city, and it is always in our list of must-see sites” – admitted by another audience.
Chiang Mai, Thailand (Source: Internet)
Other than that, all-time famed cities such as Florence in Italia, Kyoto in Japan and Charleston in South Carolina are also cited in this Top 15.
Below is the announced Top 15 list of best cities in the World ranked by Travel and Magazine readers:
- San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
- Oaxaca, Mexico
- Udaipur, India
- Ubud, Indonesia
- Kyoto, Japan
- Florence, Italy
- Luang Prabang, Laos
- Hoian, Vietnam
- Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Charleston, South Carolina, The United States of America
- Mexico City
- Cape Town, South Africa
- Rome
- Istanbul, Turkey
- Beirut, Lebanon
Florence, Italy (Source: Internet)
Hoian – a newborn ancient town obtaining everything you need for an Asian country
Hoian, Vietnam (Source: Internet)
When searching for recommendations on the best holiday destinations in Vietnam, the only two Old Quarters of this East Asian country always pop up, Hanoi in the North and Hoian in the South. Though being brought to life pretty late compared to Vietnam’s current capital, Hanoi, the ancient town of Hoian holds in itself precious values in all aspects of life that await to have you say WOW. As one of the favorite port towns across Asia, Hoian serves an important place in every traveler’s heart with its stunning coastline as well as the saffron-colored alleyways. Proudly sitting in the list of 980 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Hoian is home to one of Southeast Asia’s finest seashores. Serene vibe, long white sands, cozy with unhampered island views and heritage-like bistros offering savory delicacies.
Hoian – The serene soul of Vietnam (Source: Internet)
In addition, off the coast of Hoian town is the gorgeous complex of Chàm islands. This is a group of small islets filled with an interesting history of a long-lost kingdom. Apart from that, in order to lead a beautiful marine life, visitors are able to dive, snorkel, go for a boat tour or stay up all night on this quiet far-out coastal paradise.
Saffron-colored walls (Source: Internet)
In terms of a true image of a village life, Hoian’s countryside is what you are picturing. Straddling green rice fields, swaggering bamboo lines and a scene of infinite fresh herb garden in Trà Quế Village on the outskirt of Hoian downtown have become such a harmonious fusion of what a typical Vietnam rural life should bring to the vivid photos ever captured.
What is in your mind right now after scanning through an overall picture of Hoian? This is definitely the most basic reason for more than a million visits to Vietnam’s central coast each year. Paying several days in this ancient port town, you will have a chance to observe what the Asian traders had witnessed 300 years back.
The poetic Hoài River (Source: Internet)
So far, serving as the most unique and authentic venue in the country as well as one of Asia’s most sought-after travel destinations, Hoian should definitely be in your list of the best holiday destinations in Vietnam. With a system of over 1068 ancient buildings including religious temples, houses, wells, bridge, forefather temples and graves, the best ideal trip in Hoian is the one with a local guide. As said, locals know best. They would be the ones to spot out where you should eat, where you should stay or where the furthest hidden corner is located. Hence, do not hesitate to grab yourself a local companion in Hoian right away.
Yennie Nguyen
