Hội An and HCM City feature in list of top 15 favourite Asian cities of 2023

HÀ NỘI — The delightful historic city of Hội An situated in central Quảng Nam Province, along with vibrant HCM City, have earned places in the "15 Favourite Cities in Asia of 2023" according to readers of the New York-based publication, Travel + Leisure.

Securing 13th and 14th positions, respectively, these two cities, much like their counterparts on the list, offer an abundance of choices for exceptional cuisine, multiple layers of history, and a peek into the enchanting blend of time-honoured history and contemporary life.

Hội An has been characterised by its unique architectural ensemble that features iconic yellow houses and rich traditional heritage. — Photo thoibaonganhang.vn

Every year, for the World's Best Awards survey, Travel + Leisure asks their readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe – to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Nearly 165,000 T+L readers completed the 2023 survey, an increase of nearly 25 per cent over pre-pandemic voting levels.

A total of more than 685,000 votes were cast across over 8,500 unique properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines).

Cities were specifically rated on the criteria including sights/landmarks, culture, food, friendliness, shopping, and value.

For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses.

For this year, India and Japan won big with three reader-favourite cities each in the annual "World’s Best Awards" survey for 2023.

HCM City ranks 14th in the list of “15 Favourite Cities in Asia of 2023” voted by Travel + Leisure readers. — Photo visithcmc.vn

In 2019, Hội An was voted by Travel + Leisure readers as “Best City in the World”.

Lying along the Thu Bồn River, Hội An is a charming city with ancient roots, distinct architecture, and contagious energy. Once a convergence point for Asian traders, the ancient town is home to ancient temples and assembly halls with a touch of Chinese architecture and a 400-year-old bridge built by Japanese merchants.

Most importantly, Hội An is home to friendly people eager to share the best their city has to offer.

HCM City, Việt Nam’s largest city, is also an ideal destination for tourists, and is famous for its French colonial heritages as well as numerous historical sites. The city is also a ‘heaven of street food’ with food stalls everywhere offering vibrant flavours and tantalising dishes. — VNS