By Ngan Binh

Cast your ballot: Hoi An, a UNESCO heritage site, has been named as the world's top destination by readers of the UK's leading travel magazine, Wanderlust. — VNA/VNS Photo The Duyet

LONDON (VNS)– Wanderlust, the UK's leading travel magazine, has declared Hoi An the world's top city destination in its latest Readers' Travel Awards.

According to the publication, its readers are some of the UK's most active travellers, and nearly 3,000 of them voted in this year's poll based on their trips and experiences. Hoi An came out well on top with a massive 97.18 per cent satisfaction rating.

On Thursday, a ceremony was held in London where the founder and Editor-in-Chief of the magazine, Lyn Hughes, awarded the certificate to Le Thi Thu Hang, the Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Viet Nam to the UK.

Hughes announced that a total of 976 cities, from Bognor (in the UK) to Ouagadougou (in Burkina Faso), received votes in this year's awards, but none could quite match the popularity of Hoi An.

"It really is a very likeable and beautiful city. Beaches and rural surroundings add up to a great package for travellers. A worthy winner," commented Wanderlust's Mark Stratton, who has just returned from a visit there.

Other categories in the Wanderlust Travel Awards include Top Country, Top Airline and Top Airport.

This year's votes were based on readers' travels from December 2011 to November 2012. An average satisfaction score was taken and converted to a percentage and this was used to pick a winner rather than the number of votes cast. In order for a city to be considered it needed to receive a minimum number of votes.

Cusco, a city in south-eastern Peru came second with 95.76 per cent satisfaction, while Kyoto in Japan came third with 94.81 per cent.

Hoi An, which is in Quang Nam Province, was recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999. Its buildings and street planning reflect the influences, both indigenous and foreign, that have combined to produce this unique historical site.

Wanderlust magazine, which was launched in 1993, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. It now has subscribers in 112 countries and over 100,000 readers enjoy its eight issues a year. — VNS