HA NOI (VNS) — Canada's CTV News and The Malay Mail named Viet Nam the best travel destination of 2015 on Wednesday.

The report was based on rankings and suggestions for the coming year made by travel websites and guidebooks.

Other destinations on the list include Namibia, Panama, Nicaragua, Lithuania and Mons in Belgium.

Fittingly, Viet Nam declared 2015 its national year of tourism – meaning there has never been a better time to visit.

Special events and shows for tourists will be held at cultural heritage sites across the country, such as the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long in Ha Noi.

The central city of Da Nang topped US-based TripAdvisor's 2015 best-destination list. With its Buddhist sanctuaries and stunning beaches, the city is winning over more and more members of the online travel community.

Meanwhile, the UK's Telegraph Travel predicted Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in Quang Binh Province would be the hottest Viet Nam destination in 2015.

Viet Nam hopes to host 8.5 million foreigners and 41 million domestic tourists in 2015, and earn more than US$12 billion from tourism. — VNA/VNS