The ancient Hội An town has been included in the list of 25 best cities chosen by readers of US magazine Travel + Leisure. Photo laodong.vn.

QUẢNG NAM — Among several sites in Việt Nam to have been chosen, the ancient town of Hội An has been voted the 20th best city in the world by readers of the US magazine Travel + Leisure.

Readers ranked the cities based on factors such as the quality of hotels and restaurants, cultural heritage, attractions, cuisine, and COVID-19 protocols.

The ancient town used to be included in Travel+Leisure’s list of best cities in 2019.

Hội An was a busy international commercial port from the 16th to 19th centuries, attracting merchant ships from China and Japan. It is a World Heritage site recognised by UNESCO.

Recently, Dubai-based Time Out magazine has also listed Hội An among "the very best places" to travel to in July with warm weather.

"As the monsoon rains fall in Hà Nội and HCM City, savvy travelers in Việt Nam head to the central coast where the weather is dry and warm," the magazine said.

In the category of the top 25 best islands in the world this year, Phú Quốc in the southern province of Kiên Giang is in 14th place.

“Readers' enthusiasm for Việt Nam’s Phú Quốc has earned it a place on this list thanks to its white-sand beaches and delectable food. The island is renowned for its production of fish sauce and peppercorns, as well as its coral reefs and dense tropical forest,” wrote Travel+Leisure.

Tourists on a beach of Phú Quốc Island. — VNA/VNS Photo Hồng Đạt

Besides destinations, Việt Nam also has two accommodation facilities included in Travel+Leisure’s World's Best Awards of 2022.

Six Senses Côn Đảo, in the southern province of Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu, is placed in 51st. One voter said that the mile-long white-sand beach that runs along this tucked-away wellness resort is "just paradise."

“With the brand's focus on wellness, it's fair to expect a spa experience that will melt away every inch of stress.”

The US magazine also honoured Capella Hà Nội hotel in the top 15 best city hotels in Asia. The hotel also once entered the IT 2022 list of the world’s leading luxury hotels and was named one of the "100 Best New Hotels in the World.”

Impressive growth

The number of international tourists to Việt Nam has dramatically increased after the country fully re-opened for tourism since March 15. — VNA/VNS Photo Phan Sáu

Statistics have shown the rapid recovery of Vietnamese tourism in the first six months of 2022.

Since the country fully reopened its borders to tourists since March 15, it has attracted a large number of international tourists.

According to data from the General Statistics Office, the number of international visitors to Việt Nam in the first six months of 2022 reached 602,000 arrivals, an increase of 582.2 per cent over the same period in 2021.

The figure continued to increase after Việt Nam reopened for international tourism; the number of visitors jumped from 42,000 to 237,000 in June.

Consequently, the search volume for international accommodation and airlines to Việt Nam has also grown significantly.

According to statistics from Google Destination Insights, in the peak period at the end of June, the number of accommodation searches reached 100 points, up 456 per cent over the same period last year and four times higher than at the beginning of the year.

Similarly, the number of searches for international airline to Việt Nam also reached the highest level at the end of June, the peak month for summer tourism in Việt Nam.

Google Destination Insights statistics also show that HCM City, Hà Nội, Phú Quốc and Đà Nẵng are the most searched destinations to tourists to Việt Nam. VNS