Girls in traditional áo dài (long dress) in the historic Hoàn Kiếm Lake area, downtown Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo Lâm Khánh

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam’s capital city of Hà Nội has been listed among the 12 best places worldwide to travel in this fall by the US's CNN Travel.

According to an article recommending these destinations, Asia tourism in general has been the slowest to bounce back, but Việt Nam "is the real bright spot right now.”

Hà Nội is beautiful in autumn. VNA/VNS Photo

It said autumn in the city is drier and cooler, and has plenty to keep foodies satiated. Chả cá (fish cooked with turmeric and dill) is so popular that a street was named after the dish. Hà Nội-style bánh tôm (shrimp cakes) is another must-try.

It also highly recommended rambling around the Old Quarter of historical streets and shops trading in jewelry, fabrics and flowers. The article encouraged tourists come to the outskirts of Hà Nội to visit Đông Ngạc, a "village of scholars" that has barely changed in centuries.

Cốm (Green sticky rice) is typical delicacy in autumn. — VNA/VNS Photo Lâm Khánh

The story on CNN's website. Photo edition.cnn.com

The CNN Travel list also included Mexico City, Madrid of Spain, Samoa, Greenville of the US, Egypt, Cape Town of South Africa, US-Canada Atlantic cruises, Bavaria of Germany, Buenos Aires of Argentina, Hawaii of the US, and the Azores of Portugal. — VNA/VNS