The old quarter is the best place to start for first-time travellers in Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo

HCM CITY — Hà Nội and Phú Quốc Island are in a list of 17 best places in Asia that US cable TV channel CNN has put out.

It cites natural charm, rich history and good cuisine as its reasons for choosing them.

"As the capital of Việt Nam, Hà Nội is a hub of history, culture and endless energy.”

The capital’s old quarter’s most popular attractions are mostly quaint Buddhist shrines, street markets and traditional Vietnamese arts, it said.
It is also an ideal place for travellers looking to experience the rare sense of timelessness that seems to pervade it.

Beside Hà Nội, CNN said travellers should chase the sun to Phú Quốc Island, also known as “Pearl Island”, in the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Kiên Giang.

It is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in Southeast Asia, not to mention the world's longest over-sea cable car, the channel said. – VNS