HCM City has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing tourism hubs. — Photo vietnamplus.vn

HCM CITY — Việt Nam’s HCM City has been recognised as one of the top travel destinations in Asia for 2025, according to a vote by the American magazine CN Traveler.

The magazine tells its readers to explore the diversity of Asia from the ancient ginkgo forests in Zhejiang, China, to the historic streets of Osaka, Japan. It describes the continent's rapidly developing cities as well as its vast, unspoiled natural landscapes and rich culinary traditions. Việt Nam's cities uniquely blend history and modernity, making them essential stops for visitors, the article states.

HCM City has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing tourism hubs, surpassing pre-pandemic records at an impressive rate. There's no better time to visit than in 2025, according to the magazine.

Beyond its urban and tourism infrastructure, HCM City stands out as one of Southeast Asia's cultural centers - serving as the region's hub for commerce, cuisine and fashion. Notably, in 2023, the inaugural Michelin Guide to Việt Nam awarded the city's first star to the new Vietnamese restaurant, Anan Sài Gòn. Despite its modernity, the city retains much of its traditional charm, featuring bustling markets and rustic street vendors alongside ancient architecture.

In addition to HCM City, CN Traveler also highlighted other cities and areas including Asir in Saudi Arabia; Hangzhou in China; Karakol in Kyrgyzstan; Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia; Muscat in Oman and Osaka in Japan. VNS