HCM CITY — Readers of travel guide publisher Rough Guides have chosen Việt Nam as one of the 20 most beautiful countries to visit.

The UK travel site mentioned the "impressive" rock formations in Hạ Long Bay, a four-hour drive to the west of the capital Hà Nội, and terraced rice fields in the northern highlands Sa Pa town was described as a "not-to-be-missed" site in Việt Nam.

Vân Đồn International Airport, which opened on December 30, has made it easier for foreign tourists to visit Hạ Long Bay, which was named among the world’s seven new natural wonders by Swiss organisation New Open World in 2011. 

Foreign visitors to Việt Nam rose 20 per cent to a record 15.4 million last year, making it the world’s fourth fastest-growing travel destination, according to a UN World Tourism Organisation report.

Việt Nam is a one of three Asian countries on the list, ranked 20th, while India was placed 13th and Indonesia sixth. — VNS