Hanoi named among world’s 50 most beautiful cities by Condé Nast Traveler

Hanoi has been named among the world’s 50 most beautiful cities by the prestigious US travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler, highlighting the Vietnamese capital’s enduring charm and cultural depth.

The Top 50 list is not merely a ranking for readers but also reflects the diverse experiences each city offers, from historic streets and spectacular natural landscapes to distinctive urban lifestyles.

According to the magazine, Hanoi is not a city that instantly impresses visitors with glittering boulevards or towering skyscrapers. Instead, its attraction lies in the quiet charm of tradition and history.

“Its devotion to tradition has long charmed Western travelers, who often rank it among their favorite Asian capitals for its incense-filled temples, classic shop houses, and stately villas in the French Quarter. And while Hanoi continues to modernize, it hasn’t lost its romantic soul,” the magazine wrote.

Hanoi named among world’s 50 most beautiful cities by Condé Nast Traveler -0
Leaves of loc vung (Barringtonia acutangula tree) change colour beside Hoan Kiem Lake (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi’s appearance within the global media ecosystem of Condé Nast Traveler is expected to provide a significant boost to the city’s tourism appeal. Beyond enhancing its credibility as a travel destination, the recognition could also help attract high-end tourism services and encourage higher spending by international visitors.

Alongside Hanoi, several renowned cities were included on the list, such as Amsterdam in the Netherlands, Barcelona in Spain, Copenhagen in Denmark, Paris in France, New York in the US, Cape Town in South Africa, Kyoto in Japan, and Luang Prabang in Laos.

Earlier, Hanoi tourism also made a strong impression in several categories of the Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best Destinations 2026 awards announced by Tripadvisor.

The Vietnamese capital was honoured in four categories: Top 25 Best Destinations in the World (fourth place), Top 25 Best Cultural Destinations (seventh), Top 25 Best Solo Travel Destinations (seventh), and Top 25 Best Food Destinations (11th).

Being listed in multiple categories highlights Hanoi’s well-rounded appeal, not only for its landscapes but also for its cultural richness, vibrant experiences, and ability to meet evolving global travel trends.

Hanoi named among world’s 50 most beautiful cities by Condé Nast Traveler -0
Golden autumn sunlight pours like honey over every street (Photo: VNA) 

With its ancient charm and graceful beauty, Hanoi has long been a favourite destination for travellers seeking to explore Vietnam’s history, culture, and people. The city blends historical elegance with a dynamic modern spirit, preserving its nostalgic past while embracing the development of a vibrant metropolis.

Tripadvisor noted that despite the ups and downs of history and the various names it has held over centuries, the thousand-year-old capital has never forgotten its heroic past.

Hanoi is home to numerous iconic landmarks and historical sites such as the Temple of Literature, the Old Quarter, St. Joseph’s Cathedral, the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, along with many temples and pagodas closely associated with the spiritual life of local residents.

Cuisine is another major attraction drawing tourists to the capital. Hanoi’s gastronomy is widely appreciated for its refinement and delicate flavours, often highlighting the natural taste of local ingredients. From bustling street food stalls to modern restaurants offering creative menus, the city’s culinary scene provides visitors with a diverse journey of discovery in which each dish reflects local culture and heritage.

Hanoi has also strengthened its position on the global tourism map after being named Asia’s Leading City Destination and Asia’s Leading City Break Destination at the World Travel Awards 2025. The recognition reflects the city’s continued efforts to develop a green, friendly tourism environment and further enhance its appeal as a destination for international travellers.

VNA

Other News

Ta Xua named Asia's leading emerging tourism destination 2026

Ta Xua named Asia's leading emerging tourism destination 2026

In recent years, Ta Xua, dubbed "the paradise of clouds", has emerged as one of the mountainous destinations attracting strong interest from young travellers, particularly for its spectacular sea of clouds stretching across the mountains in the northwestern region.

Digital transformation key to preserving, promoting ethnic cultural values

Digital transformation key to preserving, promoting ethnic cultural values

Training local young people in filming, audio recording, digital storytelling, data preservation and responsible use of AI can help build a new generation of cultural custodians. This, in turn, can help transform cultural heritage into a resource for economic development while contributing to the country’s broader development.

Indigenous culture becomes tourism asset in northern highlands

Indigenous culture becomes tourism asset in northern highlands

With growing recognition of indigenous knowledge, customs and cultural values as unique assets, ethnic communities in the northern mountainous region are shifting from simply providing tourism services to becoming creators and owners of tourism products, confidently telling their own cultural stories

UNESCO ready to work with Vietnam to implement International Decade of Culture for Sustainable Development initiative: Representative

UNESCO ready to work with Vietnam to implement International Decade of Culture for Sustainable Development initiative: Representative

Jonathan Wallace Baker, UNESCO Representative to Vietnam, noted that the official proclamation of the 2027–2036 period as the "International Decade of Culture for Sustainable Development" comes at a particularly important moment. As the international community works to accelerate progress towards the 2030 Agenda while beginning to consider what comes after 2030, the Decade provides a ten-year framework to strengthen the place of culture in development.

Traditional culture finds new life in contemporary Vietnam

Traditional culture finds new life in contemporary Vietnam

Under Resolution 80-NQ/TW, dated January 7, 2026, November 24 was designated Vietnam Culture Day, to be observed annually. The occasion aims to give the public opportunities to participate in, create and enjoy cultural activities, helping spread positive values and foster pride in Vietnamese culture.

Vietnam prioritises MICE tourism as strategic product

Vietnam prioritises MICE tourism as strategic product

For the MICE tourism sector in both Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam, growth can no longer be driven merely by increasing the number of events; instead, the focus must shift to enhancing the value of each event and the competitiveness of each destination.

Potential of ethnic minority women's football

Potential of ethnic minority women's football

Women’s football movements in local communities have been quietly growing, but they’ve now built up enough momentum to inspire organisers to launch the first Vietnam Ethnic Minority Women’s Football – VTV Cup in 2026.

Phong Nha - Ke Bang named among Vietnam's 11 most beautiful destinations

Phong Nha - Ke Bang named among Vietnam's 11 most beautiful destinations

According to the magazine, boat trips into Phong Nha Cave and strolls through Paradise Cave (both family-friendly) offer a tantalising glimpse of their astonishing scale, but the real adventure lies deeper within the park, where cavers wade through underground rivers and weave among stalagmites.

Tourism seeks new growth momentum under Resolution 26

Tourism seeks new growth momentum under Resolution 26

Tourism effectiveness should be measured not only by visitor numbers and revenue, but also by spending, length of stay, repeat visits, job quality, visitor satisfaction and environmental carrying capacity, said experts.

Vietnam welcomes nearly 2 million international visitors in August, up 19.7% from July and 18.4% year-on-year. (Illustrative photo: VNA)

Vietnam tourism maintains strong growth, expands international markets

The National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Finance reported that Vietnam welcomed nearly 2 million international visitors in August, up 19.7% from July and 18.4% year-on-year. The figure represented 63.6% of the tourism sector’s full-year target of 25 million arrivals.

First ladies of Vietnam, Myanmar visit Van Phuc silk village

First ladies of Vietnam, Myanmar visit Van Phuc silk village

Ngo Phuong Ly, the spouse of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam, said the two countries share similarities in silk weaving and can enrich their cultural heritage through exchanges and experience sharing.