HCMC among must-go destinations in 2023: US travel magazine

"Formerly known as Saigon and the ‘Pearl of the Orient,’ Ho Chi Minh City is a gateway to Vietnam’s rich and turbulent history from French colonization to the end of the Vietnam War," it said.

It recommended a city tour taking in Notre Dame Cathedral built by French colonialists in the late 1800s, Cu Chi Tunnels, which survived the Vietnam War, and the War Remnants Museum, which contains machines and other artifacts used during the war.

Vietnam’s southern metropolis is also famous for its diverse cuisine.

Visitors should try banh mi (Vietnamese sandwich), a popular street food that can be found at every street corner for less than US$2, and experience the coffee culture on Saigon sidewalks or from vendors’ tricycles, the magazine said.

"Browse the wares and snacks at Ben Thanh Market, walk along the Saigon River or take a nighttime cruise for a chance to see the city in a different light."

Other Asian destinations featured in the list are Ayutthaya in Thailand, Bangladesh and Madhya Pradesh in India.