Hoi An, HCMC among Asia's 15 best cities as voted by Travel+Leisure readers

By Hoang Phong July 14, 2023 | 06:00 am PT

Foreign tourists pose for a photo against a backdrop to welcome the Year of Cat in Hoi An, January 2023. Photo by Xuan Phuong

Hoi An ancient city ranked 13th and Ho Chi Minh City at 14th in a list of 15 most favorite cities in Asia as chosen by readers of U.S. magazine Travel+Leisure.

Hoi An scored 87.86 points out of 100 while HCMC scored 87.64. The cities were rated based on criteria such as sights/landmarks, culture, food, friendliness, shopping and value.

Lying along the Thu Bon River, Hoi An is characterized by its unique architectural ensemble that features iconic yellow houses and rich traditional heritage.

Once a convergence point for Asian traders, the ancient town is home to ancient temples and assembly halls with a touch of Chinese architecture, and a 400-year-old bridge built by Japanese merchants.

HCMC, thanks to political stability and low violent crime rates, is also an ideal destination for foreigners and is famous for its French colonial heritages.

Udaipur in India was named the best city in Asia this year, followed by Kyoto in Japan and Ubud in Indonesia.