Hoi An, HCMC among world's top 25 trending destinations in 2023

Hoi An came in second on the list as part of the annual Travelers' Choice Best of the Best Awards, following Cuba, while the southern metropolis secured 11th place.

The category reveals destinations with the greatest year-over-year growth in interest on Tripadvisor based on travelers' reviews over a 12-month period between November 1 and October 31.

"Hoi An on the central Vietnamese coast is a well-preserved example of the important Southeast Asian trading port it was from the 15th-19th centuries," Tripadvisor commented. "Already a common stop for backpackers, it is becoming better known to tourists."

Colorful floating lanterns are also a distinct feature of Hoi An, which hosts the lantern festival on the 14th day of each lunar month, when all the electric lights in the town are switched off.

Tourists take boat rides on the Hoai River in Hoi An, March 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Nguyen Dong

Hoi An is also home to Chinese-influenced temples and assembly halls with unique architecture.

TripAdvisor also heaped praise on HCMC.

"Vietnam's bustling largest city sets the cultural and economic pace for the country," said Tripadvisor. "The former Saigon boasts charming French colonial architecture and wide boulevards, usually thronged and choked with traffic."

The U.S.-based travel site advised tourists to visit the War Remnants Museum at 28 Vo Van Tan Street in District 3 as well as the Jade Emperor Pagoda, which former U.S. President Barack Obama visited during his trip to Vietnam in 2016.

Siem Reap in Cambodia and Chiang Mai in Thailand also made it onto the top 10.