3 major Vietnamese cities among top Southeast Asian destinations

The list released by the American magazine late last month, based on votes collected from readers around the world between January and April this year, ranks Da Nang, Hanoi and HCMC in third, fifth and eighth place, respectively.

Bangkok, boasting great hotels, delicious food and a bustling nightlife, topped the list.

Vietnam's Phu Quoc and Con Dao were ranked fourth and 10th in the "Best Islands in Southeast Asia" category. Thailand's Phuket topped this list with riders citing plenty of unique accommodations, outdoor activities and attractions to explore.

Vietnam's General Statistics Office (GSO) says the country welcomed 602,000 foreign arrivals in the first half of this year, around 7 percent of the pre-pandemic level in 2019.

The country targets receiving five million foreign tourists this year, around 30 percent of 2019 figure.