Phu Yen hotel named among world's best

It was the only Vietnamese hotel to break into the list compiled by travel writers and editors of the U.S.-based magazine.

The hotel, located in Song Cau Town of the coastal province, an emerging tourist destination in south-central Vietnam, consists of 71 villas covering an area of around 98 hectares (242 acres) of lush greenery and is surrounded by rice fields.

"Zannier honored local ethnic minority groups and nearby fishing villages by constructing three different types of Vietnamese-style villas, laden with bamboo ceilings, antique rice baskets, and colors that reflect the natural landscape," Travel+Leisure wrote.

The hotel serves tourists local seafood at its beach restaurant Lang Chai.

"The main draw for many travelers, though, might be the private, kilometer-long stretch of beach that teems with colorful coral just offshore," it added.

Asian hotels in the list included Japan's Ace Hotel Kyoto, Thailand's Capella Bangkok, Malaysia's One&Only Desaru Coast and India's The Leela Palace.

Phu Yen is the first place on the Vietnamese mainland to meet the sunrise each day. The province was once a lesser-known tourist destination, but catapulted to global fame after it was featured in the movie "Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass" directed by Victor Vu.

The Vietnamese coming-of-age drama won in the 2016 Best Feature Film category of the Young People's Jury Award - part of the annual TIFF Kids International Film Festival in Toronto. It premiered at Cannes Film Festival in 2015.