The awards reveal where travellers ventured in 2020, while travel was open, as well as where they dreamed of going while the COVID-19 pandemic kept them stuck at home.
“The charming Vietnamese capital has aged well, preserving the Old Quarter, monuments and colonial architecture, while making room for modern developments alongside,” wrote the world’s largest travel platform.
It added that Hanoi may have changed its names several times, including Thang Long, or “ascending dragon,” but the capital city hasn’t forgotten its past, as sites such as President Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and Hoa Lo Prison attest.
Lakes, parks, shady boulevards and more than 600 temples and pagodas add to the appeal of this city, which is easily explored by taxi.
Destinations which came before Hanoi in the rankings included Bali (Indonesia), London (the UK), Dubai (the United Arab Emirates), Rome (Italy) and Paris (France).
In addition, the ancient city of Hoi An in central Quang Nam province occupied the 11th spot.
“This city on the central Vietnamese coast is a well-preserved example of the important Southeast Asian trading port it was from the 15th-19th centuries. Already a common stop for backpackers, it is becoming better known to tourists,” Tripadvisor noted.
On the 14th day of each lunar month, the town trades its electric lights for traditional coloured lanterns. Sights include the Chua Cau (Japanese Bridge) and the Quan Cong Temple, it continued, advising that “Let the town’s expert tailors make you some bespoke clothing”.
