Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City among world’s top cities in Telegraph Travel Awards 2025

With about 20,000 global readers participating in the vote, Hanoi ranked 31st while Ho Chi Minh City placed 77th.

Despite dropping slightly from their positions in 2023, with Hanoi down four notches and Ho Chi Minh City down one, both remained on the global chart, reaffirming Vietnam’s growing appeal as an international travel destination.

Hanoi’s ranking places it ahead of several well-known Asian destinations such as Thailand’s Bangkok (40th), India’s Mumbai (43rd), Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur (68th), and UAE’s Dubai (73rd).

The Telegraph also released regional rankings, placing Hanoi 10th among the top cities outside Europe and the Americas—another notable milestone for Vietnam’s capital, which saw nearly 3.7 million international visitors, a 21.8-percent increase from the previous year.

In its commentary, The Telegraph describes Hanoi as a dynamic city ideal for those drawn to cultural richness and the fusion of tradition and modernity, especially reflected in its unique East-West architectural heritage.

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s southern hub, is depicted as a vibrant destination defined by the roar of motorbikes, colonial-era architecture, glittering skyscrapers, and modern shopping centers—evoking its energetic urban spirit.

The global top ten cities are led by Cape Town in South Africa, followed in order by Seville in Spain, Sydney in Australia, Tokyo and Kyoto in Japan, Copenhagen in Denmark, Vancouver in Canada, Venice in Italy, Porto in Portugal, and Singapore.