Miss World 2018 travels 20 hours to Vietnam for Hanoi cuisine, Sa Pa rice terraces

In early September 2026, Vanessa Ponce de León traveled to Vietnam for a holiday after completing her schedule at Miss World 2026.

She chose Hanoi and Sa Pa in Lao Cai Province as her two destinations.

She shared moments from her trip on her social media accounts through photos and short vlogs.

In her videos, Vanessa said she had wanted to visit Vietnam for a long time but had only recently had the opportunity. She decided to experience the country in her own way during the short trip.

In Hanoi, Vanessa tried bun cha (grilled pork patties with vermicelli noodles), chicken pho and iced tea served at sidewalk stalls.

She also enjoyed walking around the city and capturing Hanoi from her own perspective.

Vanessa also explained on social media why she never strictly follows an itinerary when traveling in Vietnam.

In one video, she said she had set aside a day to shop for souvenirs. While walking around, she came across a temple and felt compelled to enter.

The unexpected stop gave Vanessa an interesting experience and helped her learn more about Vietnamese culture.

She was invited to drink tea and hear stories about the wishes and aspirations Vietnamese people express when visiting temples and pagodas.

After leaving Hanoi, Vanessa traveled to Sa Pa, where she stayed in a room overlooking a valley and terraced rice fields.

The tranquility of the mountains and the friendliness of local people in the northwestern region made Vanessa feel happy, she said.

Unlike her glamorous appearances at public events, the beauty queen went makeup-free throughout the trip, wearing simple, casual outfits and enjoying the journey spontaneously.

In recent years, Vietnam has gained a stronger presence on the global tourism map as a safe and friendly destination offering memorable experiences, helping attract increasing numbers of international visitors.