The Vietnamese city of Hoi An has been named the best in the world at the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards.
Jumping up from 8th place in last year’s annual readers survey, it knocks Mexican San Miguel de Allende off the top spot, which is has held for the last two years (and now sits second).
Readers rated cities on their sights and landmarks, culture, cuisine, friendliness, shopping, and overall value. One person called Hoi An a ‘little gem of a place’, while another praised its vegan and vegetarian options.
For some, it was the shopping that really shone, with a reader saying ‘you can have anything made to order’. Others praised the infrastructure, crediting the chilled atmosphere to the fact the city’s located right beside a river, and the Old Town area is completely pedestrianised.
Hoi An is considered one of the safest cities in Asia, and the night markets are renowned for their street food and fresh produce.
Bike hire costs less than £2 a day, allowing you to see the stunning beaches and scenery, as well as tourist hotspots like Hue Imperial citadel, My Son Ruin Temples, and Phong Nha Cave.
In general the Vietnamese area is incredibly affordable, with cost of living site Numbeo stating that a meal at an inexpensive restaurant in Hoi An can cost as little as £1.03, while a pint of beer is around the same price.
Some of the things to do in the area include a basket boat tour through a local mangrove forest, or learning fishing with residents who have perfected their technique through the generations.
Travel + Leisure’s Editor Jacqui Gifford said of the win: ‘Brands and properties from all over the world – from Peru to Japan, India to Italy, and right here at home in the United States (where the magazine in based) – are recognized by our audience because they deliver exceptional experiences, rooted in a sense of place.
‘I congratulate all of this year’s winners, who have worked so hard to be among the world’s best.’
Other cities that made the cut include Chiang Mai in Thailand, Mexico City, and Oaxaca. Florence, Rome, and Seville were the only European destinations that made the top 15, with Britain losing out completely.
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