Hanoi: Surprisingly in the top 15 most popular cities in the world!

Hanoi: Surprisingly in the top 15 most popular cities in the world!

Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, has, according to Time out established itself as one of the 15 most popular tourist cities in the world for 2025, reaching eleventh place. This award highlights the city among a list of well-known global cities including Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro and Beijing. Hanoi also boasts a number of other awards that underline its tourist appeal, such as the title of “Asia's Leading City Tourism Destination” from the World Travel Awards.

In the first five months of 2025, Hanoi recorded impressive tourism numbers. A total of 12.7 million tourists came, an increase of 10.9 percent compared to the previous year. Among these were 3.16 million international visitors, showing an increase of 20.2 percent in this area alone. The tourism sector contributed VND51,940 billion to the city's total revenue, an increase of 14.1 percent. The target for 2025 is ambitious: more than 30 million visitors, including over 7 million international tourists.

Diverse attractions and culture

Hanoi offers a wealth of historical relics, cultural architecture and natural landscapes that allow tourists to immerse themselves in the city's rich history. The most popular attractions include the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, the Quoc Tu Giam Temple of Literature, the Turtle Tower and the One Pillar Pagoda. The Temple of Literature, Vietnam's first university, was built in 1070 by the Ly Dynasty to honor Confucius and Vietnamese scholars and is a popular destination for tourists interested in the country's culture and history.

Another highlight is Hoan Kiem Lake, located in the center of Hanoi and home to an endangered species of turtle. The lake, whose name means “Returned Sword,” tells the legend of a sacred sword that was lent to an ancient king by a sacred turtle and later returned. Around the lake, visitors can enjoy Vietnamese coffee at sidewalk cafes and observe local life.

Gastronomy and traditions

Hanoi's culinary diversity is another attraction for tourists. Typical dishes such as Com Lang Vong, Pho Ha Noi and Bun Cha are not only popular locally but also highly appreciated by international visitors. In addition, travelers can discover traditional crafts in the city's street markets and small alleys.

For visitors who want to explore Hanoi further, there are numerous tours that include a half-day city tour, including visits to the Temple of Literature and Hoan Kiem Lake. During this tour there is the opportunity to ride a cyclo through the old quarter of the city or simply soak up the atmosphere.

The trend shows that Hanoi is not only popular as a travel destination in Asia, but also enjoys high international recognition, which continues to make the city one of the top travel destinations worldwide, as reported by Time out reported. Future expectations for the city's tourism sector are also promising, with total revenue forecast to exceed VND130,000 billion by the end of 2025, an increase of 26.1 percent compared to 2024. Hanoi therefore remains a fascinating destination for travelers from all over the world.