Hanoi is among the top 50 best cities in the world in 2025, featuring a long-standing culture, classy cuisine, reasonable costs and strong community spirit.
Hanoi is on the list of 50 most worth-experienced cities in 2025 according to Time Out magazine - Photo: AFP
On January 15, the famous travel magazine Time Out announced the ranking of the 50 best cities in the world and worth experiencing in 2025. "Affordability, the ability to blend with nature and whether or not it is worth living are important criteria in this year's survey," said Ms. Grace Beard, travel editor of Time Out. "This list not only honors the most vibrant cities in the world worth visiting in 2025 - where culture is at a high level, great cuisine and exciting nightlife are present everywhere - but also reflects the places where locals feel most attached," Ms. Beard added. In the ranking of the 50 best cities in the world in 2025, Southeast Asia has appeared with 4 nominations from Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Singapore. Among them, Vietnam's representative Hanoi ranked 21st on the list, the second highest among Southeast Asian countries. According to Time Out magazine, what makes Hanoi a place worth visiting and experiencing in 2025 is that it has been the cradle of Vietnamese culture for thousands of years, producing the country's most famous poets, artists, thinkers and iconic dishes. Walking on the small streets of the large and walkable Old Quarter, tourists will be captivated by the aroma of charcoal grills at Bun Cha Hang Quat, or the boiling pots of broth at Pho Bung Hang Trong. Surrounding the historic Hoan Kiem Lake, the Old Quarter is also home to prominent architectural works such as the majestic Opera House and the Notre Dame-inspired church, interspersed with small cafes hidden in alleys or on the roofs of centuries-old houses. In addition, Hanoi has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, instead of just two rainy and dry seasons like most other tropical regions in the country, Time Out magazine commented. The ranking also honored Hanoi as a high-end culinary destination with three restaurants receiving prestigious Michelin stars in 2023, including Tam Vi, Hibana by Koki and Gia Restaurant.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Nvidia CEO and founder Jensen Huang drink beer in Hanoi's Old Quarter on December 5, 2024 - Photo: AFP
In 2024, the Halflington bar in the capital became the first Vietnamese name to make the list of the 50 best bars in the world. Another important factor that Time Out mentioned in the reasons why tourists should visit Hanoi in 2025 is that Vietnam will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the country's reunification on April 30, promising to have many attractive festivals. In addition, Hanoi also stands out for its strong community spirit, ranking in the top 4 cities in the world with residents most satisfied with the area they live in. It is also the fourth cheapest city on the list, with 89% of respondents saying that the cost of a cup of coffee or a movie is very reasonable.
The 50 Best Cities 2025 Ranking
1. Cape Town, South Africa 2. Bangkok, Thailand 3. New York, USA 4. Melbourne, Australia 5. London, UK 6. New Orleans, USA 7. Mexico City, Mexico 8. Porto, Portugal 9. Shanghai, China 10. Copenhagen, Denmark 11. Chicago, USA 12. Lisbon, Portugal 13. Edinburgh, UK 14. Hong Kong, China 15. Sydney, Australia 16. Amsterdam, Netherlands 17. Barcelona, Spain 18. Seville, Spain 19. Paris, France 20. Medellín, Colombia 21. Hanoi, Vietnam 22. Madrid, Spain 23. Berlin, Germany 24. Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) 25. Singapore 26. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 27. Beijing, China 28. Chiang Mai, Thailand 29. Jakarta, Indonesia 30. Vienna, Austria 31. Tokyo, Japan 32. Marrakech, Morocco 33. Perth, Australia 34. Brighton, England 35. Prague, Czech Republic 36. Glasgow, England 37. Brisbane, Australia 38. Marseille, France 39. Budapest, Hungary 40. Los Angeles, USA 41. Lagos, Nigeria 42. Seoul, South Korea 43. Valencia, Spain 44. Montreal, Canada 45. Bilbao, Spain 46. Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) 47. Belfast, England 48. Bristol, England 49. Mumbai, India 50. Warsaw, Poland
The rankings are based on surveys of more than 18,500 residents of cities around the world and a panel of 100 experts. Residents were asked about topics that interest travelers, including food, nightlife, culture, cost, liveability and overall city feel. Time Out then aggregated all the data across a total of 44 different criteria to come up with the 50 best cities in the world in 2025.
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