Hoi An, a renowned tourist city in the central Vietnamese province of Quang Nam, has made a huge leap on the “Top 15 Cities in the World” list of travel magazine Travel + Leisure.
The Vietnamese city leaped from its No. 8 position last year to the top of the 2019 list, the New York City-based magazine announced on its website on Wednesday.
Hoi An scored 90.39/100 points in Travel + Leisure’s survey, but what specifically excited readers about the “little gem of a place”? The answers range from the city’s shopping experience to its food.
One magazine reader said in Hoi An, “you can have anything made to order,” whereas another hailed its food as being the best in Vietnam, “with amazing vegetarian and vegan options.”
“It’s great that the inner part of the city is restricted and cars aren’t allowed, so one can walk down the center of the street to the shops and markets,” explained one reader.
“The city has a nice atmosphere, being right on a river.”
The “Top 15 Cities in the World” list is compiled every year for Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards survey, with magazine readers asked to weigh in on their travel experiences around the globe.
Readers rated cities on their sights and landmarks, culture, cuisine, friendliness, shopping, and overall value, according to Travel + Leisure.
Coming in just after Hoi An on the 2019 list is San Miguel de Allende of Mexico, while Thailand’s Chiang Mai, Mexico City and another Mexican representative Oaxaca complete the top five.
The other ten cities, in descending order, are Ubud, Indonesia; Tokyo; Kyoto; Florence; Udaipur, India; Rome; Charleston, South Carolina; Seville, Spain; Santa Fe, New Mexico; and Bangkok.
Besides voting for the best cities, Travel + Leisure’s readers also chose what they believe are the world’s top islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more.
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