Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, has been ranked among the world’s top 50 cities to visit in 2025 by the renowned UK-based travel magazine Time Out. 

The magazine highlights the city’s rich cultural heritage, world-class cuisine, affordable prices, and strong sense of community as key reasons for its inclusion.

On January 15, Time Out unveiled its list of the 50 best cities to visit globally in 2025, with four Southeast Asian cities making the cut: Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, and Vietnam. 

Hanoi secured the 21st spot, marking the second-highest position among Southeast Asian cities, trailing only behind Thailand.

According to Time Out, Hanoi stands out for being the heart of Vietnamese culture for thousands of years.

The Old Quarter, which surrounds the historic Hoan Kiem Lake, is not just a center for food but also for architecture.

Besides, visitors can explore the majestic Opera House and a church inspired by Notre Dame, while discovering hidden cafes tucked away in alleyways or perched atop centuries-old buildings.

A key feature of Hanoi that Time Out points out is its temperate climate, with four distinct seasons, unlike the typical tropical climate found elsewhere in Vietnam.

The magazine also recognizes Hanoi’s growing reputation as a high-end culinary destination.

Beyond its vibrant culture and culinary scene, Time Out also highlights Hanoi’s strong sense of community.

Hanoi is also one of the most affordable cities on the list, with 89 percent of respondents finding the cost of everyday activities like enjoying a cup of coffee or going to the movies to be very reasonable.

The top five cities in this year’s ranking, in order, are Cape Town (South Africa), Bangkok (Thailand), New York (the U.S.), London (the UK), and New Orleans (the U.S.).

To compile the list, Time Out surveyed over 18,500 city-dwellers and consulted a panel of 100 experts.

Respondents were asked about factors important to travelers, such as food, nightlife, culture, affordability, liveability, and overall city atmosphere.

Time Out combined data from 44 different criteria to determine the rankings.

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