Hanoi, the political and cultural heart of Vietnam, is a tangle of ancient temples, bustling markets, and the serene Hoan Kiem Lake. Its grip on visitors and locals alike is obvious by its #16 ranking in our overall Lovability category, with attractions like the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long—a UNESCO World Heritage site—drawing travelers from around the globe and inspiring them to leave the fourth-most Tripadvisor Reviews among all cities in our ranking. Hanoi also boasts the Top 3 shopping and the fifth-best nightlife, whether you prefer traditional revelry in the Old Quarter, or exploring the fast-rising Tay Ho area.
Economically, Hanoi is also ascendant, with the fourth-lowest unemployment rate in our ranking and new initiatives like the “Hanoi Smart City Project,” set for completion by 2028, that is transforming the city into a digital hub, with state-of-the-art facilities and smart governance systems designed to attract international businesses and tech startups. Hanoi’s hospitality market is also on the rise, with the city expecting a boom in tourism for the rest of the decade. According to local projections, more than 60 new hotels and 11,000 rooms, are set to open by 2025, with the majority of these being five-star establishments.