The northern mountainous province of Ha Giang and the ancient city of Hoi An in central Quang Nam province have been ranked among the Top 44 most beautiful places in the world by renowned UK-based travel magazine Time Out.
The northern mountainous province of Ha Giang attracts tourists thanks to its cool climate and pristine natural landscape
With Ha Giang in 10th place, Bella Gomes, contributing writer of Time Out, shares that the winding mountain passes, terraced rice paddies, and 43 different ethnic groups that call the place home all combine to give Ha Giang its unique atmosphere.
“Tham Ma Pass winds its way through six successive hairpin bends, while the Mi Pa Leng Pass carves a mountain edge, overlooking the Nho Que River 3,000 feet below,” she writes.
She also reveals that when visiting the area, holiday goers should avoid the rainy season taking place between June and August.
Hoi An ancient town, a UNESCO-recognised world heritage in central Vietnam, is famous for its tranquil beauty and unique blend of multiple cultural influences
Meanwhile, Katie Lockhart, a contributor of Time Out Travel, notes life in Hoi An moves like molasses – slow and sweet.
“When I lived in this dreamy little community, I spent mornings sipping coconut coffee in cafes and afternoons biking through swaying rice paddies past grazing buffalo,” she recalls.
Lockhart also suggests several interesting activities in Hoi An, such as watching lantern-lit boats glide along the Thu Bon river, cycling through the Old Quarter before the evening crowds gather, and lounging on one of Vietnam’s most beautiful beaches.
Rounding off the list of world’s Top 44 is the likes of Komodo National Park of Indonesia, Victoria Falls of Africa, Punakha Valley of Bhutan, St John’s Co-Cathedral of Malta, Disko Island of Greenland, Brecon Beacons of Wales, Red Rocks Amphitheatre of the United States, Choquequirao of Peru, and New Forest of England.