As a journalist and travel business owner, Latifah Al-Hazza has traveled to 80 different countries and has many memorable travel experiences and memories. Business Insider recently published an article ranking her 50 favorite destinations based on her personal perspective.
The top 5 countries that Latifah recommends tourists to visit and that she herself is most passionate about are: Spain, Cyprus, Italy, Greece and Vietnam.
Speaking of Vietnam, the place that left the most impression on the American female tourist was Hoi An (Quang Nam). Once a bustling trading port, Hoi An is now famous for its river winding around the old town and still bustling with boats welcoming visitors. In Hoi An, Latifah suggests that visitors experience sitting in a basket boat weaving through the Bay Mau coconut forest.
In addition to Hoi An ancient town, she also loves peaceful nights on a cruise in Ha Long Bay. Besides admiring the peaceful bay, visitors can kayak, hike, climb mountains, practice tai chi, sing karaoke or learn to cook.
According to Latifah, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are unique and bustling cities that are very suitable for learning about Vietnamese cultural history, while Sa Pa (Lao Cai) possesses incredible natural beauty with hills and terraced fields.
“When it comes to local cuisine, a must-try is visiting and eating at the night market. Don’t go if you don’t try pho, egg coffee, papaya salad…”, the American girl suggested.
In Latifah's ranking, Southeast Asian tourist hotspots like Indonesia and Thailand ranked behind Vietnam.
Above Thailand (14th) is Indonesia at 8th. This is one of the places that gave her one of the most memorable trips.
“I have been to Bali, Nusa Penida and the Gili Islands, and the locals I have met have been incredibly kind and helpful. The food is delicious, I feel safe and there are tons of things to do here. Bali in particular offers a great balance of culture, nature and modern conveniences,” she said.
The American tourist shared that she also loves Thailand. The only reason the Land of Smiles is not higher on the list is because she is not a big fan of Bangkok. However, fortunately, this country has many places for tourists who love nature and are passionate about adventure...
In Asia, some of the prominent destinations mentioned by Latifah are Malaysia, India, Singapore, China. Less popular countries belong to the Middle East and Europe. Of which, the UK and Germany are the two names at the bottom at positions 49 and 50.
