In the ranking of 25 most romantic honeymoon destinations in the world at the Travelers' Choice Best of the Best Destinations award of the world's leading online travel platform Tripadvisor, Hue city is honored to rank 6th, affirming the special attraction of the Ancient Capital on the global tourism map.
At the same time, the leading British travel magazine Time Out has just ranked Hoi An in 2nd place in the list of 6 leading Tet experience destinations in Asia.
These are two good news for tourism in Hue and Da Nang - two adjacent localities in the Central region, which have also just recorded very impressive growth figures in the Binh Ngo Lunar New Year 2026 season.
Of course, these are not just single good news for the tourism industry. Because when these two events are placed side by side, one more important thing can be seen: Vietnamese cultural identity is becoming a real competitive advantage on the global tourism map.
In the honeymoon category, Hue is not competing with flashy resorts or vibrant rhythms of life. The ancient capital conquers visitors with the tranquility of the Perfume River, mossy tiled roofs, quiet garden space and a sense of privacy in the heart of the heritage.
A honeymoon in Hue is an experience of slow pace of life, of a intimate dinner in an ancient space, of a gentle sunset on a boat. It is a subtle romance, not noisy but deep enough to remain in memory.
Meanwhile, Hoi An is honored not only for the beauty of the ancient town but also for the way Tet Nguyen Dan still exists intact in community life. Tourists not only admire lanterns or release lanterns on the Hoai River but also blend into the real rhythm of people's activities such as lion and dragon dances, Bai Choi singing, Sac Bua procession and craft village rituals after Tet. It is this "living" nature that makes the experience real and different.
The common point of the two stories is that heritage is not turned into a photo background but still a living space, an emotional space. When identity is preserved and operated properly, it naturally becomes a high-value tourism product.
This shows that international tourists are increasingly looking for cultural depth experiences instead of destinations that only rely on scale or vibrancy.
It should be known that the Travelers' Choice Best of the Best title is only awarded to less than 1% of millions of destinations worldwide. This means that recognition does not come from a short-term promotion campaign but from the actual assessment of the tourist community over 12 months.
Similarly, Time Out's ranking reflects how international media perceive local cultural values as a particularly attractive factor.
Of course, international titles always come with responsibility. When a destination is positioned as "the world's leading romantic destination" or "Asia's leading Tet experience", the pressure to maintain service quality, preserve heritage space and manage the number of visitors will be much greater. If commercialization is excessive, private space may be broken; if chasing after the crowd, the originality of the festival may be diluted.
Therefore, the important thing is not to celebrate ranking but to understand why you are honored. Hue is loved for its sophistication and tranquility. Hoi An is respected for its community spirit and intact tradition. Maintaining those values is a long-term strategy.
When the world begins to look at Vietnam through the lens of emotions, romance and unique cultural rituals, it is an opportunity to elevate the national brand. But brands are not created by slogans but by each destination preserving its soul in the development flow.
Titles can be moments, identity is the foundation. And if Hue and Hoi An continue on the path of preserving and enriching their cultural values, international rankings in the future will no longer be a surprise.
