Ha Long Bay, Sa Pa named among world’s top trending destinations in 2024

Around two hours to the east of Hanoi, Ha Long Bay came in third on the list while Sa Pa was fifth place in the annual Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best Destinations awards released this week.

“Travelers visit Ha Long Bay for an up-close look at its amazing limestone islands, rock formations and caves. Whittled away over centuries by wind and water, they’re breathtaking,” Tripadvisor wrote.

Foreign tourists take a boat tour in Ha Long Bay, northern Vietnam. Photo courtesy of Lux Cruises

It advised tourists to rent a junk boat to cruise through thousands of small vegetation-covered islands and towering limestone cliffs.

The most ideal time to visit the natural wonder is between March and April and September to November.

Sa Pa, around 300 kilometers from Hanoi, is famed for its year-round cool climate, rice terraced fields and diverse ethnic minority groups.

“The northwest market town of Sa Pa is colorful and charming, providing the perfect oasis in the midst of a strenuous mountain trek or rice-paddy tour,” Tripadvisor wrote.

The travel site recommended tourists to visit the Gothic stone church at the center of town, which is the heritage of French missionary influence, the Saturday night “love market,” and try European-inspired cuisine.

This year, Japan’s Tokyo was voted world’s top trending destination, followed by South Korea’s Seoul.

The awards are calculated based on the quality and quantity of reviews from travelers globally on Tripadvisor between Oct. 1, 2022, through Sept. 30, 2023.

Last year, Ho Chi Minh City and Hoi An were included in the list of top trending destinations.