Hanoi is one of the 5 happiest cities in Asia.

In addition to Hanoi, the top 5 announced by Time Out magazine also includes Mumbai (India); Beijing, Shanghai (China); Chiang Mai (Thailand).

Hanoi entered the top 5 happiest cities in Asia for the first time - Photo: TTO

Based on the 2025 urban quality of life survey, British magazine Time Out has just announced the list of the 10 happiest cities in Asia. In order, they are Mumbai, Beijing, Shanghai, Chiang Mai, Hanoi, Jakarta, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore, Seoul.

This is the first time the capital of Vietnam has made it to this top.

Hanoi has a rich culinary scene, popular with both locals and tourists - Photo: Pho Week Club

Chiang Mai - Thailand and Hanoi - Vietnam

The magazine said more than 18,000 locals participated in the survey and answered questions about culture, nightlife, cuisine and quality of life.

They also rated their city based on their perceptions of life satisfaction and happiness, community positivity, enjoyment from everyday experiences, and perceptions of recent improvements in happiness.

In this list, Mumbai (India) is the happiest city in Asia. Up to 94% of Mumbai residents said the city brings them joy.

Time Out judges "this has to do with Mumbai's myriad entertainment options, vibrant social scene, career development opportunities and it being one of the cities with the best street food in Asia".

Closely following in second and third place are Beijing and Shanghai, which the magazine rates as two dynamic, forward-looking cities with many amenities, safety, affordability and rich culture.

Hanoi scores points for its slow pace of life, green space and sense of community - Photo: TTO

Thailand's Chiang Mai and Vietnam's Hanoi represented Southeast Asia in fourth and fifth place, respectively.

In both places, 88% of locals said their city brought happiness, according to Time Out .

Interestingly, however, Hanoi surpassed Chiang Mai on two other happiness indices.

Specifically, many locals responded more positively to statements like “People in my city seem optimistic and I find joy in the everyday experiences the city offers.”

The magazine notes these are two great destinations with a slow pace of life, green spaces and a sense of community.

Some global hubs like Seoul and Singapore ranked low on the happiness list, while popular destination Tokyo didn't even make the top 10 (only 70% of Tokyo residents said their city made them happy).

Before this ranking, earlier this year, also by this magazine, Hanoi was in the top 50 best cities in the world in 2025, standing out with its long-standing culture, classy cuisine, reasonable costs and strong community spirit.

Time Out also announced the 10 happiest cities in the world in 2025 including: Abu Dhabi (UAE), Medellín (Colombia), Cape Town (South Africa), Mexico City (Mexico), Mumbai (India), Beijing and Shanghai (China), Chicago (USA), Seville (Spain), Melbourne (Australia).

LAUGHING PINE

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/ha-noi-la-mot-trong-5-thanh-pho-hanh-phuc-nhat-chau-a-20251030104729234.htm