Phu Quoc, Tam Dao win world's leading tourism awards

Tam Dao stands out with its ancient French architecture and castles in the clouds. Photo: Linh Huynh .

At the World Travel Awards 2025 (WTA) ceremony held on the evening of December 6 in Bahrain, Vietnamese tourism continued to make a strong mark on the world map with a series of awards in many categories.

At the award ceremony known as the "Oscar of the tourism industry", Tam Dao ( Phu Tho ) was honored as "The world's leading tourist town".

Located at an altitude of nearly 1,000 m, Tam Dao is considered a "town in the clouds" with a cool climate all year round, covered in early morning mist, with winding steep roads, a quiet stone church, and ancient French architecture amidst the deep green national forest. From a familiar weekend getaway for Northerners, Tam Dao is now recognized by the world as a model tourist town, harmoniously combining landscape, climate and experience.

Coming to Tam Dao, visitors will enjoy fresh air and cool climate all year round. Photo: Linh Huynh.

Meanwhile, Phu Quoc continued to affirm its position when it received the title of "World's Leading Natural Island Destination" for the fourth time. The new experience system, pristine landscape and the ability to create "tourism icons" helped the Pearl Island stand out during the season.

Other categories of Phu Quoc honored include:

Kem Beach: World's leading regional beach.
Sunset Town: The world's leading iconic tourist destination.
Kissing Bridge: The world's leading iconic tourist bridge.

Experiential products associated with sunset, blue sea, high-class resorts and outstanding architecture are helping Phu Quoc shape the image of an iconic tourist center in Asia.

At the award ceremony, Moc Chau Plateau (Son La) was named "World's Leading Local Natural Destination" for the third time, thanks to its temperate climate, pristine landscape and sustainable tourism development.

Phu Quoc is continuously honored in many rankings around the world, affirming the attractiveness of the destination. Photo: Duy Hieu.

For the first time participating in the season, Dong Van Karst Plateau (Tuyen Quang) won the title of "World's Leading Local Cultural Destination". This title contributes to honoring the value of the UNESCO Global Geopark and the cultural colors of the ethnic communities in the Karst Plateau.

Not only natural destinations, many tourist cities of Vietnam also shine in the categories of the Asian region.

Ho Chi Minh City: Asia's leading business travel destination; Asia's leading events and festivals destination.
Vung Tau (HCMC): Asia's top beach destination for short breaks.
Hanoi: Asia's Top City Destination; Asia's Top Short Break Destination.
Hoi An: Asia's leading cultural city.
Ninh Binh: Asia's top emerging tourist destination.
Tam Chuc Complex (Ninh Binh): Asia's leading cultural tourist destination.

The fact that destinations are continuously named over many WTA seasons shows the sustainable appeal of Vietnamese tourism. From islands, plateaus to urban areas rich in identity, familiar lands are stepping out into the world with a new look, rich in experiences and increasingly competitive.

In the first 11 months of the year, Vietnam welcomed more than 19.1 million international visitors, up 20.9% year-on-year, surpassing the record of 18 million in 2019, marking an unprecedented tourism boom.

Source: https://znews.vn/world-travel-awards-2025-post1609464.html