Ha Noi, HCM City among world’s 50 best cities to visit in 2026: Time Out

In its 10^th annual ranking, Time Out surveyed more than 24,000 residents across 150 cities, asking residents questions in 42 languages.

Participants were asked about dozens of factors shaping urban life, including food, nightlife, culture, affordability, happiness, community and overall city vibe.

The results were combined with insights from Time Out's global network of more than 100 city experts, creating a ranking designed to capture the places that locals say offer the best urban experiences today.

Holding the 25^th position, the capital city of Ha Noi was described as "still – just – favours the former, but is also in the grip of a staggering transformation".

The city received a high affordability rating, with 62 percent of Ha Noi residents saying it was cheap to eat out and 80 percent saying the same for grabbing a coffee. Seventy-three percent of locals in Ha Noi recommend the food scene, 67 percent rate nightlife highly and 72 percent say it's easy to make friends in the city.

Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City, ranked at 38^th, scored exceptionally well for food (with 75 percent of locals rating it highly) and nightlife (with a 70 percent approval score). And it's no doubt a feel-good city, with locals reporting a 75 percent overall happiness score and the same percentage saying it's easy to make friends.

In 2025, Ha Noi welcomed more than 33.7 million visitors, up 20.8 percent from 2024. International arrivals exceeded 7.82 million, a 22.7 percent year-on-year increase. Total tourism revenue was estimated at more than VND134.46 trillion (about US$5.1 billion), a 21.5 percent rise year on year.

Ho Chi Minh City's tourism sector has maintained positive momentum in 2025, recording about 8.56 million international visitors, 45.6 million domestic tourists, and revenue of VND278 trillion./.