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Following the series of in-depth dialogues at The Insiders Forum held on January 19, 2026, the gala night, The Honor Ceremony, will take place:In the Golden Field – Walking amidst a sea of goldOrganized by Travellive Media Group, the HOTLIST Travellive Editor's Pick 2025 journey has officially concluded. Held at the JW Marriott Hotel & Suites Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), the event brought together over 250 guests, including representatives from management agencies, tourism promotion organizations, and the travel and hotel business community, creating a networking space for the industry before the announcement of the award categories.
The Honor Ceremony: In the Golden Field – Amidst a Sea of Gold gala night, organized by Travellive Media Group, will be held at JW Marriott Hotel & Suites Saigon on January 19, 2026.
The Honor Ceremony gala night brought together a large number of representatives from government departments, agencies, businesses, and influential figures in the tourism industry.
Before the official program began, guests had time to socialize, connect, and experience activities imbued with the spirit of art. In the lobby area, watercolor portraits created by artist Hai Tre attracted particular attention. As one of the leading figures in contemporary Vietnamese watercolor painting, Hai Tre is known for his persistent journey of "traveling and painting" throughout the country, capturing landscapes, life, and changing regions with subtle and authentic emotions. These quick, simple yet emotionally rich portraits serve as a way to preserve moments – mirroring the spirit of the awards ceremony: appreciating the values created through perseverance and time.
Artist Hai Tre provided guests with moments of artistic relaxation ahead of the awards ceremony.
Meanwhile, the cocktail area, served by Lady Triệu, brought a different atmosphere to the lobby. Cocktails crafted with inspiration from Vietnamese culture and flavors, blended with modern music infused with folk influences, created a multi-sensory experience. Lady Triệu – a beverage brand inspired by local heritage – contributed to perfecting the gala night's atmosphere, where tradition and contemporaneity coexisted in an open and creative spirit.
Lady Trieu - a beverage brand inspired by local heritage.
Our sponsor, Lady Triệu, with her eye-catching cocktails, contributed to creating an open and friendly atmosphere.
As the auditorium quieted down, the awards ceremony officially began with a solo performance on the erhu (Chinese two-stringed fiddle).Telling stories of the harvest season.Performed by Meritorious Artist Duong Thuy Anh. A lecturer at the Hanoi College of Arts, a member of the Co La music group, and an artist with a long-standing commitment to promoting Vietnamese culture and tourism, Meritorious Artist Thuy Anh delivers a simple yet profound artistic greeting. The poignant sound of the two-stringed fiddle evokes the rhythm of successive seasons, where each grain of rice grows alongside the hard work, time, and faith of the people – a subtle metaphor for the journey of accumulating value that HOTLIST 2025 honors.
That emotional flow continued through the series of performances.The Essence of Pearls, Horse Hooves on the Clouds, and Whispers of SpringOn stage, the image of a grain of rice emerges from its rough husk to its pure white color, told through the movement of the dance troupe – a story of refinement, perseverance, and the essence born from simplicity. The rhythm then becomes more expansive and free, like the ever-evolving journey of Vietnamese culture: always keeping pace with the times but never straying from its identity.Whispers of SpringThe event concludes with a necessary moment of silence, opening up a sense of rebirth and continuity, like a new season beginning from what has been sown and nurtured. At the HOTLIST 2025 gala, the artistic performances were not just for viewing, but for feeling and remembering. Through each melody and movement, the audience could touch upon Vietnamese identity in a contemporary, subtle, and emotionally rich way.
Meritorious Artist Thùy Anh presented three performances.
The solo performance of the erhu (Chinese two-stringed fiddle) "Horses on the Clouds" by Meritorious Artist Duong Thuy Anh.
The performance "The Essence of Pearls"
Through each melody and movement, the audience can touch upon Vietnamese identity in a contemporary, subtle, and emotionally rich way.
The Honor Ceremony:In the Golden Field - Walking amidst a sea of goldThis is an awards ceremony as part of the annual HOTLIST Travellive Editor's Pick 2025 project organized by Travellive Media Group. The theme is..."The journey from seed to rice"HOTLIST 2025 draws inspiration from the rice grain – a symbol of Vietnam's rice-based civilization and culture – to tell the story of the sustainable development of the tourism and hospitality industry. The program is structured around the journey of a rice plant's growth, from sowing and nurturing to harvesting, corresponding to the cycles of formation and development of each project and brand in the industry.
The Honor Ceremony: In the Golden Field gala night is the main highlight of the HOTLIST 2025 event.
"In the Golden Field"Therefore, it is not just a poetic image, but a symbol of the moment when people stand amidst the fruits of a long process of sowing and nurturing. In the context of tourism, that "golden sea" represents the destinations, experiences, people, and initiatives that have been forged through practice, and are now being recognized and celebrated. The awards ceremony is a tribute to the resilience of pioneering organizations and individuals – those who have overcome challenges, persevered in innovation, and created distinctive milestones for Vietnam's tourism industry.
Ms. Tran Thi Hoai Tram – Director of Hue City Department of Tourism (on the left) receives the title “Impressive Destination of 2025” at The Honor Ceremony – HOTLIST 2025.
Ms. Nguyen Cam Tu – Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Promotion Center (on the left) receives the title “Impressive Destination of 2025”.
At The Honor Ceremony 2025, the organizers awarded HOTLIST certificates to 42 reputable brands and organizations in the tourism and hospitality industry; 12 outstanding individuals representing various sectors of the tourism industry, from accommodation, travel, aviation to experiences and services; and 3 impressive destinations for 2025. This is a recognition of the innovative efforts, operational quality, sustainable development strategies, and positive contributions of these organizations and individuals in enhancing the image, competitiveness, and attractiveness of Vietnamese tourism.
At The Honor Ceremony 2025, the organizers awarded HOTLIST certificates to 42 reputable brands and organizations in the tourism and hospitality industry.
The selected categories reflect the diversity of Vietnam's tourism ecosystem, ranging from nature-themed hotels and resorts, art resorts, business and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) resorts, wedding venues, family vacations, wellness retreats, unique culinary experiences, innovative hotel models, pioneering projects, specially designed tours, luxury flight experiences, technology solutions, and environmentally friendly brands.
Travel blogger Vinh Gấu (Lê Viết Vinh) was named the winner in the Inspirational Influencer category.
In addition, HOTLIST 2025 also honored 10 inspiring travel figures of 2025, including: Tran Quang Vinh, Khoai Lang Thang, Travip, Quy Coc Tu, Tran Dang Dang Khoa, Tam Bui, Ly Thanh Co, Vinh Gau, Nhi Dang, and Fahoka Xe Dich. These individuals have a positive influence in spreading the spirit of exploration, telling destination stories, and promoting responsible tourism values. The recognition not only acknowledges their media appeal but also celebrates their dedication, experiences, and long-term commitment to the Vietnamese tourism industry.
The success of the HOTLIST 2025 event series is largely due to the support of our partners and sponsors. Diamond sponsor Ford Vietnam, venue sponsors such as Sheraton Hanoi West and JW Marriott Hotel & Suites Saigon, along with media and other partners, have contributed to creating a solid foundation for the program. In particular, the Insiders Forum series in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, featuring 36 speakers – experts and industry leaders – played a crucial role in fostering innovative thinking, opening dialogues, and accumulating knowledge throughout the entire journey.
The success of the HOTLIST 2025 event series is largely due to the support of our partners and sponsors, especially Ford Vietnam - the diamond sponsor of the event.
Concluding in a solemn and emotionally charged setting, The Honor Ceremony:In the Golden Field - Walking amidst a sea of goldThis is not just a night of honor, but a milestone recognizing a process of serious and persistent hard work. When the "seeds" of innovative thinking are sown through dialogue, experience, and responsibility, today's "golden sea" of achievements becomes an affirmation of a slower, deeper, and more sustainable development direction for Vietnamese tourism in the future.
