HOTLIST 2025 honors three destinations: Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, and Quang Ninh.

Following the series of professional workshops, The Insiders Forum, held in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City as part of the HOTLIST Travellive Editor's Pick 2025 project by Travellive Media Group, The Honor Ceremony took place on the evening of January 19, 2026, at the JW Marriott Hotel & Suites Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), marking a significant milestone in honoring brands, destinations, and individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the development of Vietnam's tourism and hospitality industry.

Building on the success of previous seasons, HOTLIST 2025 is themed "The Journey from Seed to Rice" – a familiar symbol in Vietnamese culture, telling the long-term development story of brands, destinations, and individuals, from initial ideas and persistent investment to recognized achievements over time.

HOTLIST 2025 expands to seven major categories in the tourism industry, including: Hospitality; Aviation; Travel Design & Experiences; Destination; Technology & Innovations; Sustainability; and Community Projects & Voices. The HOTLIST selection process is conducted by the Travellive editorial team and a panel of expert advisors, offering a multi-faceted perspective and a focus on sustainable development. HOTLIST 2025 honors outstanding brands and individuals, while affirming the prestige and elevating the status of participating entities. Nominations will be evaluated based on criteria such as innovation, impact, relevance, and sustainability.

At The Honor Ceremony - HOTLIST 2025, three impressive domestic destinations for 2025 were named: Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, and Quang Ninh, recognizing their outstanding effectiveness in tourism promotion and sustainable tourism development. This is an acknowledgment of the efforts, achievements, and significant contributions of these localities to the overall development of Vietnamese tourism.

Speaking at The Insiders Forum in Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. Le Truong Hien Hoa, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, said: Ho Chi Minh City shared: "2025 marks the recovery and positive growth of the city's tourism with over 8 million international visitors, 45 million domestic visitors, and total revenue estimated at 279,000 billion VND, clearly demonstrating the development orientation towards professionalism, quality, and sustainability. In this context, HOTLIST 2025 is significant as it honors pioneering brands and individuals, contributing to elevating the image of Vietnamese tourism in general and Ho Chi Minh City in particular. Furthermore, the city's selection to host this series of events further affirms its position as a dynamic and integrated tourism center. Looking ahead to 2026, Ho Chi Minh City's tourism industry is committed to continuing to innovate, develop products with depth and rich identity, enhance the quality of experiences, and spread the image of an open and hospitable city."

Three domestic destinations were named in the HOTLIST 2025.

Ho Chi Minh City

In 2025, Ho Chi Minh City entered a period of socio-economic development with many positive signs, creating important momentum for the breakthrough of the tourism industry. The city welcomed more than 45 million domestic tourists and 8.5 million international tourists, affirming its role as a central hub connecting and attracting tourists with distinctive tourism products rich in historical and cultural value.

Inter-district and inter-county tourism routes such as "Go Mon," "A Green Corner of Saigon," "Saigon Commandos - Legendary Tunnels," and "Heritage Journey," linked to the Independence Palace, Cu Chi Tunnels, and the Can Gio Sac Forest War Zone, offer unique and rich experiences. The tourism program design competition commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of Southern Vietnam showcased six outstanding products, telling the story of development through three themes: a modern city blending rivers, forests, and seas; a cultural and culinary exchange across multiple regions; and a youthful, creative, and hospitable city. Major events such as the 21st Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Festival, ITE HCMC, the Orchid Festival, and the United Nations Vesak Celebration have attracted thousands of visitors, contributing to raising total tourism revenue in 2025 to over 278 trillion VND.

In particular, the "Find Your Vibes" communication campaign, with its promotional clip and the film "50 Flashes," helped the city make an international mark, winning the TPO BEST 2025 award and deeply connecting with tourists. Ho Chi Minh City also promoted inter-regional tourism, medical tourism, community tourism, ecotourism, and developed 39 sustainable tourist destinations, increasing its attractiveness while spreading cultural values ​​and affirming its role as the leading national tourism hub. These efforts not only extended the length of stay but also strengthened Ho Chi Minh City's position as a center connecting and spreading the rich beauty of Vietnamese destinations.

Hue

2025 marks a brilliant transformation for Hue, affirming its position as a destination with groundbreaking achievements in culture, sports, and tourism. As the host of the 2025 National Tourism Year with the theme "Ancient Capital - New Opportunities," the ancient capital of Hue has created momentum for breakthroughs, extensively promoting the image of the land and people of Hue to the world. This year also marks significant historical milestones: the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of Thua Thien Hue and Hue officially becoming the 6th centrally-governed city of Vietnam.

This new era opens up a vibrant cultural and tourism space with a series of outstanding events such as: the Opening Ceremony of the Hue National Tourism Year - 2025; the Hue - Culinary Capital Program; the 3rd Vietnam International Photography Festival - Hue 2025; the Wellness Tourism Week; the International Tea Festival; the “Hello Cosmo From Vietnam” Program; the “100 Flavors – Michelin-starred chefs” Program; the Closing Ceremony of the National Tourism Year and Hue - Mega Booming 2… alongside activities within the framework of the Hue Festival - 2025. In addition, the brands “Hue - Culinary Capital”, Hue - Vietnamese Ao Dai Capital; “Hue - Green and Sustainable Heritage Destination”… continue to be affirmed and promoted to preserve Hue's cultural heritage values ​​while enhancing the quality of the visitor experience. Hue's tourism industry is projected to achieve impressive results in 2025, with approximately 6.3 million visitors, including nearly 1.9 million international tourists. Total revenue is expected to exceed 13,000 billion VND, a more than 60% increase compared to 2024.

Video promoting Hue on CNN:

Quang Ninh

In 2025, Quang Ninh's tourism sector is expected to impress by welcoming over 21.28 million domestic tourists and 4.5 million international tourists, further solidifying its position as one of the leading destinations nationwide and a key growth driver for the Northeast region.

The most significant milestone is the official recognition of the Yen Tu – Vinh Nghiem – Con Son – Kiet Bac complex of historical sites and scenic spots by UNESCO at the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee (July 12, 2025, Paris). This is Vietnam's ninth World Heritage site, and also its second inter-provincial site, with Quang Ninh playing a central role with the sacred space of Yen Tu – the cradle of Truc Lam Buddhism founded by Emperor Tran Nhan Tong. This event not only elevates the unique cultural and spiritual value of Vietnam but also makes Quang Ninh a representative destination carrying the message of peace, harmony, and sustainability that UNESCO emphasizes.

Along with its newly recognized UNESCO heritage site, Quang Ninh has made its mark with a series of national and international events such as: Vietnam Tourism Day 2025, the Ha Long International Heritage Marathon achieving World Label status, a series of large-scale art concerts, and the procession of the relics of Buddha Shakyamuni at Yen Tu, attracting over one million Buddhists and tourists. These achievements affirm the outstanding appeal of Quang Ninh – a destination that combines heritage, unique nature, culture, and modern development.

Phuong Thao is an editor at Travellive magazine. She is passionate about traveling and enjoys capturing moments with her camera in every place she visits. Travel, art, and lifestyle are Phuong Thao's favorite writing topics.

PV