2 Vietnamese tourism villages listed among world’s best in 2025
DNO - The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has named two Vietnamese villages among the “Best Tourism Villages in the World 2025” for their excellence in sustainable rural tourism.
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The honourees are Lo Lo Chai Cultural Tourism Village in Ha Giang Province and Quynh Son Community-based Tourism Village in Lang Son Province. They were in the top 52 Communities Leading Tourism for Rural Development recognised by UN Tourism.
According to the website of UN Tourism at https://www.untourism on October 17, the two Vietnamese villages stood out among more than 270 entries from 65 countries, commended for their achievements in preserving cultural heritage, protecting natural landscapes, and advancing sustainable community-based tourism.
UN Tourism highlighted Lo Lo Chai and Quynh Son for their rich cultural and natural assets, along with their strong local commitment to sustainable tourism practices that enhance residents’ livelihoods while maintaining authenticity.
In this 5th edition, 52 villages from all regions - Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Middle East - received the recognition, selected from over 270 applications from 65 UN Tourism Member States.
UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili says: “Tourism can be a powerful tool to progress shared prosperity, inclusive growth and territorial cohesion in rural areas. Our Best Tourism Villages 2025 highlight communities that are working to safeguard their cultural heritage, preserve their natural resources and create economic opportunities through tourism. These villages show that by embracing tourism, they can promote social inclusion and build a future where no one is left behind.”
To date, 5 Vietnamese villages have been recognized by UN Tourism: Thai Hai (Thai Nguyen), Tan Hoa (Quang Binh), Tra Que Vegetable Village (Da Nang), and the two new honorees, Lo Lo Chai and Quynh Son.
This milestone underscores Vietnam’s growing prominence in community-based tourism, showcasing how its rural destinations are becoming global models for sustainable and inclusive development.
The Best Tourism Villages by UN Tourism initiative launched in 2021, under the UN Tourism for Rural Development Programme, accelerates the role of tourism in rural development by valuing and safeguarding rural areas along with their associated landscapes, knowledge systems, biological diversity and cultural heritage.
Earlier this week, the UNESCO Global Geopark Dong Van Karst Plateau, located in Tuyen Quang Province, has been honoured as Asia’s Leading Cultural Destination 2025 by the World Travel Awards (WTA).
The accolade has been presented at the WTA Asia & Oceania Awards Ceremony in Hong Kong (China), recognising destinations that excel in preserving indigenous culture, promoting sustainable tourism and protecting natural ecosystems.