Vietnam named the world's best winter sun destination for food lovers

According to the National Tourism Administration, Vietnam has just been listed among the world’s 20 best winter sun destinations for 2025 - 2026 as announced by the UK-based travel magazine Time Out.

Accordingly, Vietnam has earned the “Best for Food” designation thanks to its rich and diverse traditional cuisine, imbued with identity and unforgettable flavors, and remarkable accessibility with a variety of choices from affordable street food stalls to high-end restaurants.

The months from October to February of the following year are considered to be the ideal time for travelling to Vietnam. The cost of travel and accommodation in the country are “friendly” to visitors, being more economical than many other international tourist destinations.

Ha Noi, Da Nang’s Hoi An, and Ho Chi Minh City are among the can’t miss destinations in Vietnam.

Ha Noi appeals to international visitors with its small jazz bars, Old Quarter ambience, and vibrant street food scene. Meanwhile, Hoi An is mentioned for its signature ‘Cao Lau’ dish, its tranquility and peace, its centuries-old streets, and the charm of lanterns at night. Ho Chi Minh City brings the experience of vibrant nightlife in restaurants and cafes.

So what can travelers enjoy during a winter trip to Vietnam? According to Time Out experts, the northern region is where visitors can feel the winter atmosphere most vividly. In the cold weather, a steaming bowl of ‘pho’ will be the perfect dish. This dish has been hailed by CNN as “the world’s best soup”, whilst the Lonely Planet has listed Ha Noi’s ‘pho’ among its “50 must-try foods once in a lifetime”.

Other traditional dishes such as ‘bun thang’, ‘bun moc’, ‘bun bo’ and ‘bun ca’ are also loved by many international tourists when exploring Ha Noi in the winter.

The South China Morning Post once described ‘bun thang’ (vermicelli soup with chicken, pork sausage, mushroom, and turnip pickle) as “a delicate symphony of Vietnamese cuisine” with thin noodles, shredded chicken, julienned egg, and shiitake mushrooms harmonized in a clear, refined broth.

In particular, winter in Ha Noi is also inseparable from its warm desserts such as ‘che san’, and ‘banh troi tau’. CNN once included ‘banh troi tau’ in the list of “unique winter desserts in Asia”, highlighting the combination of the heat of ginger and the softness of chewy glutinous rice balls like a “small hug” on chilly days.

With such unforgettable flavors, Vietnam's winter is truly a very different emotional touchpoint to attract international tourists who love cuisine.