Hello, a UK weekly magazine has just named Hanoi the number one city on its seven best destinations in Asia for backpackers.

Tran Quoc Pagoda, Thanh Nien road, Tay Ho district, Hanoi. Photo: Hello Magazine.

Ideal for travelers on a tight budget, Vietnam's capital city is one of the cheapest destinations for backpackers. “Not only is accommodation and food reamarkably affordable, but you’ll be spoiled for choice of things to see and do in the city, which has a mix of Southeast Asian, Chinese and French influences,” Hello magazine wrote.

Hoan Kiem Lake, Hai Ba Trung Temple and Hoa Lo Prison Museum are just three of the popular attractions, while backpackers often spend their evenings gathered at Bia Hoi (draft beer) bars across Hanoi, where you’ll find the cheapest beer in the world, the magazine added.

On the list, Hanoi is followed by Luang Prabang (Laos), Pokhara (Nepal), Phnom Penh (Cambodia), Bangkok (Thailand), Kuta (Bali), and Singapore.

The number of tourists to Hanoi in the first half of 2018 was estimated at 13.1 million, up 10 per cent from the same period last year. The city received about three million foreign tourists in the period, up 26 per cent year on year, according to the municipal Department of Tourism.

The number of domestic tourists to Hanoi in the first half of this year was estimated at 10 million, up 6 per cent year on year. Total revenue from tourism is estimated at more than VND 39 trillion (USD 1.7 billion), up 9.3 per cent from the same period last year.

Foreign holidaymakers to Hanoi came from 190 countries and territories, including Western Europe, Australia, North America, Eastern Europe, Northeast Asia, etc. China, South Korea, Japan, France, the U.S., the UK, Australia, Thailand, Taiwan (China), Malaysia, Singapore and Canada are the largest sources of visitors to the city. Among them, China, South Korea and Japan are currently the largest visitor-generating markets for Hanoi’s tourism./.

VNF/Hanoitimes