Returning to the nation for the 14th time, Australian reporter Ronan O’Connell wrote the article titled "Thrill and Chill", which introduces the seven top destinations throughout the nation this year, noting that the country has never stopped surprising him.

Being the most family-friendly city in Southeast Asia behind Singapore, Da Nang is modern, organised, clean, peaceful, has minimal traffic, and is hemmed in by natural splendour, with a sparkling coastline located to the east and verdant hills situated to the west.

Da Nang Cathedral, the Museum of Cham Sculpture, and the pretty Apec Park can be found only 3km inland from a 30km stretch of interrupted and attractive beaches, with these being among the top places tourists should not miss out on when travelling in Da Nang City.

The article also highlighted Hoi An, a UNESCO heritage site, where visitors should not forget to walk around in the evening to admire the shimmering ancient town basking in a colourful glow of thousands of paper lanterns. 

In Thua Thien-Hue province, what impressed Ronan O'Connell was not only the architecture and culture of the ancient capital, but also Lang Co Bay, where many of the pristine beaches still retain their essence and have yet to be commercialised.

Furthermore, the Australian author gave special compliments to the Vietnamese capital, stating that, “Hanoi may just be Asia’s finest city.” Indeed, few places can compete with its rewarding blend of ancient sites, art galleries, energetic night-life, splendid parks, memorable food, and extraordinary value.

For US$200 a day in Hanoi, travelers can stay at a five-star hotel, eat three superb meals, catch taxis all over town, and visit multiple attractions. In contrast, trying to replicating a similar feat in Tokyo, Singapore, or Hong Kong (China) would be difficult for any less than US$500, he shared.

Moreover, the writer gave a special mention of Sa Pa, which can be found 250km northwest of Hanoi. Sa Pa’s natural beauty is mesmerising and the town is scattered across a mountainside and is situated above an emerald valley of rice terraces, he noted.

The Escape reported that the colourfully clothed Hmong, Giay, Tay, and Red Dao people were so taken by the local scenery that these hill tribes arrived here more than 300 years ago and never left.

Elsewhere, visitors to the country can enjoy interesting experiences in Ho Chi Minh City. Walking around and passing restaurants serving suon nuong pork chops, vendors wedging grilled meat into ‘banh mi’ (baguettes), and carts selling ‘banh xeo’ crêpes that bulge with prawns is a great activity for any foodie.