(TITC) – On September 27, the World Travel Awards 2026 for Asia, Oceania and the Indian Ocean were held in the Maldives. Vietnam was once again honored with two major titles: Asia’s Leading Destination 2026 and Asia’s Leading Heritage Destination 2026.
Notably, this marks the eighth time Vietnam has received the title of Asia’s Leading Destination and the fourth time it has been named Asia’s Leading Heritage Destination, further highlighting the appeal of Vietnam as a destination at one of the international tourism industry’s prestigious awards.
Graham Cooke, Founder, World Travel Awards, said: “It has been a privilege to host our Asia, Oceania & Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony 2026 in the Maldives, one of the world’s most iconic destinations. Tonight we have celebrated the leading lights of travel across Asia, Oceania and the Indian Ocean. Our winners represent the very best in tourism excellence, and I congratulate each and every one for raising the benchmark of achievement across this remarkable region.”
A strong showing from major cities to emerging destinations
Beyond the national-level accolades, numerous Vietnamese localities and destinations also earned recognition in key categories at the World Travel Awards 2026, underscoring the growing diversity of Vietnam’s tourism appeal, from major cities and event hubs to destinations known for their natural landscapes, culture and heritage sites.
Hanoi was named Asia’s Leading City-break Destination. Ho Chi Minh City continued to demonstrate its strength in urban tourism, receiving two titles: Asia’s Leading Festival and Events Destination and Asia’s Leading Business Travel Destination. The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism was honored as Asia’s Leading Tourist Board.
Among emerging destinations, Son La Province had two representatives recognized: Ta Xua as Asia’s Leading Emerging Destination and Moc Chau as Asia’s Leading Regional Natural Destination.
Meanwhile, Phong Nha – Ke Bang was once again named Asia’s Leading National Park, while Tam Chuc received the title of Asia’s Leading Cultural Tourist Attraction.
These results highlight that Vietnam’s tourism strengths are no longer concentrated in a single group of products, but are increasingly reflected across a broad range of experiences, from culture, heritage and nature to leisure, urban tourism, events and business travel.
Vietnamese tourism brands earn further recognition
Alongside destinations, numerous well-known Vietnamese tourism brands in hospitality, resorts, aviation and travel services were also honored in leading Asian categories at the World Travel Awards 2026.
Vietnam Highlights Tour – 9 Days: Heritage & Nature Adventure
They included Sun Group as Asia’s Leading Integrated Tourism Group; Sunset Town Phu Quoc as Asia’s Leading Tourism Development Project; Vietnam Airlines as Asia’s Leading Airline – Customer Experience and Asia’s Leading Airline – Premium Economy Class; Van Don International Airport as Asia’s Leading Regional Airport; Ha Long International Cruise Port as Asia’s Leading Cruise Port; Vietravel as Asia’s Leading Tour Operator; Sun World Ba Na Hills as Asia’s Leading Theme Park; InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort as Asia’s Leading Luxury Resort; Salinda Resort Phu Quoc as Asia’s Leading Boutique Resort; and Premier Village Phu Quoc Resort as Asia’s Leading Villa Resort…
The simultaneous recognition of destinations, tourism authorities and tourism service providers at the World Travel Awards reflects the increasingly diverse ecosystem underpinning Vietnam’s tourism competitiveness, with destination quality complemented by the capacity to deliver high-quality services and experiences to visitors.
Another milestone in Vietnam’s tourism competitiveness
Vietnam’s continued recognition at the World Travel Awards 2026 comes as the country’s tourism competitiveness continues to make positive progress in international rankings.
On September 25, the World Economic Forum (WEF) released the Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026 (TTDI), in which Vietnam climbed seven places to rank 52nd out of 110 economies. Vietnam performed strongly across several indicator groups, including Cultural Resources, Natural Resources and Non-Leisure Resources.
While the TTDI provides a comprehensive assessment of the conditions and capacity underpinning tourism development, the World Travel Awards continue to recognize the appeal of Vietnam and individual destinations from the perspective of the international tourism market.
Together, these achievements demonstrate that Vietnam’s tourism appeal is being recognized across an increasingly broad spectrum, from the national destination itself to cities, heritage and natural attractions, as well as tourism products and services, further strengthening Vietnam’s presence on the regional and international tourism map.
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