Ha Noi among world’s best destinations

Ha Noi

Ha Noi came eighth on the list of the 25 best global destinations, which were recently announced by travel website TripAdvisor.

The result was based on millions of reviews and opinions of travellers.

According to the website, the charming Vietnamese capital has aged well, preserving the Old Quarter, monuments and colonial architecture, while making room for modern developments.

Ha Noi may have shrugged off several former names, including Thang Long, or "ascending dragon," but it hasn't forgotten its past, as evidenced by sites such as Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and Hoa Lo Prison, it said.

Lakes, parks, shady boulevards and more than 600 temples and pagodas add to the appeal of this city, which is easily explored by taxi, according to the site.

Other must-see destinations included London (England), Istanbul (Turkey), Marrakech (Morocco) and Paris (France).