According to Condé Nast Traveller, Ho Chi Minh City is a must-visit destination for 2025, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Vietnam’s reunification and the launch of its new Metro Line 1.
Tourists will have the opportunity to experience new means of transportation and check-in beautiful photos with Metro Line 1 when coming to Ho Chi Minh City in 2025. Photo: Duy Hieu.
Experts note that narrowing down a list of top destinations for 2025 is no easy task. Most travel enthusiasts face a shared dilemma: an insatiable desire to explore everywhere, see everything, and marvel at the world’s diversity. Thus, chosen destinations must promise a sense of renewal, shaped by newly opened attractions, evolving cultural hubs, or emerging hotspots.
The U.S.-based publication highlights Ho Chi Minh City’s rise as a cultural hotspot in Southeast Asia, particularly as it marks 50 years since reunification—a milestone to be celebrated extensively next year.
In the rankings, Vietnam’s most populous city is recognized as one of the world’s fastest-growing tourism hubs, significantly surpassing its pre-pandemic records. There’s no better time to visit than in 2025, exactly 50 years after the Vietnam War ended in 1975. The city is gearing up for major events, exhibitions, and celebrations to commemorate half a century of national unity.
Italian tourists excitedly explore Ho Chi Minh City on the first day of the new year 2024. Photo: Linh Huynh.
Visitors arriving in Ho Chi Minh City in 2025 will benefit from new infrastructure, including Terminal 3 at Tan Son Nhat Airport, set to open that year, and Metro Line 1, scheduled to begin operations in December 2024.
Additionally, iconic landmarks like the Sheraton Saigon Grand Opera Hotel are undergoing renovations, while new establishments such as IHG’s Indigo Hotel and Kempinski Saigon River—designed by renowned architect Kengo Kuma—are poised to open soon.
Beyond its urban and tourism infrastructure, Ho Chi Minh City is celebrated as a cultural epicenter of Southeast Asia, renowned for its commerce, cuisine, and fashion. Local fashion brands like Fancì Club and Latui Atelier have gained traction among K-pop stars and Hollywood A-listers.
In 2023, the Michelin Guide launches in Vietnam, awarding its first star in the city to Anan Saigon. Chef Peter Cuong Franklin of Anan also opened Pot Au Pho, a restaurant dedicated to the Vietnamese classic, pho.
Despite its rapid modernization, Ho Chi Minh City—once known as the “Pearl of the Far East” during French colonial times—retains much of its old-world charm. From bustling markets to street vendors serving traditional dishes like hu tieu and banh mi, the city offers a harmonious blend of the new and the nostalgic.
The second Asian location on the Condé Nast Traveler list is Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad) in Uttar Pradesh, India, which ranked 18th. This cultural hub is known for its unique spiritual experiences.
Leading the rankings are destinations like the Ahr Valley (Germany), Alaska (USA), Cuba, Djerba Island (Tunisia), Maud Land (Antarctica), El Impenetrable National Park (Argentina), Emerald Coast (Nicaragua), the Faroe Islands, and Greenland.
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