As the international travel season of 2026 gradually takes shape, Vietnam’s tourism industry continues to receive encouraging signals from the world’s most prestigious travel rankings and publications. Recently, The New York Times – one of the most influential newspapers in the United States – included Vietnam in its list of “52 Places to Go in 2026”, reaffirming the country’s increasingly prominent position on the global tourism map.
According to The New York Times, Vietnam impresses with its diverse landscapes, rich cultural depth, distinctive cuisine, and the dynamic development of its tourism cities. Being featured in this prestigious annual list is not only a recognition of Vietnam’s growing appeal, but also opens up new opportunities to attract high-quality international travelers in the coming years.
A Continuing Highlight from Da Nang – A Destination Recognized by AFAR
Earlier, at the end of December 2025, Da Nang was also honored by AFAR, one of the leading travel magazines in the United States, as one of the 24 most outstanding destinations in the world for 2026. In its feature, AFAR described Da Nang as “a rising coastal city of Southeast Asia,” where nature, culture, architecture, and modern urban life blend harmoniously.
The magazine particularly highlighted Da Nang’s outstanding advantages: a rare ecosystem of sea – mountains – and forests with its long coastline, the Marble Mountains and Son Tra Peninsula; an expanding international air network with new routes by Emirates and Philippine Airlines; the influx of high-end resort investments with the arrival of Nobu Hotel and Mandarin Oriental; and its role as a gateway connecting the Central Vietnam heritage corridor, including Hoi An, Hue, and My Son.
The city’s consecutive appearances in prestigious American travel rankings clearly demonstrate that Vietnam in general, and Da Nang in particular, are becoming increasingly visible and well-positioned on the global tourism stage.
Strong Opportunities from the U.S. and International Markets
The two major recognitions from The New York Times and AFAR are not merely media highlights, but also represent strategic opportunities for international markets – especially the United States, one of the most important and high-potential source markets for Vietnam and Da Nang.
For many years, American travelers have consistently been among the segments with long stays, high spending levels, and strong interest in beach resorts, golf, wellness, cultural and culinary experiences, as well as multi-destination heritage journeys. Recommendations from highly respected U.S. media outlets have a significant influence on travel decisions within this market.
Vietnam’s inclusion in the “Top 52 Places to Go in 2026” and Da Nang’s recognition by AFAR further strengthen market confidence, enhance destination branding, and align well with the ongoing expansion of international air connectivity, the continuous improvement of tourism infrastructure, and the rapid development of high-end tourism products.
Beyond the U.S. market, these honors also generate a strong ripple effect across international media, particularly in Europe, Australia, and English-speaking markets, where rankings by The New York Times and AFAR are widely cited and highly regarded. This provides a favorable foundation for Vietnam and Da Nang to intensify promotion and attract high-quality international visitors in 2026 and beyond.
Da Nang – A Strategic Destination in the Journey to Captivate Global Travelers
Within the broader landscape of Vietnam’s tourism in 2026, Da Nang is emerging as a strategic destination: a modern coastal city, a leading cultural and heritage hub, a gateway to Central Vietnam’s heritage sites, and an increasingly popular center for resort tourism, wellness, and golf.
The continuous recognition from prestigious international media serves as clear evidence of the city’s successful development strategy focused on enhancing product quality, services, and visitor experiences. At the same time, it represents a powerful springboard for Da Nang to further expand its markets – particularly in North America – and to strengthen its position on the global tourism map during its breakthrough phase in 2026.
DA NANG TOURISM PROMOTION CENTER
