Jul 23, 2020
This year’s World’s Best Awards survey closed on March 2, just before widespread stay-at-home orders were implemented due to COVID-19. The results, therefore, reflect our readers’ experiences before the pandemic. We hope that this year’s honorees will inspire your trips to come—whenever they may be.
1. Hoi An, Vietnam
Undiscovered it is no longer, but little Hoi An, in central Vietnam, still overflows with quaintness, pops with color and even offers pockets of serenity now. Stroll its lantern-lit car-free downtown for local crafts, speedy tailors, chill wine bars and a mélange of cultural influences—Cham, Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese and Indian—leftover from its centuries as an important trading port. Straddling a river and a 15-minute cycle to the famous beaches south of Danang, the city has recently become a hub for foodies of the locavore, sustainable, community-minded variety.
Score: 90.52
Well-preserved streets lined with shophouses keep travelers returning to this picturesque city. Another plus: superb tailors who create bespoke suits and dresses.
See:
- Connect With Locals on a Photo Tour in Hoi An
- Central Vietnam Through the Eyes of a T+L Photographer
- Traversing Vietnam and Discovering History, Culture, and Top-Notch Resorts
2. Chiang Mai, Thailand
Score: 89.62
3. Kyoto, Japan
Score: 88.77
* On the list for the past 10 years
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4. Udaipur, India
Score: 88.49
5. Luang Prabang, Laos
Score: 88.17
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6. Ubud, Indonesia
Score: 88.16
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7. Bangkok, Thailand
Score: 87.91
* On the list for the past 10 years
See:
- Bangkok’s Multi-Stellar Michelin Masters
- 8 Photos That Make Us Miss the Bustle of Bangkok
- 7 Reasons You Should Explore Bangkok’s Thonburi Side
- 5 Michelin-Recommended Dishes in Bangkok You Can Actually Afford
8. Jaipur, India
Score: 87.87
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9. Tokyo, Japan
Score: 87.67
* On the list for the past 10 years
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10. Siem Reap, Cambodia
Score: 87.38
* On the list for the past 10 years
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