A corner of Hoan Kiem Lake in the heart of Hanoi (Photo: VNA)

The awards reveal where travelers ventured in 2020, while travel was open, and where they dreamed of going while the COVID-19 pandemic kept them stuck at home.

“The charming Vietnamese capital has aged well, preserving the Old Quarter, monuments and colonial architecture, while making room for modern developments alongside,” wrote the world's largest travel platform.

It added that Hanoi may have changed its names several times, including Thang Long, or "ascending dragon," but the capital city hasn't forgotten its past, as sites such as President Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and Hoa Lo Prison attest.

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

Destinations which came before Hanoi in the rankings included Bali (Indonesia), London (the UK), Dubai (the United Arab Emirates), Rome (Italy) and Paris (France).

Vietnam’s ancient city of Hoi An in central Quang Nam province occupied the 11th spot.