Hanoi is the most affordable city for art and culture on the list, “With 82 percent of locals ranking the Vietnamese capital highly for affordability” and free itineraries that make cultural life accessible.  

“What's charming about modern, youthful Hanoi is that the past is never far away,” the magazine wrote, citing writer Joey Gann. The capital city’s appeal lies in its harmonious blend of tradition and modernity. 

Time Out’s list was compiled based on a global survey of 18,500 residents across various cities on their local cultural scenes. Each city was scored according to the quality and affordability of its cultural offerings. The top-scoring cities in each country made the longlist, after which Time Out’s culture editors selected their favorites.