Tower of the Goddess Poh Naga in Khanh Hoa province (Photo: Dang Tuan/ VNA)

UNESCO-recognized World Heritage site Hoi An won in the category of Asia's Leading Cultural City Destination. The capital of Hanoi became Asia’s Leading City Break Destination, while Ho Chi Minh City won in the category of Asia’s Leading Business Travel Destinations.

The World Travel Awards also honored Da Nang city as Asia’s Leading Festival & Event Destination, Vietnam Airlines as Asia’s Leading Airline Brand, as well as several hotels and tourist resorts in Vietnam.

This is the second time that Vietnam has been chosen as a destination for the gala ceremony following the first time in Phu Quoc, Kien Giang province. 

The WTA was launched in 1993 to acknowledge excellence in the travel and tourism industry. Heralded as the “travel industry’s equivalent of the Oscars” by the Wall Street Journal, the awards are based on votes from the public and travel professionals across the globe.