Viet Nam and Hong Kong are where travellers should get their first Asia experience, Canadian travel news site Mapped said.

A bowl of 'bun oc' (snail noodle soup), a favourite Ha Noi dish. — File Photo

Hong Kong offered a more modern experience while Viet Nam provided a more true and authentic taste of the Asian lifestyle, it said.

Food lovers should visit Ha Noi’s Dong Xuan Market, which offered a variety of food from a bowl of ‘pho’ to something like snail soup.

Visitors should also take a cruise through Ha Long Bay for jaw-dropping limestone landscapes and fairytale-like pictures of the Gulf of Tonkin, trek around Sa Pa to explore the vast golden rice fields and spend time on the beach or try out the scooter experience.

Viet Nam’s rising star in the global tourism firmament over the last decade has been affirmed by its consistent ranking in global lists by big-name travel publications like The Guardian, CNN, Lonely Planet, TripAdvisor, and Rough Guides.

According to its General Statistics Office, Viet Nam received 11.6 million foreign visitors in the first nine months of 2018, up 22.9% from last year.

Last year there had been 12.8 million visitors.

(Source: VNS)