"It’s rising in popularity on social media, so it won’t stay a hidden gem for too long. Go while it still offers a very authentic northern Vietnam experience," Forbes said.

Tourists take boat rides through ripen paddy fields in Ninh Binh.

Situated around two hours from Hanoi, Ninh Binh was home to the ancient capital of Hoa Lu during the reign of the Dinh Dynasty (968-980).

It was overlooked by foreign tourists for years until "Kong: Skull Island" was filmed there, giving the area a global reputation.

Forbes editors recommended tourists rent a bike to travel through rice fields or hike limestone mountains for incredible views.

A two-hour boat tour winding down paddy fields and stunning caves costs VND150,000 ($6.39) and requires at least four passengers for a trip.

Ninh Binh’s special cuisine, mountain goat meat, was also recommended.

"The most famous dishes include goat soup, grilled goat meat with five spices and steamed goat meat with ginger," Forbes said.

Other Asian destinations featured on the list include Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong and Rajasthan in India.

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Booking.com names Vietnam’s top 10 friendliest destinations

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Vietnam becomes favourite destination for RoK, Japanese and China’s Taiwanese tourists

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Two Vietnamese cities, Ho Chi Minh City and Hoi An, have been listed among the Top 6 ASEAN destinations winning TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Best of The Best 2023 Awards.

Source: VnExpress