Vietnam's national tourism authority has nominated 5 domestic villages for UN Tourism's 2026 "Best Tourism Villages" list. From northern mountains to central highlands to south-central coastline, the chosen locations share neither terrain nor way of life. Stepping off the classic Ha Long Bay–Hue route, where should you head next? We break down the appeal of Cat Cat, Huu Lien, Bay Mau, Mang Den, and Lo Village, along with how to get there from Japan.
The 5 nominated villages and UN Tourism's selection
UN Tourism's "Best Tourism Villages" recognizes rural, mountain, and fishing villages that sustain tourism while preserving their landscape, culture, and livelihoods, with conservation of local resources and resident involvement as the core judging criteria. This time, Vietnam's nominees range from ethnic minority terraced-field settlements to a fishing village with 400 years of history. What the 5 villages have in common is that they showcase residents' everyday lives, rather than large tourist facilities.
Cat Cat (Lao Cai) — 3km from Sapa, terraced fields and handicrafts of the Black Hmong
A Black Hmong settlement about 3km south of central Sapa, down a road that descends toward the valley. Stone-paved paths wind down the slope into the valley, flanked on both sides by terraced rice fields. Weaving linen and carving silver are handicrafts still woven into daily life here.
You can get there on a 30–40 minute downhill walk, or by taxi, motorbike, or trekking tour. On a clear day, the full sweep of the terraced fields opens up along the way. From Hanoi, it's a 5–6 hour train, car, or bus ride to reach Sapa via Lao Cai. The feel of settling into a village near Sapa for a while also comes through ina record of a Filipino painter's 10-month stay in a Sapa village.
Huu Lien (Lang Son) — a valley that turns into a lake in the rainy season and grassland in the dry season
Located in the Huu Lien Nature Reserve in Huu Lung, Lang Son Province, within the Lang Son UNESCO Global Geopark. About 40 stilt-house-style homestays serve as the base for visitors, offering kayaking on Nong Dun Lake and camping in the valley. Accommodation is mostly simple homestays, with private rooms available from around $10 a night.
Nearby, the Dong Lam grassland floods during the rainy season from July to October, turning into a full lake known as the "Ha Long Bay of the Northeast." In the dry season it reverts to grassland, used for horseback riding and camping. It's about 3 hours by car from Hanoi. In the same mountainous stretch of Lang Son, autumn also brings food-focused trips for picking grapes and chestnuts (3 hours from Hanoi: a harvest-picking trip in Lang Son）。
Bay Mau Nipa Palm Forest (near Hoi An) — waterways explored by basket boat
A nipa palm forest spread across the brackish estuary of the Thu Bon River, about 3–4km from Hoi An's old town. Administratively it now falls under Da Nang. Narrow waterways twist through the forest like a maze, navigated by round bamboo basket boats (thung chai).
Basket boat tours began in 2009, and the boatmen's trick of spinning the boat like a top has become a signature feature. A ride takes about 30–45 minutes, with entry costing 30,000 dong (roughly ¥180) plus around 150,000 dong (roughly ¥880) per boat, which seats 2 passengers plus a rower. Mornings, when the sun is gentler and the waterways stay cool, are the most comfortable time to visit. It's also easy to combine with a half-day stroll through Hoi An's old town, given how close it is.
Mang Den (Central Highlands) — treehouses up among the branches and misty pine forests
A highland village in the former Kon Tum, now under Quang Ngai Province following administrative restructuring. At an elevation of roughly 1,100–1,200m, its pine forests, lakes, and waterfalls give it a cool climate that has earned it the nickname "the second Da Lat."
Along the shore of Dak Ke Lake, treehouses built up on tree trunks and stilts line the water. Ziplining, cycling, and forest meditation are all on offer. The nearest airport is Pleiku, from which it's about a 120km drive along mountain roads. It suits an itinerary built around escaping the heat in a high-elevation forest.
Lo Village (Dak Lak / former Phu Yen) — a fishing village where palm-lined lanes lead to the sea
A 400-year-old fishing village in Hoa Hiep ward, Dak Lak Province (formerly Phu Yen), about 13km south of Tuy Hoa. Red-tiled houses line roughly 182 hectares of land, and narrow lanes shaded by rows of palm trees run straight down to the sandy beach and sea. Colorful basket boats and a quiet beach define the village.
There are about 72 places to stay. Resident-led tourism development has progressed since 2023, and seaside homestays and small cafés have gradually increased. The seafood of former Phu Yen has a strong local character — a dish of braised tuna eyeballs even went viral in a video by a foreign resident (braised tuna eyeballs, known as the "headlights of the sea"). The nearest airport is Tuy Hoa.
What links the 5 villages: tourism that offers up everyday life as it is
Lined up together, the scenery couldn't be more different — mountain terraces, a geopark valley, an estuary palm forest, a highland forest, a coastal fishing village. But what's shown to visitors is similar everywhere. Rowing a boat, watching weaving, walking red-tiled lanes — the focus isn't on polished facilities, but on residents' handiwork and livelihoods. The accommodations, too, are mostly homestays rather than large resorts, which lines up with UN Tourism's selection criteria that emphasize conservation and resident participation. For Japanese travelers, these read less as places to simply look at and more as places to join in with your hands and feet.
Planning a trip from Japan — starting points and seasonal guide
For the northern villages of Cat Cat and Huu Lien, Hanoi is the starting point. Sapa is 5–6 hours away by train or bus, and Huu Lien is about 3 hours by car, so a few nights out of Hanoi can cover both the mountains and the grassland. For central Bay Mau, fly into Da Nang and head to Hoi An, pairing it with the old town for a half-day visit. Mang Den means driving mountain roads from Pleiku Airport. For south-central Lo Village, Tuy Hoa Airport is closest, with the sea just 13km south of the city center.
The best season varies by location. Huu Lien's grassland flips character between the rainy season (July–October), when it becomes a lake, and the dry season, when it's for horseback riding. The coastal Lo Village and Bay Mau are easiest to visit when rain is light, while Mang Den, at higher elevation, stays cool year-round. Choosing your timing around the scenery you want to see is the safest bet.
Sources
VnExpress International — Vietnam nominates 5 candidates for World’s Best Tourism Village
VOV World — 5 Vietnamese villages to apply for UN Tourism’s Best Tourism Villages 2026
Tuoi Tre News — Fishing village in Vietnam’s Dak Lak nominated for world’s best tourism village award
