Hanoi has surpassed many of its neighbors, including Singapore, Bangkok, and Phnom Penh, to be named Asia’s second-best street food city, according to British magazine Time Out.
Asia is widely regarded as the epitome of street food, consistently ranked among the world’s best- just ask Michelin.
Picture sizzling woks ablaze, tiny red plastic stools, and the tantalizing aroma wafting through the air. The following list of Asia’s top 10 culinary cities was selected by the renowned British travel magazine Time Out.
1. Penang, Malaysia
A cultural blend of Malay, Chinese, Peranakan, and Indian influences, Penang boasts a long list of must-try specialties, including char kuey teow (stir-fried noodles), assam laksa (a tangy noodle soup), roti canai (Indian flatbread), and hokkien mee (prawn noodle soup). Ask locals for the best place to try each dish, and you’ll always get a different answer.
2. Hanoi, Vietnam
Vietnam’s capital is home to countless delicious dishes found in narrow alleys, along winding concrete steps, and in bustling street corners. There’s a long list of must-try foods, from banh mi and pho to banh cuon and bun cha.
3. Singapore
Singapore’s street food is so exceptional that UNESCO recognized it as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2020. With over 200 hawker centers to choose from, there are thousands of stalls offering signature dishes.
4. Mumbai, India
Exploring Mumbai’s street food isn’t for the faint of heart or stomach, but be bold—your taste buds will thank you. Influences from local Maharashtrians, South Indians, the British, and Portuguese have shaped this diverse culinary scene.
5. Chiang Mai, Thailand
It’s hard to have a bad meal in Chiang Mai. The northern capital of Thailand is famous for Lanna cuisine, especially its bold flavors and spices, such as spicy sausages and chili-laden dishes, with dozens of night markets to explore around the city’s ancient walls.
6. Tainan, Taiwan
This ancient city is known as the birthplace and culinary capital of Taiwan. Here, beloved beef soup recipes have been perfected over centuries and passed down through generations. A simple rule when visiting: wander the alleys, pass under hanging red lanterns and street art, and join any long queue you see—the best food is there.
7. Osaka, Japan
Nicknamed the “kitchen of Japan,” Osaka is a dream destination for food lovers seeking affordable eats like takoyaki (octopus balls) and okonomiyaki (savory Japanese pancakes).
8. Bangkok, Thailand
Bangkok is famous for its mouthwatering street food, from the world-renowned crab omelet at Jay Fai to trays of mango sticky rice. Banthat Thong Road offers nearly every Thai dish your appetite could desire.
9. Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Often underrated as a street food destination, Phnom Penh’s culinary scene is about much more than fried tarantulas and scorpions. Local highlights include amok, Cambodia’s signature dish made from freshwater fish mixed with coconut curry and steamed in banana leaves, and num pang with pâté—a fresh, addictive Cambodian take on the banh mi.
10. Chengdu, China
The heart of Sichuan cuisine, Chengdu is a UNESCO-recognized City of Gastronomy, famed for its fiery, tongue-numbing chili dishes.
Gia Lai province will promote its tourism potential at the Vietnam International Travel Mart (VITM) 2026, which opens in Hanoi on April 10, positioning itself ahead of its role as host of the National Tourism Year 2026.
Quy Nhon, a coastal city in central Vietnam, is gaining international recognition for its clean environment, relaxed lifestyle and growing appeal among repeat foreign visitors, positioning itself as an emerging destination in Southeast Asia.
Community-based tourism is expanding across Vietnam, emerging as a key driver of rural development by improving local livelihoods while preserving cultural identity.
A local content creator is reshaping how audiences experience Vietnam’s Central Highlands, using visual storytelling to promote the culture and landscapes of Gia Lai Province.
A growing number of international tourists are heading to Vietnam’s Central Highlands to experience hands-on farming, as agricultural tourism gains traction in the region.
Gia Lai province stepped up efforts to boost its summer tourism market at the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Festival, showcasing destinations, cultural experiences and promotional offers to attract visitors in 2026.
After hours of trekking through dense forests and steep terrain, visitors reaching the 1,748-metre summit of Kon Ka Kinh are rewarded with sweeping views of untouched greenery and drifting clouds, underscoring the growing appeal of Kon Hà Nừng Biosphere Reserve as a leading ecotourism destination.
A delegation of foreign ambassadors and consuls visited Banh It Tower in Gia Lai province in late March, promoting the locality’s cultural heritage and tourism potential to the international community.
Phu Cuong Waterfall in Gia Lai province is gaining prominence as a key eco-tourism destination, drawing visitors with its dramatic basalt cliffs, seasonal beauty and pristine natural setting during National Tourism Year 2026.
Gia Lai is advancing a strategy to develop tourism by leveraging a coastal-highland corridor, aiming to create distinctive, culturally rich travel experiences and strengthen interregional connectivity.
Authorities and tourism stakeholders in Vietnam’s Central Highlands province of Gia Lai are promoting a “forest-to-sea” tourism model as a strategic driver for growth during National Tourism Year 2026, aiming to combine highland and coastal experiences into a single journey.
A French visitor from Corsica has found an unexpected sense of belonging in Vietnam’s Central Highlands, drawn by the fragrance of coffee blossoms, fresh air and the region’s unhurried pace of life.
Gia Lai authorities on March 25 outlined preparations for the National Tourism Year 2026, announcing a wide-ranging programme of 244 events and calling for strong media coordination to promote the province’s tourism potential.
Residents living at the foot of Chư Đang Ya volcano in Gia Lai province are preparing to welcome an expected surge of visitors during National Tourism Year 2026, offering a blend of natural landscapes, traditional culture and community-based experiences.
Authorities and tourism stakeholders in Vietnam’s Central Highlands province of Gia Lai are developing immersive coffee farm tours, aiming to launch them as a flagship product for National Tourism Year 2026.
Gia Lai authorities have completed a final review of preparations for the Opening Week of the National Tourism Year 2026, as the province gears up to host a series of high-profile events aimed at promoting tourism and investment.
The second Tà Má Stream Wild Azalea Festival will take place on March 21 in Hà Ri village, Vĩnh Thịnh commune, offering visitors a blend of natural scenery and Bahnar Kriêm cultural traditions.
Gia Lai province is aiming to welcome 15 million visitors in 2026 and generate VND 35 trillion (about USD 1.4 billion) in tourism revenue, as local authorities and industry leaders prepare to convene a major forum to accelerate the sector’s growth.
(GLO) – Nestled amid the rolling mountains and forests, the Ia Ly Hydropower Dam curves gracefully like a bow, embracing the deep blue reservoir. From this monumental energy project, a series of new destinations have emerged, offering a wealth of fresh experiences that captivate visitors.
The afternoon of March 5 in Hanoi, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ngo Le Van and Vice Chairwoman of the Gia Lai Provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich co-chaired an international press conference on the National Tourism Year - Gia Lai 2026.
Two of Đak Rong’s most remote waterfalls, Kon Bông and Kon Lốc, are drawing attention for their unspoiled landscapes and striking geological formations, offering a rare look at the raw beauty of Vietnam’s Eastern Trường Sơn range.
Vietnam recorded around 14 million tourist arrivals during the nine-day Bính Ngọ Lunar New Year 2026 holiday, marking a 12% increase from the same period last year, according to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism.
Gia Lai welcomed an estimated 848,000 visitors during the 2026 Bính Ngọ Lunar New Year, generating tourism revenue of 900 billion VND (approx. USD 36 million), according to the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The Guardian, a British newspaper, has released a list of the four 'most outstanding' cities in the Asia-Pacific region that are best suited for purposeful travel trends in 2026.
