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 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.
Gia Lai is positioning itself for a significant tourism surge as Vietnam prepares to host National Tourism Year 2026, an event expected to draw 15 million visitors and generate VND 35 trillion (approximately USD 1.4 billion) in tourism revenue, up 20.7% from 2025.
Authorities in Gia Lai province have completed key preparations for the opening week of National Tourism Year 2026, with officials emphasising safety, logistics and visitor management ahead of the main event on March 28.
A growing network of eco-friendly farmstays in Vietnam’s Central Highlands province of Gia Lai is attracting visitors seeking tranquility, cultural immersion and nature-based experiences, as the locality prepares for National Tourism Year 2026.
(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.
Gia Lai Province and the Vietnam Tourism Association have agreed on a series of strategic cooperation initiatives to prepare for Vietnam’s National Tourism Year 2026.
Drifting beneath honey-gold light on a late-year afternoon, Bien Ho Lake in Gia Lai province reveals itself as a serene meeting point of sky and water, where the highlands seem to pause on the threshold of spring.
(GLO) – On the afternoon of February 13, the People’s Committee of Nhơn Châu Commune held a grand inauguration ceremony for the decorative installation and the cluster of mascots welcoming the Year of the Horse 2026, creating a vibrant highlight for the island commune’s festive New Year atmosphere.
Quy Nhon is expanding community-based initiatives and developing new tourism products as the coastal city works to preserve its “ASEAN Clean Tourist City” title and prepare for major opportunities linked to National Tourism Year 2026.
Quy Nhon received the “ASEAN clean tourist city 2026” title at the ASEAN Tourism Awards on January 30, held during the 45th ASEAN Tourism Forum at the Nustar Convention Center in Cebu City.
Gia Lai is preparing for a sharp rise in visitor numbers during the nine-day Lunar New Year holiday in 2026, as the province readies to host Vietnam’s National Tourism Year 2026. Authorities and businesses say the festive season is expected to kick-start a vibrant year for local tourism.
Gia Lai authorities on Wednesday called for intensified preparations for National Tourism Year - Gia Lai 2026, urging all units to strictly follow the approved plan and ensure high-quality communication efforts to attract domestic and international visitors.
Tourism products from Gia Lai Province are attracting significant visitor interest at the ongoing 2026 Spring Fair in Hanoi, offering distinctive Central Highlands experiences and contributing to the promotion of the province ahead of the National Tourism Year.
Gia Lai Province will promote its cultural identity and tourism potential in Hanoi on February 1 - 2 during “Gia Lai Day,” held as part of the “Hanoi Tourism welcomes 2026 - Get on Hanoi 2026” program.
Gia Lai province introduced its tourism potential and the theme of National Tourism Year 2026 at the “Gia Lai Day in Hanoi” event held Friday on Trinh Cong Son Street in Tay Ho District, aiming to boost national and international visibility for the Central Highlands locality.
Pleiku Ward on January 30 officially launched “Chợ Nhỏ Night Street,” a new cultural and tourism space designed to stimulate the local night-time economy and expand community-based activities.
Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has approved the project for National Tourism Year 2026, confirming the title “National Tourism Year - Gia Lai 2026”, with the English name “Visit Viet Nam Year - Gia Lai 2026”.
The Secretary of the Party Committee of Pleiku Ward, Nguyen Xuan Phuoc, inspected final preparations on January 27 for the opening ceremony of the “Cho Nho night street” event, scheduled for January 30.
Wild apricot and đỗ mai blossoms are transforming the mountains of Vietnam’s Gia Lai province, while vibrant green moss carpets the coastal villages to the east, creating contrasting scenes that signal the arrival of spring across the Central Highlands.
Rubber forests across Gia Lai are reaching the height of their annual leaf-shedding season, transforming vast highland areas into sweeping vistas of yellow, red and brown beneath the rotating blades of nearby wind turbines.