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

A bowl of bun oc (snail noodle soup), a favourite Hanoi dish (File Photo)

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

Food lovers should visit Hanoi’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.

Vietnam’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, Vietnam received 11.6 million foreign visitors in the first nine months of 2018, up 22.9 percent from last year.

In 2018, Vietnam aims to serve 16 million international tourists and 80 million domestic holidaymakers.-VNS