The World Travel Awards (WTA) announced the results for its Asian categories at the Asia, Oceania, and Indian Ocean awards ceremony, held in Maldives on 27/9.

Ta Xua was awarded the title of Asia's Leading Emerging Tourism Destination 2026. This marks the first time a destination in Vietnam's Northwest region has been nominated and won in this category.

In this year's nomination round, Ta Xua competed against six destinations: Ninh Binh (Vietnam), Koh Kood (Thailand), Melaka (Malaysia), Morioka (Japan), Sumba Island (Indonesia), and Taipei (Taiwan).

This win marks the fourth consecutive year Vietnam has had a destination triumph in this category, following Ha Giang in 2023, Ha Nam in 2024, and Ninh Binh in 2025.

Ta Xua is located about 200 km from Hanoi, nestled in the high mountains of Son La province, and is known for its captivating cloud hunting experiences. The prime cloud season typically runs from October to April, drawing visitors for trekking and relaxation.

Beyond its mountain vistas and "sea of clouds" phenomenon, Ta Xua also boasts natural forests, ancient Shan Tuyet tea trees, and the distinct cultural heritage of the Hmong community.

In 2025, Ta Xua welcomed approximately 130,000 visitors, including over 3,100 international tourists, generating an estimated 75 billion VND in tourism revenue. For the first six months of this year, the region recorded about 56,000 visitors and revenue of approximately 54 billion VND. Ta Xua aims to attract 120,000 visitors and achieve around 120 billion VND in tourism revenue by the end of this year.

Tourists check in at a flower garden in Ta Xua on 27/9. Photo: Quang Anh

Tourists check in at a flower garden in Ta Xua on 27/9. Photo: Quang Anh

Also at the 27/9 awards ceremony, Moc Chau National Tourist Area, located in Son La, was recognized by WTA as Asia's Leading Regional Nature Destination 2026, marking its fifth consecutive year receiving this prestigious title.

The World Travel Awards, established in 1993, is an annual event that honors excellence across destinations, businesses, and services within the tourism industry. The 2026 edition marks the 33rd season of the awards.

Beyond Ta Xua and Moc Chau, several other Vietnamese destinations also received accolades at this year's ceremony: Vietnam was named Asia's Leading Destination, Hanoi received Asia's Leading City Break Destination, and Phong Nha - Ke Bang was recognized as Asia's Leading National Park.

By Mai Phuong (According to WTA)