Together with Hoi An ancient town and Ho Chi Minh city, Hanoi is on the list of “The Best Cities for a Workation” that was recently released by the UK travel website Holidu.

Hanoi in early winter. Photo: Khanh Huy

Holidu’s Workcation Index for 2021 ranked 150 cities as working vacation destinations based on factors ranging from the monthly rent on a one-bedroom apartment and cost of after-work drinks to average hours of sunshine, wi-fi speeds and the number of “things to do” rated four stars or above.

“We compiled the index by analyzing a variety of factors that every wanderlusting remote worker will deem important, and we then identified which cities around the world rank the best for these factors,” Holidu stated.

Accordingly, Hanoi is ranked 18th, followed by Ho Chi Minh City (21st) and Hoi An (32nd).

Meanwhile Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh are renowned as the fast-developing economic hubs of Vietnam, Hoi An ancient town is a travel heaven for unwind and relax.

According to the Holidu’s statistic, the average cost of a meal at a moderate restaurant in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Hoi An is £1.25 pounds (about US$1.7),  £1.57 (US$2.1), £1.33 (US$1.82) respectively.

Hanoi Old Quarter Area before Covid-19 pandemic. Photo collector: Pham Ngoc Anh

“Compared to many other cities in the world, the Wifi speed in these three cities of Vietnam is not the best, but the cost of eating and drinking is much lower,” according to Holidu.

Earlier, Hanoi also ranked second in top 10 honeymoon cities in Asia by The Travel. The “thousands of years old” capital of Vietnam boasts significant historical and cultural values.

Besides, Hanoi is the second finest destination in Asia, which can provide everything that “a worktation traveler could ask for”, including ancient temples, museums, and shopping centers.

The city of Bangkok, Thailand tops the list this year, followed by New Delhi (India), Lisbon  (Portugal) and Barcelona (Spain).

‘Workation’, as the word suggests, is ‘Work’ + ‘Vacation’ and involves working away from office, blending leisure with business.

While not a completely new concept, it seems to garner the attention of travelers worldwide after pandemic.

A workation allows you to spend more time visiting faraway family members or really exploring a destination without having to drain all of your annual leave.

And, whilst the concept was a ‘thing’ long before the coronavirus pandemic, it’s now become an option for more people with the rise in remote working.