Vietnam Falls Out of Top Global Culinary Destinations in 2025: A Surprising Shift
On February 20, 2025, Tripadvisor unveiled its highly anticipated annual list of the world’s top culinary destinations, and Vietnam—a country long revered for its tantalizing cuisine—was conspicuously absent. For years, Vietnam had been a mainstay in the top 10, its vibrant food culture earning accolades from travelers and food enthusiasts alike. The news of its exclusion in 2025 has sent ripples through the culinary and tourism communities, raising questions about what this means for a nation synonymous with dishes like pho, banh mi, and goi cuon.
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A Legacy of Flavor
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Vietnam’s culinary reputation is built on a foundation of bold flavors, fresh ingredients, and a rich tapestry of regional traditions. From the steaming bowls of pho—a noodle soup featuring aromatic broth simmered with star anise, cinnamon, and either beef or chicken—to the crunchy banh mi sandwiches layered with pate, pickled carrots, cucumber, and fragrant cilantro, Vietnamese food has captivated palates worldwide. Add to that goi cuon, the delicate fresh spring rolls stuffed with shrimp, pork, rice vermicelli, and herbs, served with a tangy peanut dipping sauce, and it’s easy to see why Vietnam has been a gastronomic darling.
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The country’s cuisine reflects its history and geography: French colonial influences in the form of baguettes and broths, Chinese-inspired noodle dishes, and a Southeast Asian love for fish sauce, chilies, and tropical fruits. Whether it’s the bustling street stalls of Hanoi, the riverside eateries of Hoi An, or the vibrant night markets of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam has long offered an affordable and authentic food experience that’s hard to rival. A bowl of pho might cost just 30,000 VND (about $1.20 USD), yet it delivers a complexity of taste that rivals dishes ten times its price.
Tripadvisor’s Rankings: How They Work
Tripadvisor’s annual culinary destination rankings are no small affair. Compiled from millions of traveler reviews, ratings, and search trends on its platform, the list serves as a global barometer of where food tourism is thriving. Destinations are judged not just on the quality of their cuisine but also on factors like accessibility, variety, and the overall dining experience. In previous years, Vietnam’s consistent presence in the top tier—often alongside heavyweights like Italy, France, and Thailand—underscored its status as a must-visit for food lovers.
Cities like Hanoi, with its chaotic yet charming street food scene, and Hoi An, with its fusion of Vietnamese and international flavors, became poster children for culinary travel. Tourists raved about sipping ca phe sua da (sweetened condensed milk coffee) while nibbling on banh xeo (crispy rice pancakes filled with shrimp and bean sprouts) or sampling bun cha—grilled pork patties served with tangy fish sauce and noodles, famously enjoyed by former U.S. President Barack Obama during a visit to Hanoi in 2016. Vietnam’s exclusion from the 2025 list, then, feels like a seismic shift.
What Led to the Fall?
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The original Tripadvisor announcement, as reported by VN Express, doesn’t specify why Vietnam dropped off the list, leaving room for speculation. One possibility is the rise of new culinary contenders. Nations like Mexico, with its taco and mole-packed menus, or India, with its kaleidoscope of curries and breads, may have surged in popularity, buoyed by aggressive tourism campaigns or growing diaspora influence. Meanwhile, emerging destinations—think Portugal with its seafood stews or Indonesia with its spicy rendang—could be stealing the spotlight from more established players like Vietnam.
Another factor might be a shift in traveler priorities. As the world increasingly embraces sustainability, destinations touting farm-to-table dining, organic ingredients, or vegetarian-friendly options might be gaining favor over Vietnam’s meat-centric street food classics. Pho and bun bo Hue, while delicious, rely heavily on beef and pork, which may not align with the preferences of a growing eco-conscious audience. Additionally, the lack of a strong global marketing push could be to blame. While Japan promotes sushi through Michelin-starred restaurants and Thailand leverages its pad thai fame, Vietnam’s culinary ambassadors—beyond a few celebrity chef endorsements—may not have the same reach.
Over-tourism could also be eroding Vietnam’s charm. Popular food hubs like Hanoi’s Old Quarter or Hoi An’s ancient town have become overcrowded, with some arguing that the authenticity of the experience has been diluted. Where once a steaming bowl of pho was a quiet moment of connection with local culture, it’s now often accompanied by throngs of selfie-stick-wielding tourists and inflated prices. This commercialization might have soured some Tripadvisor reviewers, nudging Vietnam out of the rankings.
The Resilience of Vietnamese Cuisine
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Despite the setback, Vietnam’s culinary spirit remains unbroken. Local vendors, from the pho stalls of Hanoi to the banh mi carts of Da Nang, continue to serve up dishes with the same passion and precision that earned them fame in the first place. “Rankings come and go,” says Tran Van Minh, a street food vendor in Ho Chi Minh City with 20 years of experience. “But the people who sit at my stall every day—they know the food is still the best.”
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Tourism officials share this optimism. Vietnam welcomed millions of visitors in 2024, many drawn by its food, and early 2025 data suggests that trend is holding steady. The country’s culinary infrastructure—its markets brimming with fresh seafood, its rice paddies feeding noodle production, its herb gardens scenting every dish—remains a draw for those who prioritize taste over trends. International food bloggers and chefs have also rallied to Vietnam’s defense, arguing that Tripadvisor’s user-driven rankings don’t fully capture the depth of its offerings.
A Path Forward
Looking ahead, Vietnam has an opportunity to reclaim its culinary crown. The government could invest in showcasing its cuisine on a global stage—think pop-up pho stalls at the 2025 World Expo or partnerships with streaming platforms to produce documentaries on Vietnamese street food. Culinary tours could expand beyond the usual suspects, introducing travelers to lesser-known dishes like cao lau (a pork and noodle dish from Hoi An) or banh cuon (steamed rice rolls with minced pork and wood ear mushrooms).
Innovation might also play a role. Young Vietnamese chefs are already experimenting with fusion concepts—pho broths turned into ramen hybrids, banh mi reimagined as sliders—potentially broadening the cuisine’s appeal. At the same time, the classics endure, offering a timeless appeal that no ranking can erase. For every traveler who bypasses Vietnam based on Tripadvisor’s list, countless others will still seek out its chaotic markets, sizzling woks, and plastic-stool dining experiences.
A Feast Worth Discovering
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Vietnam’s fall from the 2025 Tripadvisor rankings may sting, but it doesn’t diminish its status as a culinary powerhouse. The country’s food tells a story—of resilience, creativity, and community—that transcends any list. Whether you’re slurping noodles under a Hanoi banyan tree, dipping spring rolls in a Ho Chi Minh City alley, or savoring a warm baguette in Hue, Vietnam’s flavors remain a journey worth taking. For now, its street stalls and family-run eateries stand ready to prove that true culinary greatness doesn’t need a ranking to shine.
