Where to Go in 2026: The White Lotus Architect Designed a Hotel in This Vietnamese City—Now the World Is Noticing
Episode Description
It's a fresh new year and this month on Unpacked, we're diving into Afar's Where to Go in 2026 list—but this year's picks are different. In 2026, we want to lessen the burden on overtouristed destinations and expand visitation to other parts of the world. Our editors carefully selected 24 emerging regions and overlooked locales that will inspire your next great adventure.
Places like Da Nang, Vietnam's fifth-largest city and a coastal destination long beloved by Vietnamese travelers that's now drawing international attention with new luxury hotels, airline routes, and a Michelin-starred restaurant.
In this episode, host Aislyn Greene talks with Liz Provencher, a food, drink, and travel writer who spent several weeks exploring Vietnam in 2025. Liz shares why Da Nang offers the best of both worlds: a bustling city with motor taxis and night markets, plus 40 miles of coastline, one of the last coastal rainforests in Vietnam, and regional dishes you literally cannot find anywhere else.
Plan Your Da Nang Getaway
(First, explore our Vietnam travel guide.)
Stay
—Book a room at the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort, located within the protected Son Tra Peninsula nature reserve, designed by Bill Bensley, the architect behind the White Lotus Thailand hotel
—Watch for the Mandarin Oriental opening in early 2026
—The Nobu hotel is also coming in 2026—once complete, it will be the city's tallest building, located on the beachfront
Eat and Drink
—Start your morning with mì quảng, a turmeric noodle soup topped with shrimp (or chicken, pork, or frog), herbs, and a crispy rice cracker
—Day trip to Hoi An for cao lầu, a noodle soup that can only be made there
—Explore the night markets for street food and the bustling energy Vietnam is known for
See and Do
—Spend time on Da Nang's 40 miles of stunning coastline along the South China Sea
—Hike the Son Tra Peninsula, a protected nature reserve in the northern part of the city that's home to one of the last coastal rainforests in Vietnam
—Take a day trip to Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage Site about 30 minutes away
—Travel the coast in style on the Vietage Train by Anantara, a luxury train service connecting Da Nang to other cities along the central Vietnam coast
Resources
• Follow Liz's work on Instagram
• Visit Liz's website
• Explore all 24 destinations on Afar's Where to Go in 2026 list
• Follow us on Instagram: @afarmedia
Listen to All the Episodes in our Where to Go 2026 Series
E1: This Island in the Bahamas Promises Pink Sand, Historic Hideaways, and Perfect Solitude
E2: Why Peru's Second City Might Be Its Best-Kept Secret
E3: The New 170-Mile Hiking Network Connecting Stockholm's Dreamy Archipelago
E4: Route 66 Turns 100—and Albuquerque Is Ready to Celebrate
E5: Why Morocco's Chill Capital Deserves Your Attention E6: Three Hours From Nashville, the South's Next Great Food Capital Is Waiting E7: The French Riviera's Last Stop Before Italy—and Its Best-Kept Secret E8: Skip the Serengeti Traffic Jams for This Under-the-Radar Kenyan Safari E9: The Pacific Northwest's 80-Mile Playground Just Got Even Better
E10: The White Lotus Architect Designed a Hotel in This Vietnamese City—Now the World Is Noticing (this one!)
Stay Connected
- Sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode.
- Explore our other podcasts, View From Afar, about the people and companies shaping the future of travel, and Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.
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