Hanoi, Nov. 4 -- Ta Xua, a mountainous commune in Vietnam's northern Son La province, has been named Asia's Leading Emerging Tourism Destination at the World Travel Awards 2026 for Asia, Oceania and the Indian Ocean, held recently in the Maldives.

The award opens up new development opportunities for the locality while also bringing new requirements for its tourism development.

This was the first time Ta Xua had competed in the category, where it secured victory against several established destinations, including Koh Kood island in Thailand, Melaka in Malaysia, Morioka in Japan, Sumba island in Indonesia and Taipei (China). Vietnam was also represented by Ninh Binh.

Located at an altitude of more than 1,500 metres, Ta Xua is known for i...