An array of popular tour operators and hospitality providers have won the 2013 Vietnam tourism awards, mostly from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Saigontourist, Fiditour and Vietnamtourism-Hanoi are all recognised as the top outbound, inbound and domestic tour operators.

Lodging facilities like Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, Melia Hanoi, Vinpearl Resort Nha Trang, Avason Ana Mandara and Six Senses Ninh Van Bay in the central province of Khanh Hoa are among the top 10 five-star hotels and resorts, with the remaining from Ho Chi Minh City.

Most of the top 10 four-star and three-star hotels are from the southern region.

The 2013 awards also extended to transport, restaurant and souvenir services, naming Saigontourist and Hoa Binh Travel Corp for excelling at transport services.

Three of the best restaurants come from Ho Chi Minh City, namely Vietnam House, Lemongrass and Mandarin. The last winner Apsara runs in the central city of Da Nang.

Trieu Van Mao silk shop based in the capital is among the four best souvenir shops in Vietnam.

The September 26 show in Hanoi marked the 15 th year of the awards.

In August, close to 619,000 foreign tourists landed in Vietnam, bringing the total in January-August to 5.47 million, up 12.2 percent year-on-year, according to the General Statistics Office.

VNA/VNN