Methodology
How a place earns its stars
The same six criteria are applied to every honouree, at every price point, across all four regions. Here is exactly what we weigh - and the five commitments that keep the scoring honest.
The six criteria
What we weigh
Quality and consistency
The core product meets a high standard, reliably.
Experience and service
Attentiveness and the ability to serve international guests well.
Identity and authenticity
A real sense of Vietnam, and a cultural story honestly told.
Value
A fair, transparent relationship between quality and price.
Readiness for international guests
Languages, payments, safety and accessibility.
Sustainability and responsibility
Impact on the environment and the local community.
The process
From evidence to a decision
Gather
AI assembles evidence from thousands of stays, meals and visits - reviews, receipts, repeat patterns.
Visit
Assessors visit anonymously and pay their own way, scoring against the six criteria on the spot.
Decide
The human panel weighs every score together. AI never sets a rating - it only informs one.
Review
Every star is re-examined each year. A place can rise, hold, or lose its rating.