Vietnam ranks fourth globally in the amount of plastic waste dumped into the ocean, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Some local cafes and restaurants have also been encouraging the reduction of plastic use by offering straws made with recyclable or biodegradable materials.

A UNESCO-recognized citadel in Hanoi is among 25 most affordable tourist sites in the world that cost $10 or less.

The Thang Long Imperial Citadel, which is over 1,000 years old, is fifth on a new list of world’s 25 budget tourist spots compiled by the Canadian-based magazine The Travel.

The entrance fee to this historical site is just VND30,000 ($1.3).

Constructed in the 11th century under the Ly Dynasty, the citadel marks the independence of Dai Viet, today’s Vietnam. The royal citadel was the center of political power for feudal dynasties.

In 2010, the Thang Long Imperial Citadel was recognized as the world heritage site by UNESCO for its significant cultural values, making it one of the most popular tourist attractions in the capital.

Thang Long Imperial Citadel. Photo by Shutterstock/anhuynh

Thang Long Imperial Citadel. Photo by Shutterstock/anhuynh

The ancient buildings and other vestiges at the Archaeological Site at 18 Hoang Dieu Street, Ba Dinh District presents evidence of a Southeast Asian culture specific to the lower Red River Valley, at the crossroads of influences from China in the North and the ancient Kingdom of Champa in the South.

Taj Mahal topped the global list, followed by Penang and Melaka in Malaysia, Torre de Belém in Portugal, Ottawa in Canada, Great Wall in China, Komodo National Park in Indonesia and Thailand’s Ayutthaya Historical Park.

Hanoi is currently the center of global attention as it will host the second historic summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. president Donald Trump.

International arrivals to Hanoi in 2018 rose 16 percent to more than 5.74 million from the previous year.