The rankings are built on an image analysis platform from nearly 80 famous destinations around the world. The method used is quite unique: panoramic photos of cities, streets, buildings and residential areas are processed at the pixel level to count the number of unique colors that appear, thereby assigning a “vibrancy score” for each location.
With more than 1.8 million recorded colors, Hanoi scored 69/100 points. What creates the capital’s visual appeal is the fascinating chaos of the 36-street Old Quarter – where shops are packed together, shops spill out onto the sidewalks, motorbikes flow endlessly, and the brilliant red, yellow, and blue colors from signs, lanterns, awnings, and old facades have absorbed the color of time. The ranking also specifically mentions the interesting contrast of Hanoi: in the midst of a noisy and cramped city, there are still peaceful silences – an ancient pagoda hidden behind a mossy gate, a quiet courtyard or a small alley suddenly opening up in the heart of the city.
Leading the rankings is Portugal’s Lisbon with a perfect score of 100/100 and more than 2.63 million colors — a city famous for its pastel houses, colorful azulejo tiles and yellow trams rolling through the old town. Next is Kuala Lumpur in second place with 94.5 points, Porto is third, and Cartagena and Rio de Janeiro complete the top 5.
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