Vietnam’s capital Hanoi made major improvements in the latest Global Livability Index rankings, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), the research and analysis division of the Economist Group.

With a score of 63 out of 100, Hanoi ranked 129th out of 173 cities in the EIU’s livability rankings this year, moving up 20 spots and becoming one of the five biggest movers.

According to the EIU, Asia-Pacific cities made some of the biggest gains, accounting for eight of the top 10 movers as economies recover from the pandemic. Wellington (New Zealand) rose 35 places to 23rd, Auckland (New Zealand) by 25 places, while Hanoi moved up 20 places after Covid restrictions were lifted.

This year’s Index ranked 173 cities in over 30 qualitative and quantitative factors across five broad categories: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. Each factor was rated as acceptable, tolerable, uncomfortable, undesirable, or intolerable.

According to the EIU, the Livability Index rose significantly in the 2023 survey, reaching a 15-year high as the world moves on from Covid-19 and healthcare and education scores improve in many cities in Asia and the Middle East and Africa. However, scores for stability have slipped backwards since last year, amid several instances of civil unrest around the world.

The Austrian capital Vienna topped the rankings for 2023, owing to its winning combination of stability, good culture and entertainment, reliable infrastructure, and exemplary education and health services. It has occupied this position regularly over the past several years, with only the Covid-19 pandemic causing it to vacate top spot.

Copenhagen (Denmark) took second place, while Australia’s Melbourne and Sydney and Canada’s Vancouver made up the remainder of the top 5.