Two Vietnamese representatives in the list of 44 most beautiful destinations in the world

The question of which place is the most beautiful in the world is a difficult one to answer. Beauty is subjective, as it is in the eye of the beholder, and so it really depends on your own definition. For some, there is no place more beautiful than the strangely reflective salt flats of Bolivia; for others, the rugged coast of California is the most beautiful.

Luckily, the world isn't bound by the same rigid beauty standards as humans. Here are Time Out 's 44 most beautiful destinations in the world , chosen by travel writers who've been to them all in real life.

Victoria Falls, Africa

Located on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls is known as the largest waterfall in the world. This place has been voted many times in the list of the most beautiful destinations in the world.

PHOTO: TIME OUT

St John's Cathedral, Malta

An essential stop on any Valletta holiday itinerary, St John's Cathedral is one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture you'll find. Its ornate domes, gilded in 24-carat gold, lead to nine different chapels.

Choquequirao, Peru

Visiting Choquequirao, the ancient Inca city perched high above Peru's Apurímac River, is both visually and physically fascinating.

Lillafüred, Hungary

Gateway to Bükk National Park in northeastern Hungary, a land of wild boar, wolves and the occasional bear, the fairytale resort of Lillafüred freezes dramatically in winter and basks in endless green summers. Overlooking rowboats bobbing on Lake Hámori, the centuries-old Palace Hotel is surrounded by caves, hanging gardens and waterfalls...

Altiplano, Bolivia

Bolivia is home to colorful lakes, seemingly endless mountains and vast salt flats.

Bay of Kotor, Montenegro

In Montenegro, the Adriatic Sea snakes through narrow passages in the steep Dinaric Alps to form the Bay of Kotor. Here, wedged between water and rock, lies the triangular medieval old town of Kotor, with its gravity-defying fortress snaking its way up the sheer cliffs above.

Zhangye, China

Located in Zhangye National Geological Park, the Rainbow Mountains are one of China's many stunning surprises. Stripes of crimson, yellow, and moss green paint the hillsides; a stunningly colorful landscape formed over millions of years by shifting tectonic plates and weathering, which mixed red sandstone and various minerals.

Elephant Rock, Iceland

Elephant Rock is an elephant-shaped rock rising from the sea in Iceland's Westman Islands, with an omnipotent body, eyes, and a sturdy trunk, as if it were drinking water from the sea.

Three Whale Rock, Thailand

Isan, aside from having some of the best food in Thailand, is also home to three pretty crazy rocks. Him Sam Wan (Three Whale Rock) looks like a pod of whales soaring over a coral cliff.

Ha Giang , Vietnam

Winding mountain passes, terraced fields and the 43 different ethnic groups that call this place home combine to create a distinctive atmosphere for Ha Giang. Two stretches of road get special attention, and rightly so. Tham Ma Pass winds through six consecutive hairpin bends, while Ma Pi Leng Pass forms a mountain edge, overlooking the Nho Que River far below...

PHOTO: BUI MANH TUAN

Hoi An, Vietnam

Silk lanterns sway outside the rows of golden townhouses in this quaint riverside town, giving visitors an uncanny charm. Located on the central coast, life in Hoi An flows like molasses - slow and sweet.

PHOTO: HIEN PHUNG THU

The remaining list also includes many world-famous destinations such as: Komodo National Park, Indonesia; Punakha Valley, Bhutan; Disko Island, Greenland; Red Rocks, USA; New Forest, UK; Lakeland, Finland; Sheik Zayed Mosque, Abu Dhabi; Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia; Stelvio National Park, Italy; Erg Chebbi, Morocco; Paradise Bay, Antarctica...