Crossword Genius

Hotel recalled periodically in or near Asian city (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

hanoi

'asian city' is the definition.
(capital of Vietnam)

'hotel recalled periodically in or near' is the wordplay.
'hotel' becomes 'h' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
'recalled' shows that the letters should be reversed in order.
'periodically' indicates alternate letters (letters must be selected 'every so often').
'in'+'or'+'near'='inornear'
The alternate letters of 'inornear' are 'iona'.
'iona' back-to-front is 'anoi'.
'h'+'anoi'='HANOI'

(Other definitions for hanoi that I've seen before include "capital out East" , "Vietnamese city" , "Vietnamese capital" , "foreign city" , "Capital city of Vietnam" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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