Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi

Rooms and decor

Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi is the oldest legendary hotel in Vietnam, running since 1901. The white four-story French colonial building has dark green wrought-iron balconies and red-and-white floral hangings, standing out in the heart of Hanoi. Doormen in white-and-blue uniforms and top hats hold the doors, and a vintage Rolls-Royce sits out front. The lobby has striped marble tiles, ceilings that rise 5 metres, a genuine 1901 crystal chandelier, old clocks, and black-and-white photos of Charlie Chaplin and Graham Greene on the walls. The highlight room is the Premium Suite in the Opera Wing (built in 1996), a 60 sqm room at around $514 a night. It is done in cream-and-gold Indochine style with a 200x200 cm king bed, an L-shaped sofa, a work desk, a 55-inch TV, a minibar and a Nespresso. The Carrara marble bathroom is large, with a deep jacuzzi tub, a rain shower, a double vanity, a Toto Washlet, and Hermes amenities. A big window looks straight onto the Opera House — postcard pretty. The Historical Wing (built in 1901) has smaller 30 sqm rooms but a classic feel, with gold electrical buttons and Persian rugs.

Food and amenities

Dinner at Le Beaulieu, the French restaurant in the lobby that has been open since 1901 alongside the hotel, is a six-course set menu at VND 2,200,000 a head, around $84. It opens with foie gras, then coquille Saint-Jacques, Wagyu beef and a souffle, served on silver with plates marked "Metropole 1901". The sommelier can add a five-glass wine pairing for VND 1,500,000, around $57. Spices Garden, the Vietnamese restaurant in the garden, does pho bo and bun cha — the dish Obama and Bourdain ate in 2016 — for VND 380,000 a head, around $15. The next morning, Le Spa du Metropole runs a 90-minute Indochine massage that blends Vietnamese and French technique for VND 2,800,000, around $107.

Location and getting there

The hotel sits in the heart of the Old Quarter, right next to the Opera House and a 5-minute walk from Hoan Kiem Lake. From the airport, Noi Bai International Airport (HAN) is about 30 km away, a 35-45 minute taxi ride. One thing you cannot get anywhere else: guests can book the free Bomb Shelter Tour at 4 PM and 5 PM daily, visiting the shelter dug beneath the hotel during the Vietnam War (1965-1972) to protect against American bombing. Jane Fonda used this shelter when she visited in 1972 and left a letter on the wall. The guide also explains that Graham Greene stayed in room 214 and wrote The Quiet American, published in 1955, and that Joan Baez stayed in room 122 during the 1972 Christmas Bombing and wrote "Where Are You Now, My Son?" in that room.

Things to know before booking

This is the highest price in the group, starting from around $329 a night. Because it is a heritage building, some rooms are small at 28 sqm, so book the Opera Wing if you want more space. The old classic-style elevators are slow. If history matters to you, the Historical Wing has the atmosphere but the smaller rooms; the Opera Wing trades some of that character for size. Accor ALL members get a welcome amenity and free late check-out until 2 PM, which is worth setting up before you arrive.

Our take

Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi is the best hotel in Hanoi — the world's first Sofitel Legend, with 124 years of history, five restaurants, the Bomb Shelter Tour and Forbes 5-Star service. The 9.3/10 score across more than 7,500 reviews backs up the quality. The price from $329 is steep, but you get an experience you cannot find anywhere else — a fit for honeymooning couples, history buffs, senior business travelers, and anyone who wants to feel the legend.