Review: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi

Why book?
Those who appreciate the finer things from a hotel stay – impeccable service, rich history, and, in this instance, beautiful spaces showcasing a seamless blend of classic French sophistication and Vietnamese heritage –– will relish stepping into a bygone era of elegance at Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi. If only for a night or two.

Set the scene
Peacefully ensconced, what feels like a mere baguette’s toss from the maze of ’36 streets’ that comprise the Old Quarter, Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi has been a fixture in the heart of Hanoi since 1901. From high-profile figures to affluent retirees, the hotel attracts an eclectic range of guests––you might spy ladies from Hanoian high society sitting down to high tea in Le Club or young, Louis Vuitton-toting Chinese couples shopping up a storm in the Metropole Arcade, which features international heavy hitters like Bottega Veneta and Hermes. At breakfast, you could inadvertently overhear a well-spoken British family discuss sightseeing plans with their university-aged children or strike up a conservation with a fabulous couple from Sydney at the thatched-roof Bamboo Bar and end up joining them for a pre-dinner gin and tonic.

The backstory
Opened in 1901 as the Grand Hotel Metropole Palace by French businessmen André Duchamp and Gustave-Émile Dumoutier, the hotel quickly became a destination for early Hollywood stars like Charlie Chaplin. Hanoi’s grand dame has since survived bombing raids during the Vietnam War and hosted a who’s who of playwrights, royalty and world leaders. She has operated under French hotel group Sofitel since the early ‘90s, who bestowed Metropole Hanoi with its inaugural "Legend" distinction in 2009, making her the first of now only six properties to hold the exclusive title.

The rooms
Meticulously restored and renovated, Heritage Wing rooms in the original three-story Metropole building channel 1920s French and Indochine glamor with dark hardwood floors, vintage illustrations and art-deco marble bathrooms. Think opulent without feeling overdone. Much like the three Legendary Suites also located here and named after notable guests, including Somerset Maughan, whose ground floor residence opens onto a private garden. Rooms in the seven-story neo-classical Opera Wing, which debuted in 1996, are equally luxurious but lean slightly more modern, making them popular with families and business travelers. Contemporary touches abound on both sides of the hotel with flat-screen TVs, mood lighting, and Balmain toiletries. There’s a nightly turndown service, and should you fall in love with the Metropole Hanoi monogrammed silk robe you can purchase a similar version from Le Spa du Metropole.

Food and drink
Four restaurants and three bars provide plenty of options. Operating since 1901 and lauded for its French haute cuisine, fine dining restaurant Le Beaulieu earned a place on the 2024 MICHELIN Selected List; for century-old menu classics, order the lobster bisque or house-cured kingfish. People watching from the Parisienne-inspired La Terrasse at any time of day is a must-do when in Hanoi, much like cocktails at Le Club Bar, a 1920s speakeasy-inspired lounge overlooking the courtyard garden beloved by expats and well-heeled locals for its live jazz and afternoon high tea. Guest bartenders and a DJ most evenings make Angelina a buzzy local spot for after-work drinks, and with its ceiling fans and rattan sofas, Graham Green himself wouldn’t look out of place at the poolside Bamboo Bar. The author of “The Quiet American,” who stayed at the hotel while on assignment for Paris Match in 1951, not only has a suite named after him but a signature drink too: the Graham Greene Martini. And don’t overlook L’Epicerie du Metropole, a petite pâtisserie and gourmet food shop that sells French pastries, handmade chocolates, and (when in season) gorgeous Metropole mooncake gift boxes.

The spa
A blink-and-you-might-miss-it entrance leads to Le Spa du Metropole, an elegant sanctuary overlooking the courtyard garden with eight treatment rooms, including two themed couple suites, where a Kansu bowl massage promises to banish jet lag and coveted French skincare lines SOTHYS and Anne Semonin feature in wraps and facials.

The neighborhood/area
The hotel's French Quarter location is nothing short of exceptional. Steps from Hoan Kiem Lake and the ornate Hanoi Opera House, broad tree-lined boulevards, and leafy parks provide a peaceful contrast to the much livelier Old Quarter nearby. Cultural attractions like the Temple of Literature and St. Joseph's Cathedral are easily accessible, too. The neighborhood is also a hub for luxury shopping (high-end Trang Tien Plaza is a five-minute walk from the Heritage Wing entrance), so you can alternate between sightseeing and retail therapy and pop back to relax and freshen up in between.

The service
Superb across the board. Attentive and impeccably attired (women typically wear traditional Vietnamese ao dai dresses, the men slim fitting and sharply tailored black suits), the multilingual concierge team can arrange sightseeing tours, recommend the best local restaurants and make reservations, and organize a car from their BMW 7 series limousine fleet to whisk you from Noi Bai International Airport or around town.

Eco effort
Currently working on its Green Globe certification, the ASEAN Green Hotel Award and the Hanoi City Green Energy Award are just two recent accolades the hotel picked up for its sustainability practices. Single-use plastics were eliminated in 2022, and numerous energy efficiency initiatives are in place, including low-flow faucets and showerheads, waste reduction and recycling programs. Guests are encouraged to reuse towels and linens to conserve water, with Sofitel's parent company, Accor, planting one tree in a deforested area for every five towels "reused," i.e., not tossed on the floor.

Accessibility
Most of the hotel is wheelchair accessible. Entrance ramps lead to the lobbies and elevator banks inside both the Metropole and Opera wing, but access to ground-floor restaurants and public spaces, namely the pool and courtyard garden, is also possible. Several wheelchairs are available for guests to use during stays, with specially designed rooms featuring wider spaces for easy wheelchair movement, larger doorways, and bathrooms fitted with grab bars and roll-in showers.

Anything left to mention?
The twice-nightly Path of History Tour delves beautifully into the hotel's past and glitzy guest roster but is often fully booked a day or two in advance, so do yourself a favor and ask about securing a spot during check-in. Led by local historians (Mr. Tung and Ms. Huyen), you'll venture inside the once-forgotten underground air raid shelter––accessed by a narrow staircase beneath the Bamboo Bar––that protected resident diplomats and famous foreign guests, including actress Jane Fonda and singer-songwriter Joan Baez, during the Vietnam War (or “American War” as it's referred to here).