Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi
Hanoi, Vietnam
At a Glance
French colonial property with a rich history
Centrally located in Hanoi
364 rooms and suites divided between two wings
Luxurious three-level spa
Six restaurants and bars to choose from
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Best time to Visit
Good time to visit
Average time to visit
The best time to visit Hanoi is from February to April and September to November avoiding the heat and the rain. The official peak season in Vietnam is from September to April as these months see the least rain. December to February are the cooler months. May to September is the rainy season with the most rain failing in July and August and typhoons are possible.
Insider's View
The food at the Metropole is a real highlight, especially the chocolate buffet at afternoon tea.
The Colonial French style combined with plenty of history makes a stay at this hotel so interesting.
After a busy day exploring the sights of Hanoi, why not treat yourself to a full body massage at the hotel's magnificent spa. Make sure you get there early though, to make use of the steam room and sauna!
The Metropole's 'Path of History' provides a fascinating 50 minute lesson on the Vietnam years of conflict. The underground bomb shelters were re-discovered in recent years and have just opened to guests to view with an informative guide.
Eat breakfast on the outside terrace at Balieu to see the locals going about their morning routines.
Book to do the bunker tour to learn about the fascinating history of the hotel
If you are travelling on a budget ask for a room in the Opera Wing as the lead in rooms on this side are larger and brighter than those in the older wing. If you do want to experience the older part of the hotel it is worth upgrading to a Grand Luxury Room which has lots more space and higher ceilin
Be adventurous and avoid the western breakfast on at least one morning to try the traditional Vietnamese Breakfast. Noodles, chicken, porridge and lots more and you won't forget it!
Call us on to start planning your holiday to Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi or take a look at our itineraries to Vietnam
Description
This beautiful colonial hotel is situated right in the heart of Hanoi and the Sofitel Metropole is the perfect place from which to enjoy this stunning city and to return to for amazing food, seamless service and exceptional facilities.
A French colonial style property built in 1901, the Sofitel Metropole Hanoi boasts a rich history and a century long tradition of hospitality for ambassadors and writers, statesmen and entrepreneurs. Located in the centre of Hanoi, the Sofitel's position is ideal for those wanting to immerse themselves into Hanoi life for a few days.
All the Sofitel Metropole's rooms and suites, both in the original grandeur of the Historical Wing and the newer neo-classical Opera Wing, are stylishly decorated and have all the modern facilities one can expect from a hotel of this class. A Club Floor with breakfast, afternoon tea, evening cocktails and butler service is available that prefer their stay to include these extra facilities and services.
There is a variety of high standard restaurants including the elite and avante garde Angelina restaurant, Spices Garden Restaurant with its exotic Vietnamese flavours and the best French restaurant in town, Beaulieu. The hotel also has a stunning outdoor pool in the courtyard garden and a lavish three-level spa.
Accommodation
There are 364 rooms and suites at Sofitel Legend Metropole, each tastefully decorated. The accommodation is divided into two wings, The Opera Wing and The Historical Wing.
Childcare
Children of all ages are welcome to come and stay at the Sofitel Metropole where interconnecting rooms can be requested for families wishing to be together. There is also an indoor and outdoor playground to keep the children entertained and babysitting can be arranged on request.
Facilities
There are three restaurants at The Sofitel Metropole including a trendy Italian Steakhouse, traditional elegant French restaurant and refined Vietnamese restaurant. There are also three bars (serving meals, snacks and drinks), a fully equipped gym, outdoor pools and a three-level spa with hammam, Jacuzzi and sauna as well as treatment rooms. Similarly, enjoy an evening cocktail at one of three bar & lounges.
Reviews
Jack Mace (Staff)
From the moment I arrived at the Sofitel I knew that I was going to love it. You are welcomed by some of the friendliest and kindest staff I met on my trip and this warmth continued during my stay. The hotel itself is nothing short of fantastic. Whether you are in the traditional Metropole Wing or the newer Opera Wing there is a real sense of class throughout and the marble floors and grand staircases optimise this. After doing tours in the morning the pool area is a perfect space to relax and get away from the hustle and bustle of this great city. If you get a chance take the bomb shelter tour which takes about 45 minutes and sets of at 5 or 6pm. It shows the rich history of the hotel an it's fascinating. All in all its hard to fault the hotel and I'd just love to return!
Dominic Atterton (Staff)
We arrived into Hanoi in the pouring rain with temperatures peaking at a chilly 15c. Not the ideal welcome to Vietnam I was expecting. As we approached the Metropole its gleaming white marble exterior was immediately welcoming and once inside the calmness and serenity of the place soon helped me to forget the driving rain outside. The hotel is split into two parts the original Metropole Wing complete with a grand mahogany staircase and with rooms featuring a more sombre and colonial dcor and the newer Opera Wing which being built more recently offers more spacious rooms that feel brighter and more airy but do lack some of the old world charm of the former.
The main focal point of the hotel is the large courtyard garden which joins the two wings together. In the centre of the garden is the Orangerie the perfect spot for afternoon tea and over looking the open air pool which makes up the other half of the courtyard. At the far corner beyond is the Bamboo Bar, shady and relaxing during the hot summers, cosy and complete with blankets during our stay, its open late, has a great buzz and they make a mean Martini for the pleasing sum of 200VND (about 6).
You can eat casually out here in the bar or at the hotels terrace which overlooks the busy street outside. Alternatively the hotel has two excellent restaurants, a Vietnamese all day dining affair and Le Beaulieu which has been dishing up classic French Cuisine to hotel guests and the citys finest for almost 100 years. There is also a cocktail bar/club rather strangely named after Angelina Jolie, I wasnt impressed too much cigar smoke and bad music Id advise giving it a miss.
Overall The Metropole is easily Hanois best hotel, it has bags of character, great rooms and fantastic service. Its also located within an easy walk of most places you will want to visit in the city. Hopefully they can keep it up for another 100 years!
Clare Barratt (Staff)
The Sofitel Metropole is easily one of the best places to stay in Hanoi. It is grand and elegant and the service is very professional without being too stuffy for lack of a better word. Think polished marble floors, chandeliers, porters in caps but without being over the top. The hotel is split into two wings The Opera Wing and the Upper Wing. The Opera Wing is the traditional old school style part of the hotel and if you can spend a bit more I would recommend upgrading, as it feels very much in style of Hanoi. If not, the more modern Upper Wing is very comfortable and there is also a variety of room options here. It is well located, just a stones throw away from the lake and about a 10 minute walk to the fun old town part of Hanoi.
Sarah Baxter (Staff)
The Sofitel Metropole took me totally by surprise. This superb, colonial hotel is the very best a city hotel can be. Opening in 1901, it is steeped in history and has survived much conflict, which may explain why the staff are so passionate and enthusiastic about it. Given that this hotel has a grand total of 364 rooms, it has managed to retain an intimate, friendly, relaxed atmosphere, while keeping up the standards of service. It is in the perfect location; right in centre of Hanoi's French Quarter, ideal for exploring the city and has fantastic facilities for those who want to relax and indulge. The spa has recently been voted the 5th best in the world, it has a swimming pool which is heated during the cooler months and a gym for those more active individuals.
Victoria Hogg (Staff)
Ideally located between the opulent Opera House and the quaint old town of Hanoi, the Sofitel Metropole is a true hidden gem. From its colonial French style, the hotel oozes elegance and sophistication, coupled with excellent levels of service and luxury, not to mention its rich history. Staying in the more colonial Old Wing was like going back in time, and really made my stay in Hanoi the more memorable. It was from here that I explore the famous sites that Hanoi is famed for, from the Temple of Literature to the One Pillar Pagoda, finally finishing the day with a spot of relaxation by the Metropole's outdoor swimming pool.
(Press)
In Hanoi’s French Quarter, fin-de-siècle mansions shed layers of jade and turquoise paint in the heat. The Opera House, fancying itself to be in Paris, vies with the Metropole hotel for position of grande dame. Perhaps the latter wins. After all, this is where Noel Coward and Charlie Chaplin stayed. Plus, Somerset Maugham and Graham Greene penned novels here, sitting at desks beside Oriental screens and beneath wooden ceiling fans. ‘At Hanoi,’ wrote Maugham, ‘I found nothing much to interest me.’ I find, on the other hand, much to interest me as we relax by the Metropole pool. We are served tropical-fruit kebabs, chocolates delicately flavoured with ginger, jasmine and green tea, and chilled flannels to cool us down. Nearby, two Western couples are in baby-adoption transit, and out children are checking their tarantulas, fortunately now lifeless and preserved in alcohol. Outside, motorbikes roar - often the wrong way down streets and over pavements - their women drivers sporting cloth face masks like dainty jockstraps. The bikes - often straddled alarmingly by entire families, and sometimes with a slaughtered pig strapped to the back - are a defining feature of Vietnam, In Hanoi alone, there are two and a half million motorbikes for a city of six million people.
Evi-Elli La Valle (Staff)
The Sofitel Metropole is everything that a good city hotel should be. Lots of rooms are housed in a French colonial-style building and it is elegant, smart and sophisticated but also bursting with history and character. Given the number of rooms, the service is fantastic and although Hanoi offers a multitude of local dining options, ranging from gourmet to downright bizarre, it is worth checking out the Metropole’s fantastic restaurants as well. Spices Garden serves delicious Vietnamese cuisine or Angelina, serving rustic Italian dishes and named after Mrs Pitt who stayed there whilst increasing her brood.
Experiences
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Art and Cocktail Reception
Enjoy uncovering the heart of the artistic centre of Vietnam with a unique look at the blossoming art scene in the city.
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Half Day City Tour of Hanoi
Start this fascinating historical tour at Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum, an imposing monument lavishly built using marble and granite, and where the preserved body of 'Uncle Ho' resides. You will then visit Ho Chi Minh's House, where he lived and worked.
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Hanoi by Cyclo
This fun but fascinating half day tour takes in some of the key historical sites of Hanoi, as well as the city's famous Old Quarter. Travelling by cyclo allows you to experience the hustle and bustle up close and soak up the city's wonderful atmosphere.
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Hanoi by Jeep
From yellow hued crumbling colonial architecture to chic cafes, and from exuberant markets to buzzing motorbikes, Hanoi really is something else. Explore one of our favourite cities by jeep, completely in keeping with Hanoi's past.
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Hanoi Evening Vespa Tour
Experience Hanoi by night, travelling through the streets on the back on a vintage Vespa, stopping off to enjoy delicious streetfood along the way. Finish the evening at a famous jazz club where you can listen to fantastic live music.
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Hanoi Street Eats After Dark
Discover local Hanoian street food culture on this evening food tour. Enjoy an evening stroll with a private guide through the streets of Hanoi sampling an array of local dishes.
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Hanoi Street Food Experience
Eating on the street is a very typical activity for Hanoians and makes up an important part of the city’s unique culture. Enjoy strolling the bustling alleys and streets and savour regional specialties in favourite local spots.
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Insight into a Veteran's Experience of American / Vietnam War
Today take the chance to explore Hanoi's part in the American / Vietnam War with a veteran who was a soldier during the war from 1970-1975.
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Tai Chi Class in Hanoi
Enjoy a Tai Chi class in a lovely garden near the Opera House. Many Hanoi residents enjoy practicing Tai Chi a the start of the day to reduce stress and improve balance and flexibility.
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The Quintessence of Tonkin
Vietnam's most spectacular cultural performance with more than 180 skillful performers presenting to you the culture and history of Northern Vietnam on the largest water stage of Vietnam.
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Trip to Tay Phuong Pagoda
After a 45-minute drive southwest of Hanoi, you will arrive at Tay Phuong Pagoda. Built in the 17th century, the pagoda is famous for the valuable collection of 18 jack-wood Buddha statues coated with lacquer.
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Uncover Hidden Hanoi
Explore Hanoi as a local through the small alleyways, local markets ending with a meal in a restaurant that transports you back to the 1970s.
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Visit an artist's home in Hanoi
Visit the home and studio of Mr Phuong Vu Manh, a Vietnamese artist whom graduated from the College of Culture and Art with a major in painting and drawing. Enjoy learning some basic techniques of painting with a face or body session.
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Water Puppet Show at Dao Thuc
Completely unique to Vietnam, water puppetry is a wonderful example of this country’s vibrant cultural heritage. During this exclusive experience, you will meet one of the country's best puppet artisans and enjoy a private 30-minute show.
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Location & directions
Hanoi, Vietnam
Located at 15 Ngo Quyen Street in District 1 in downtown Hanoi. It's next to the beautiful Hoan Kiem Lake, Vietnam.
How to get there
11-hour international flight to Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport. Sofitel Metropole is 50-minutes from the airport.
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