Hanoi’s Old Quarter has many timeless features, including French colonial architecture, the Opera House, the thousand-year-old Temple of Literature, vibrant street food, and the chaotic traffic of two-, three- and four-wheeled vehicles that circle the picturesque Hoan Kiem Lake all day and most of the time.
Another constant in Vietnam’s capital is the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, one of Asia’s heritage grand hotels. Opened in 1901, it has now undergone a bold, and as I saw in person, extravagant renovation of its original heritage wing, adding six suites.
Consistently ranked among the world’s most prestigious luxury hotels, this historic hotel is the longest continuously operating hotel in Vietnam and one of six Sofitel Legend hotels, making it easy to see why it has won the most awards from Accor Group’s luxury brands.
The icing on the cake of the 21-month renovation was the opening of six new Metropole Suites in mid-December. They are housed in the Heritage Wing, along with the hotel’s Legendary Suites named after Charlie Chaplin, Somerset Maugham and Graham Greene. The names of these three famous guests are on the hotel’s packed guest list, along with Jane Fonda, Bill Clinton and Joan Baez, to name just three recent guests.
In November, I got a sneak peek of the work and the new suites from the hotel's Director of Sales and Marketing, Andrew Sluka.
On the third floor of the Heritage Wing, which was added to the original two floors in the 1960s, we dodged the hard hat crews who were putting the finishing touches on the rooms and suites. Slewka said Chaplin spent his honeymoon here with his wife Paulette Goddard in 1936, but the third floor, which now houses his namesake suite, did not exist at the time.
The reason I use the word “bold” for this adaptation is because interfering with history is always a gamble.
The lobby seating area in the renovated Heritage Wing of the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi. Photo courtesy of Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi.
New touch, old elegance
How can an old master, or in this case a historic building, be restored without losing its soul?
The architects respected the age and spirit of the Metropole by refreshing the rooms with a rich, classic palette and adding delicate, white wall moldings to set the right tone. They also used mood lighting, which, as any art curator will tell you, is the secret to turning even the most boring exhibit into a star attraction.
The ground floor reception area has a nostalgic feel with a modern twist, with a new antique mirrored ceiling, new desks, furniture and soft lighting. And the original wooden staircase, railings and banisters leading from the lobby to the guestroom floors have been given a lot of TLC.
The hardwood floors in the guest rooms and new suites have been refinished or replaced, and there are new beds, desks, side tables, sofas, hand-tufted carpets, upholstery, and curtains. Two of our favorite high-tech amenities are the bold, easy-to-read numbers on the control panel of the new air conditioning system, and the WiFi, which has a router in each room that provides maximum speed. I also loved the ceiling fan and the vintage hanging lamp above the desk that can be raised and lowered using a vintage pulley system.
The six new Metropole Suites, two on each of the three floors, offer garden or city street views and were previously interconnected rooms, each measuring 743 square feet. These suites also feature high ceilings and a sitting room/study with desk and minibar between the living room and king bedroom. Here, too, a new color scheme, rich draperies and gleaming floors create an air of curated luxury, and like the renovated rooms, they feature sumptuous Italian marble bathrooms with Balmain amenities.
Premium guests of the Heritage and new Opera Wings enjoy the services of 28 Metropole Butlers and are also welcomed at the Club Lounge. Breakfast is served as a small buffet or a la carte, the latter option featuring an extensive egg menu and Hanoi’s signature dish, Pho Beef Noodle Soup. Afternoon tea is served with sandwiches, cakes and fruit, while the lounge’s Happy Hour features house cocktails, champagne and a variety of hot and cold appetizers.
The lobby of the Heritage Wing. Photo courtesy of Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi.
Spice Garden Restaurant Reopens
Another recent milestone for the hotel is the relaunch of Spice Garden Restaurant with a new look and menu. The room now has much more natural light, locally sourced tablecloths, stunning new porcelain bases and glasses, and everything on the menu is made to order rather than the previous buffet service.
Our dinner combo menu included family sharing appetizers including Vietnamese shrimp and pork sausage in sugarcane, wok fried wagyu black pepper beef, and fried banana beignets, all beautifully plated and expertly served by the charming and knowledgeable restaurant staff.
