Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, Northern Vietnam

rooms

The 364 rooms are divided between the original Metropole Wing, dating back to 1901, and the newer Opera Wing, with the garden and pool separating the two. Rooms in the Metropole Wing tend to be slightly pricier, and nod to the rich interior decor of 1920s France. Rooms in the Opera Wing are individually furnished and feature dark hardwoods, white and grey tones on the walls and curtains and ceiling fans.

Some rooms have balconies, while others have open-plan designs. All are equipped with broadband, a DVD player and flatscreen televisions. Suites, such as the Somerset Maugham, Charlie Chaplin and Graham Greene Suites, come with 24-hour butler service. There’s also a Club Floor with breakfast, afternoon tea, evening cocktails and butler service.

Great attention to detail has been paid in the rooms – from the crisp, white bed linen to the plate of macaroons left on your pillow at turndown. There are even slippers and bath robes for children, as well as smaller wardrobes for them.

facilities & activities

You’ll find all the superb amenities you’d expect from a 5* Sofitel here. There are three restaurants, as well as three bars, plus a fully-equipped gym overlooking the garden. Children can spend hours splashing in the indoor and outdoor pools, which are heated.

After a day exploring Hanoi, unwind in the opulent, three-level spa. It has a hammam, Jacuzzi and sauna as well as treatment rooms that are ornately decked out with china vases, claw foot bathtubs and fresh orchids.

Keen golfers can play a round at the Hanoi region’s best courses, such as the exclusive Van Tri Golf Club and the challenging Phoenix Golf Resort. Just ask the concierge to arrange this.

Don’t miss the complimentary tour of the hotel’s underground bunker. Discovered around five years ago, it was used as a bomb shelter during the Vietnam War. The guide – a child during the Vietnam War – offers a fascinating insight into what life was like during those turbulent years.

Staff wearing traditional white silk costumes and hats are fluent in English, highly-efficient and friendly.

dining

You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to dining here. Choose from an Italian steakhouse (Angelina), a Vietnamese restaurant (Spices Garden) and a fine French restaurant (Le Beaulieu). All are open for both lunch and dinner and have children’s menus available.

Angelina serves authentic dishes with a modern twist, and has a good selection of Italian wines. Melt into one of its brightly colored sofas in the downstairs bar, or dine on a table upstairs. There’s a DJ every night from 9pm. The bar allows smoking, though there are non-smoking tables.

For French fare, head to the modern brasserie Le Beaulieu, where Noel Coward is said to have enjoyed the coq au vin, and for local specialities, Spices Garden offers a huge array of dishes, such as freshly-made steamed rolls.

The Bamboo Bar, by the pool, is a great spot for snacks and cocktails. Children – and chocoholics – will love the chocolate buffet at the elegant Le Club bar, while drinking al fresco at La Terrasse has a Parisian feel to it.

Breakfast can be served on the terrace or at the buffer in Spices Garden and options include Pho noodles, fresh fruit and western options.

family

The hotel is certainly a family-friendly choice. For families wishing to stay together, interconnecting rooms can be requested. Children will be kept entertained in the indoor and outdoor heated pools, while a babysitting service is also offered. You can ask for a cot, or an extra bed for a child, to be added to your room, and on Sundays there is a children’s corner at brunch with colouring, crafts and balloons.

location

The Sofitel enjoys a prime location in Hanoi’s former French Quarter. It’s just 350 metres from the Opera House, while the city’s focal point, Hoan Kiem Lake, is a five-minute walk away. The bustle of the old town and the Water Puppet Theatre are also within walking distance. Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport is 35km north (approximately 50 minutes by car), and the hotel can organise car hire and airport pickup.