The Metropole (ignominiously renamed "The Sofitel Legend Metropole"), was built and named in 1901 and was for decades under French colonial administration. Host to ambassadors, statesmen, writers, US presidents, and celebrities (with a few suites named after them, including Graham Greene and Charlie Chaplin). After the war it became the Reunification Hotel, but became a private hotel again in the 1990s under Sofitel (when we became one of the very first tour companies to began sending travelers there). The premier hotel in all of Vietnam, if not Indochina, the Metropole is the place to stay Hanoi. With an ideal location nestled in the verdant Embassy quarter only a block away from Hoan Kiem Lake in the heart of the city within walking distance of many sites, including the Old Quarter, and only three blocks from our Hanoi office on Tran Hung Dao Street.

Following extensive renovations over the last decades, including a surprising uncovering of a forgotten war-era bomb shelter, visitors today can enjoy the charm of an impeccably restored turn-of-the-century hotel in the heart of the capital. All 363 rooms and suites, both in the original Metropole wing and the newer Opera wing, provide extensive world-class services and facilities befitting Vietnam's most famed hotel.

There are two wings in the Metropole—the Historical Metropole Wing is from another era, literally, but has been upgraded to modern, while retaining its dark woods and Colonial prints, while the newer Opera Wing dazzles with its art-nouveau style. Both wings have a lobby, although the Metropole wing is where guests will want to spend time, with comfy sofas and papers, two restaurants and a wine bar within sight.

In 2012 a renovation construction crews rediscovered an air raid shelter in the back garden of the Metropole and has opened the excavated bunker for its guests to explore. The 40-square-yard bomb shelter has been restored to its original state as a tribute to the hotel’s wartime employees, who ushered guests into the relative safety of the underground chamber from the mid-1960s through the Christmas Bombings of 1972.

Metropole Room Configurations

All 363 guest rooms and suites equipped with A/C (H/C), satellite TV, LCD, and DVD player, IDD phone, Security peephole, personal safety-box, mini-bar, radio/music system, RJ 11 outlet , voice mail, data port, coffee/tea making facilities, bathtub, specially with Sofitel's MyBed and broadband Internet.

Metropole Historic Wing (French-colonial)
Luxury, 32m2/344 sq. feet (3 persons max., queen/single beds. not recommended, small and noisier)
Grand Luxury 37m2/398 sq. feet (4 persons maximum)
Legendary Suites, 70m2/753 sq. feet (4 persons, one living room and one bedroom) Three suites named for guests Charlie Chaplin, Somerset Maugham, and Graham Greene.

Metropole Opera Wing (newer, modern, quieter)
Premium Room - 32m2/344 sq. feet (3 persons; double bed or 2 single beds)
Premium Room Patio - from 32m2/344 sq. feet (3 persons with 2m² terrace opening into a garden)
Grand Premium - 48m2/516 sq. feet (4 persons, queen size or twin beds)
Prestige Suites, 64m2/689 sq. feet (4 persons, living room and one bedroom with 2m balcony and queen-size bed)
Club Suites, 64m2/688 sq. feet (4 persons, living room, bedroom, balcony, 2.2m king-size bed, club benefits)
Presidential Suite, 176m2/1,894 sq. feet.

View All Hanoi Metropole Room Choices (pdf)

Note: The Metropole allows up to a maximum of 3 people in each room (including suites). For families of 4, there are the Opera Suites with connecting access with an Opera twin, and Club Suite connecting with Club twin room.

Legendary Suite Bathroom

Classic or Contemporary room at the Metropole?

If you've looked over the hotel's site, your likely aware The Metropole has two distinct wings: the original Historic Wing and the newer Opera Wing. Both wings offer a blend of luxury and comfort, but they differ significantly in their ambiance, style, and overall experience.

Metropole Historic Wing

Historic Wing Ambiance & Style
  - The Historic Wing, also known as the "Metropole Wing," dates all the way back to 1901 and exudes colonial-era charm. It has retained much of its original architecture and décor, offering a sense of nostalgia and history.
  - The rooms are characterized by high ceilings, wooden shutters, period furniture, and classic French décor. Some rooms even have four-poster beds, chandeliers, and vintage-style bathrooms with claw foot tubs.
  - The overall atmosphere is elegant, with a focus on preserving the hotel's storied past.

- Historic Room Types
  - The Historic Wing includes a variety of room types, including Luxury Rooms, Grand Luxury Rooms, and Legendary Suites.
  - Rooms in this wing often have views of either the hotel’s inner courtyard or the bustling streets of Hanoi.
 
- Experience in the Historic Wing
  - Staying in the Historic Wing is wonderful for those who enjoy historical vibes and want to experience the hotel’s original charm. It offers a more traditional luxury experience with a rich sense of place. The Charlie Chaplin Suite here is the biggest and nicest of the hotel.

Metropole Opera Wing

Opera Wing Ambiance & Style
  - The Opera Wing, added only in the 1990s, offers a more contemporary, chic, and modern luxury stay.
  - The design here is sleek, with a focus on modern amenities and comfort. Rooms in this wing are more spacious compared to the Historic Wing, with a contemporary aesthetic that blends subtle Vietnamese touches with modern luxury.
  - The décor includes modern furnishings, plush bedding, and state-of-the-art technology. The bathrooms are luxurious, often featuring rain showers and marble finishes.

Opera Wing Room Types
  - The Opera Wing features Premium Rooms, Grand Premium Rooms, and Prestige Suites.
  - The rooms here are noticeably brighter, airier and more contemporary than their cousins over in the Historic Wing.
  - Many rooms have views of the iconic Hanoi Opera House or the pool area, offering a quieter, more private ambiance.

Opera Wing Experience
  - The Opera Wing is features modern comforts, bold interiors, and a more contemporary atmosphere. It is often chosen by business travelers or those who prefer a more minimalist and modern environment.

Key Differences between the Historic and Opera Wings

- Historical Significance: The Historic Wing is steeped in history and offers a more authentic, old-world charm, while the Opera Wing focuses on modern luxury and comfort.
- Design & Décor: The Historic Wing features classic French colonial design, with vintage furniture and traditional details, whereas the Opera Wing offers a more contemporary and sleek aesthetic.
- Room Size: Rooms in the Opera Wing tend to be more spacious and modern, while those in the Historic Wing, though slightly smaller, offer a more intimate and historical experience.
- Target Audience: The Historic Wing appeals to history buffs and those seeking a unique, classic experience, while the Opera Wing caters to guests who prefer modern amenities and a more contemporary style.

In summary, both wings provide exceptional service and world-class luxury, but the choice between them depends on whether you prefer a stay steeped in history or one with modern elegance. The classic or historic wing provides an old, colonial feel and matching decor including hardwood floors, faded pictures and four poster beds combining to evoke the grandeur of a bygone age. The Opera Wing is more hip, with modern flair and Danish furniture design.

Opera Wing Grand Prestige Suite with club floor access

Opera Wing Grand Premium Room with Club Metropole benefits and king-size bed

Historical Wing Legendary Suite (with club Metropole benefits and king-size bed)

Metropole with the Kids

In a city lacking comfortable luxury hotels, the Metropole is an oasis, from its spacious club floor lounge (with iPads), gym, thrilling bomb shelter (below), and refreshing pool, it is the top choice to begin a Vietnam trip with kids. Oh, and a highlight will be the daily, afternoon chocolate buffet.

Facilities
Banquet & Catering Facilities
Business Center
Fitness Center
Lounge/Bar Meeting / Conference Rooms
Restaurant(s)
Swimming Pool - Outdoor, unheated (and thus rarely used)
Baby sitting service
Baggage storage (while on Halong Bay or cycling in Ninh Binh with us)

See our Vietnam Family Tours video which features the Metropole

Dining at the Metropole

The elegant Spices Garden Restaurant offers fine Asian cuisine with a local flavor in a pleasant glass atrium, while Le Beaulieu, a long-time favorite venue for fine dining in the capital, serves up the best of French cuisine and fine wines. Le Beaulieu Restaurant is also the hotel's breakfast location (unless you are on the Club Floor). Le Club Bar is the perfect venue for drinks and its afternoon chocolate buffet has become a Hanoi tradition. The Met Pub is unrivaled as the city's most popular bar with live jazz, good snacks and a well-stocked bar.

Le Club Bar. A light airy lounge bar with large windows overlooking the courtyard garden, Le Club Bar has always been the perfect venue for drinks with friends and colleagues and the afternoon tea at Le Club is not to be missed, complete with its absolutely decadent chocolate buffet.

The Met Pub is the city's most popular bar with wonderful live music, great food and a large selection of beers, spirits and whiskies. The Bamboo Bar, by the central pool, offers snacks and lunch for those loathe to leave the pool, and also a cool place to enjoy an evening cocktail. La Terrasse du Metropole successfully brings the ambiance and coffee of Parisian street cafes to Hanoi's streets.

Metropole Bomb Shelter

Uncovered completely by surprise during renovations the Metropole has turned the large shelter into a multimedia historical tour—not to be missed.

Iron Chef Vietnam

Los Angeles top chef Neal Fraser of Grace Restaurant fame has lead several Iron Chef tours with us in Vietnam, since the mid-1990s (at right with Metropole Executive Chef André Bosia.

Our unprecedented culinary cycling adventure features pedaling through the scenic country roads along Vietnam's central and southern coast and into the central highlands while sampling Vietnam's diverse and distinctive cuisine in each region. There are few places that provide for a culinary adventure on par with Vietnam. This trip will highlight the distinctive cuisines of each region with a mix of activities, including hands-on cooking, kitchen and market visits.