The lingering French charm in Hanoi — Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, Vietnam

Text by MOOK Travel Life Network, Chen Guanxin | Compiled & Reported. Source: Mook Editorial Department

Hanoi is not only the capital of Vietnam but also a hub of culture, politics, and economy. Its history spanning over a thousand years is reflected in the city's abundant cultural relics and historic sites. The Sofitel Metropole Hanoi stands gracefully within Hanoi’s French Quarter. Its whitewashed exterior is adorned with delicate carvings, green rectangular shutters and roofs, and elegant wrought-iron railings. Inside, the high ceilings span wooden beams, and the secluded, lush green courtyard seems to whisper the intricate modern history of Vietnam and France.

In the 1930s, this was a favorite spot among European high society. In 1916, Vietnam's first-ever film screening took place in the hotel’s cinema room. Silent film legend Charlie Chaplin and his secretly wed wife also chose to spend their honeymoon here. After Vietnam gained independence from French rule in the 1950s, the government used it as a state guesthouse for hosting dignitaries. During the Vietnam War and the subsequent years of Viet Cong rule, the hotel served as a base for foreign journalists and diplomats.

Numerous distinguished guests have stayed at the Sofitel Metropole Hanoi, including presidents of the United States, France, and Switzerland, as well as prime ministers from Australia, Japan, Singapore, Canada, and Norway. And let’s not forget celebrities such as Catherine Deneuve and Oliver Stone. British author Graham Greene even stayed here for some time, during which he wrote his novel *The Quiet American*. His favorite drink, absinthe, became the signature cocktail at the hotel’s Le Club — the Graham Greene Martini.

Le Beaulieu, a restaurant as old as the hotel itself, has built a solid reputation in Hanoi over the past century. Especially delightful is enjoying a rich buffet breakfast here every morning, watching sunlight stream through the old trees onto the street, and observing the comings and goings of pedestrians and vehicles outside the windows — an unmistakably “Vietnamese” feeling easily wafts through the air.

【Travel Information】

Phone: +84-04-826-6919

Address: 15 Ngo Quyen

Website: www.sofitel.com/gb/hotel-1555-sofitel-legend-metropole-hanoi/index.shtml