Sofitel Legend Metropole

The Metropole is the stuff of legend and fittingly the first Sofitel property to earn that distinction.

This colonial grand dame was first opened in 1901, and has been pretty much the center of expat life in Hanoi ever since. From the classic white columned facade and lush interior courtyard to the romantic French furnishings and delectable Western cuisine, the Metropole has played host to heads of state and notable artists over the years. Apparently Charlie Chaplin spent some time here once upon a time.

I was familiar with it because of my great fondness for the work of the author Graham Greene. When he was stationed in Vietnam, he frequently stayed here and at the Continental in what was then Saigon. You can easily imagine foreign correspondents, French dignitaries and clandestine American intelligence officers drinking liberally and talking politics at the Le Club Bar.

There are a million things about this place to recommend, but it’s not really worth my time or yours to bother with such trivial details as glorious thread counts and bamboo bars. Just book a room if you’re venturing this way.

Website: Sofitel Legend Metropole