The Sofitel Legend Metropole is the most celebrated hotel in Vietnam and one of the great historic hotels of Asia. Its white facade with green shutters has stood on Ngo Quyen Street in the French Quarter since the colonial era, and in 2026 it marks its 125th anniversary. Over the decades it has hosted writers, actors and heads of state, and during the American war its guests sheltered from air raids in a bunker beneath the garden. That bunker was rediscovered in 2011 during works at the Bamboo Bar, restored and reopened in 2012, and today the hotel’s historians lead in-house guests through it on the Path of History tour, which tells the story of guests such as Joan Baez and Jane Fonda, who sheltered there. The hotel has 358 rooms split between the original Heritage Wing and a newer wing, three restaurants, the poolside Bamboo Bar, a courtyard pool, Le Spa du Metropole and a fitness centre. Service is famously polished, and it holds a five-star rating from Forbes Travel Guide. It is a true splurge, and worth it for a special trip.
Location and getting around: the Metropole stands at 15 Ngo Quyen Street in Hoan Kiem district, a minute from the Hanoi Opera House and about five minutes on foot from the south end of Hoan Kiem Lake. The Old Quarter begins just beyond the lake, Hoa Lo Prison is a short walk south-west, and Vespa food tours meet in front of the Opera House. Noi Bai airport is about forty-five minutes away; the hotel arranges limousine transfers for a fee.
The rooms: the Heritage Wing holds the historic rooms and suites, with polished wood floors, high ceilings and colonial furnishings, and the famous named suites. The newer wing has larger, more modern rooms, many overlooking the pool or the Opera House. For the full experience, choose the Heritage Wing.
Who it suits: couples on a honeymoon or anniversary, history lovers and anyone who wants the classic grand-hotel experience. Families are welcome, with babysitting available for a surcharge.
Good to know: breakfast is a lavish buffet, sometimes charged separately, so check your rate. The Path of History tour runs daily at 17:00 and 18:00 for hotel guests only; book through the concierge. Afternoon tea in the lobby lounge is open to non-guests and a good taste of the hotel if you stay elsewhere.
Why stay here
- ✓Historic Heritage Wing
- ✓Path of History bunker tour
- ✓Courtyard swimming pool
- ✓Bamboo Bar by the pool
- ✓Three restaurants
- ✓Le Spa du Metropole
- ✓Fitness centre with yoga
- ✓Limousine airport transfers
Good questions
Can non-guests visit the Metropole bomb shelter?+
No, the Path of History tour of the wartime bunker is open only to hotel guests. It runs daily at 17:00 and 18:00 and is booked through the concierge.
Is the Heritage Wing worth it at the Metropole?+
For most guests, yes. It holds the original colonial rooms with high ceilings and period furnishings, while the newer wing is larger and more modern.
How far is the Metropole from Hoan Kiem Lake?+
It is about a five-minute walk from the south end of Hoan Kiem Lake. The Opera House is just around the corner.