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Mario Ng

Hotel Review: Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery (Executive Suite)

Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery
Credit: Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery

When we were planning a trip to Sapa and started researching hotels to stay in, Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery kept popping up. On various social media platforms, we saw how famous this hotel is and how it is the hotel to be in. Naturally, we had to book a stay here.


Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery is great for all the right reasons. Besides being the most luxurious hotel in Sapa, it is also located in the middle of town. You are always only a short walk from the town’s cafes, restaurants, and souvenir stores. The hotel also promises stunning views of the mountainous region, where you will get wow-ed each time you look out from the balcony.


The hotel has three types of rooms (Classic, Superior, and Deluxe) and three types of suites (Deluxe, Executive, and Presidential). Wanting to indulge a little on this trip, we booked a stay for 2 nights in the Executive Suite. This would be one of the most exciting trips in Vietnam!

 

TL:DR

  • Located right in the middle of Sapa town

  • Fantastic views of Sapa

  • Top-notch service standards from every staff

  • Arguably the best hotel in Sapa

 

Service:

Service was simply top-notch at Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery. From the moment we checked in until we checked out, the hotel staff were simply perfect. Every staff member of the hotel was friendly and they always greeted us with an infectious “Xin Chao!” whenever we met. They were also helpful and gave great suggestions when we asked for dining options. From the reception counter to the restaurants, from the swimming pool to the housekeeping staff, a hearty “Xin Chao!” was always waiting for us.


Besides the amazing infrastructure and the fact that the hotel is still relatively new, the high service standards set by this hotel truly set the benchmark really high for other hotels to follow. In our opinion, the service standards displayed by Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery staff members easily surpassed those of its sister brands.


The next time we are in Sapa, we will definitely book a stay at Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery!

 

Views:

One of the key reasons travellers stay at Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery is the breathtaking views of Sapa it offers. A high-rise building situated on a mountain, the hotel is bound to provide amazing views wherever you are located. It also helps that the hotel restaurants are situated on the highest floors.


Throughout our stay, we were able to snap beautiful pictures of Sapa and the hotel surroundings. It was truly a very enjoyable experience and we felt we spent too little time in the hotel. The fact is that Sapa is so beautiful that everything is worth exploring but there was just not enough time to experience everything. This just means that we will need to be back in Sapa one day to enjoy the city even more.


We know that we will never do the hotel justice by just talking about it. We hope that some of the pictures we snapped can show just a little of how beautiful the place is.

 
 

Hotel Facilities:

The hotel has quite a few facilities that rival international five-star hotels. While it has a gym and swimming pool, these are nothing ordinary. Perhaps due to its location, gym-goers can get great views of the town, with its floor-to-ceiling windows especially inviting.


For frequent TikTok viewers, you will know that the  Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery’s indoor swimming pool is one of the hotel’s star attractions. Named as Le Grand Bassin, you have to see it to believe it. Designed in the 1920s to 1930s French style, the swimming pool’s many green marble columns and gold statues are simply made for the Gram. It is not surprising to see many young people dressed up in their beautiful swimsuits to snap the all-important photo before uploading it onto their social media profiles.

Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery - The famous swimming pool
Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery - The famous swimming pool

Yet, the swimming pool is more than that. It is large enough that it can fit many couples and families. There are also many loungers where guests can just lie down and relax. Admittedly, I was one of them who enjoyed a short nap while relaxing on the loungers. The optimal temperature in the indoor swimming arena and the sounds of water splashing about meant that a nap was inevitable.


For those who prefer a bite in between dips, you will be satisfied with Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery. Featuring a full beverage menu consisting of various alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, there is also a comprehensive tapas menu that will ward off those afternoon hunger pangs. As we were saving our stomachs for a delicious dinner, we opted for some tasty mocktails instead and drank those sugary beverages in between dips and multiple photo-taking sessions.

Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery - Enjoy the warm temperature by the swimming pool with some cold drinks
Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery - Enjoy the warm temperature by the swimming pool with some cold drinks

Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery has a spa located on the 7th floor that possesses great views of Sapa. Unfortunately, as we were too busy exploring the city’s sights, we were unable to find the time to go for a relaxing massage. We will try to make a reservation for a massage the next time we are in Sapa.


The hotel essentially has two restaurants: Chic and Absinthe. Chic is the hotel’s main restaurant that serves an international breakfast and French cuisine during other meal times. Absinthe is the rooftop bar and lounge that promises some of the best views you will find in Sapa. For our welcome drinks, we were able to get them at Absinthe and we managed to grab some outdoor seats. It was perfect as we caught the sunset and relaxed while enjoying fantastic views of Sapa. We had to get a Vietnamese iced coffee and it was delicious. The mocktail was also great without being too sweet.


The hotel’s lobby is home to Cacao, a bakery and cafe serving its signature hot chocolate. Unfortunately, it was only open on Fridays and weekends and we happened to be in Sapa in the middle of the week. We hope to be able to try a whole cup of hot chocolate the next time we are in Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery!

 
 

Breakfast:

Breakfast is served at Chic, the hotel’s main restaurant. It offers a wide variety of food options to hotel guests and we were quite impressed with both the quality and quantity of the food options.


The usual suspects of cold cuts, cheese, and smoked fish were displayed nicely while there was also a variety of bread and pastries on offer. We had a tough time deciding what pastry to take as we know that will eat into our stomach capacity! Being in Vietnam, the hotel of course also served Vietnamese cuisine, with cooked-to-order pho. Other local cuisine included bánh cuốn and chả lụa (Vietnamese pork ham). We are happy to say that all tasted great.

Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery breakfast service - Loads of pastries
Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery breakfast service - Loads of pastries
Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery breakfast service - Cold cuts
Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery breakfast service - Cold cuts

There was also quite a spread of hot food, including fried rice, braised vegetables and meat, and western options like potatoes and sausages, among others. They were all kept warm in the containers, ready for guests to grab some for the table. Fresh fruits are available and you can get your hands on some peaches, plums, and passionfruit to supplement your daily fibre intake. We know we especially enjoy having watermelon for breakfast in a hotel breakfast buffet.


Of course, there is an egg station in the middle of the restaurant and this is where you can order your eggs your way. It is also in this area that there is an elaborate drinks counter. For those who know what they want, they can simply order the drinks of choice from the servers. However, if you prefer to walk around in between plates, you can walk up and see for yourself the different drink options. We saw the different types of hot teas you can get, iced Vietnamese coffee, as well as a banana smoothie. You can also get your Americanos and Lattes from the barista in the restaurant. Finally, make sure you get at least one portion of the chestnut cake. It is a Sapa delicacy and you can see many street vendors selling it in Sapa. We had a taste of Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery’s version and it was great. We made sure to have at least a portion of chestnut cake a day when we were in Sapa!

Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery breakfast service - Smoked sea bass for breakfast
Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery breakfast service - Smoked sea bass for breakfast

Overall, we enjoyed our breakfast sessions in Chic during our stay at Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery. The food tasted fresh and we were impressed by the quality of what they served, from the vegetables to the meat and to the pastries. We could tell that a lot of effort was put into delivering such top-quality food daily. We know we are repeating but this hotel is surpassing some of its sister hotels in the country!

 
 

Room:

Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery’s Executive Suites come with at least 80 square metres of real estate, equivalent to approximately 861 square feet. This means that there is a lot of space for the hotel to design a nice suite and this shows in the Executive Suite. Located in the corner of the hotel, this means that guests get lots of privacy, situated away from the elevators.

Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery (Executive Suite) - The living room welcomes guests
Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery (Executive Suite) - The living room welcomes guests

When you first enter the room, you meet the living room and a balcony just beside it. It is a cosy living room that comes with a large 55-inch television and proper sofa. It is designed to feel like your home away from home and we certainly felt it. We were welcomed with fresh fruits on the coffee table, where we were able to enjoy dragon fruit and bananas. Hidden within the cabinets are the minibar and assorted snacks, while the coffee machine is conveniently located beside the television. It is a wise choice as some guests may probably feel something is wrong until they have had their first cup of caffeine of the day. Placing the coffee machine in clear sight certainly minimises confusion and tension!

Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery (Executive Suite) - Nespresso coffee machine and Ronnefeldt teabags for your caffeine needs
Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery (Executive Suite) - Nespresso coffee machine and Ronnefeldt teabags for your caffeine needs

Caffeine options come in the form of Nespresso capsules and Ronnefelt teabags. Nespresso coffee has become the norm in many five-star hotels and it is convenient when guests need a coffee quickly. It also tastes good so it does not sacrifice quality for convenience. The best part about Nespresso machines is that they can also provide hot water quickly. This makes it easier to enjoy a cup of tea. Of course, if you are a tea lover, you might not enjoy the coffee residue when you get your hot water from the Nespresso machine. Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery does its water well. What I mean when I say that is how it sustainably provides bottled water. Instead of plastic bottles or even water stored in carton boxes, the hotel provides the water in large glass bottles. This is a win-win situation. Providing its branding on the bottle while ensuring there is sustainability in this method, both the hotel and guests benefit. We enjoyed the clean water stored in the glass bottles and they are large enough that we did not have to request more bottles. Of course, staying in an Executive Suite helped since there were at least 6 bottles in our suite. Nevertheless, we thought it was easy to request more bottles and we especially enjoyed the taste of the water that Hotel de la Coupole - Gallery provided.

Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery (Executive Suite) - View of Sapa from the balcony
Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery (Executive Suite) - View of Sapa from the balcony

The balcony gives you a view of downtown Sapa and it is a great view, whether it is in the day or at night. The best part about the Executive Suite is that it has two balconies instead. While this offers a view of downtown Sapa, being a corner room, you will also get another view of Sapa from another balcony.


Just beside the main entrance to the suite is a restroom. This is great if you have guests coming over to the suite. This works as the bedroom is separated from the suite by a door. This gives couples a lot of privacy and prevents unwelcome guests from intruding.


When you enter the bedroom area, you realise how spacious the suite is. To your left is a massive open-concept bathroom that is hopelessly romantic, while there is a small walk-in wardrobe to your right. The Executive Suite is designed with couples in mind. We enjoyed our stay at Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery and cannot wait to come back again for another stay.

Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery (Executive Suite) - Double vanity sinks to minimise arguments
Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery (Executive Suite) - Double vanity sinks to minimise arguments
Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery (Executive Suite) - Another view of the spacious bathroom
Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery (Executive Suite) - Another view of the spacious bathroom

The bathroom comes with both a standing shower and bathtub, so you can decide whether you are in the mood for romance before choosing the standing shower. The bathtub is situated beside the balcony so you can enjoy the cool breeze of fresh Sapa air while taking a bath. It is also beautiful if you decide to take a bath while checking out the sights of the Sapa mountains.

Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery (Executive Suite) - Soak in the bathtub while enjoying the view
Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery (Executive Suite) - Soak in the bathtub while enjoying the view

The bathroom comes with double vanity sinks that are just spacious so there is no fighting first thing in the morning. The amount of space is amazingly huge so each person can do their own thing until they are ready to seize the day. There is a small chair in the bathroom, which can be useful. While some may choose to put their clothes there, some can also decide to sit there while waiting for their partner who is in the restroom. Either way, it is something functional and useful to have.


Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery uses Appelles toiletries so guests should be familiar with this Australian brand. Many other five-star hotels use this, including PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering. We love the fragrance of Appelles shampoo and showering gel so we had no issues at all.


The bedroom comes with a huge elevated King-size bed so you feel extra comfortable lying on it. We struggled to get out of bed every morning, each time successful only after realising we would be too late for breakfast if we stayed in any longer. There is also a smaller-sized television in the bedroom, so you can snuggle in bed before dozing off at night.

Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery (Executive Suite) - View of the King-size bed
Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery (Executive Suite) - View of the King-size bed

On either side of the bed, there is a universal plug and USB-A plug so guests can charge all their electronic equipment. There is also a water bottle on either side so guests can hydrate before sleeping and after waking up. This can be important as the weather can be really cold in Sapa and guests may mistakenly think that they are sufficiently hydrated.


The balcony just outside the bedroom is probably one of the highlights of the Executive Suite. It offers a panoramic view of Sapa and the mountains beyond. We found ourselves on the balcony snapping away at the beautiful scenery multiple times throughout our stay. We just loved the view that Sapa has to offer. Guests can also make use of the oversized lounge bed and chairs on the balcony and enjoy some hot drinks. It is a great place to enjoy some bonding while looking out at the view. It is your private balcony after all.


Finally, we must compliment the designers of this hotel. The Executive Suite is decorated in a deep French Rose wine colour. We loved this bold design that is not commonly found in other hotels, where most prefer to play it safe and choose a more conventional colour. Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery chose to stay true to its roots and proudly displayed its French connections. We loved the suite and thought it made the room very warm and romantic, perfect for couples, especially if they are on their honeymoon. We cannot recommend this hotel and suite enough!

 
 

Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery. The Executive Suite was spacious and offered great views of the city. The top service standards provided by the staff made our stay a delight. This hotel is definitely our choice of accommodation whenever we are in Sapa!


Click here to find out more about Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery and book a stay today!

 

Cost of Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery Executive Suite: VND 8,415,963.00 (approximately S$470.42) a night - stayed over a weekend in June 2023

 

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