From the time I first visited Hanoi, I was in awe of the grandeur of Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi. It looked so magnificent and I have wanted to stay a night there ever since. When I went on another trip to Hanoi in 2018, I was blessed enough to enjoy afternoon tea and lunch at one of the hotel’s restaurants.
This time, I made sure to book a stay here in the famous and luxurious hotel. I booked a night’s stay at the hotel’s Grand Premium Room, which is located in the Opera Wing. All guests staying in the Grand Premium Room come with Club Metropole benefits. Hence, this is a great room to stay in if you decide to book a night at Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi!
TL:DR
Impeccable service standards
Facilities within the hotel to suit everyone
Spacious room
Located right in the middle of Hanoi’s Old Quarter
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Service:
The hotel’s service was top-notch. From the moment I stepped into the hotel lobby to the time I left the hotel, the staff’s service standards were impeccable. I noted during check-in that they were really busy. However, the reception staff maintained their professionalism and friendliness at all times.
As I checked in around 2 pm and my room was not yet ready, they invited me to their club lounge so that I could rest while they prepared my room. While there, a staff member noticed me and immediately offered me beverages. Of course, my first drink had to be a cup of Vietnamese coffee.
It was quiet and the seats were really comfortable. I was able to spend some time focusing on my work. Before long, time passed and I was soon invited to enjoy some afternoon tea at the lounge.
During breakfast service and whenever I walked past a staff member, they were always eager to greet guests and to check on their well-being. It was how they were able to maintain their professionalism at all times that really impressed me. I cannot stop praising the high standards of service that I enjoyed at this hotel.
Hotel Facilities:
The hotel has a beautiful swimming pool that is large enough for solo travellers, couples, and families to enjoy. It is situated in the hotel’s garden and it looks really beautiful. If you do not fancy a swim in the pool, you can actually head to the restaurant beside the pool and enjoy a bowl of pho while the rest of your family enjoys a dip. Unfortunately, I did not manage to go for a swim during my time there as I was simply too busy enjoying the food and massages at the hotel. I will make sure to go for a dip during my next visit.
The hotel also has a SOFit gym that I did not visit. However, I am quite certain it has all the equipment that one requires to perform a workout. You can find out more about the gym at the hotel’s website, located here.
The hotel has the world-famous Sofitel Le Spa Du Metropole, which offers various services for guests. While I usually enjoy affordable massages in Hanoi, I knew I had to try a massage at Le Spa Du Metropole as well, which I did. It was simply fantastic and I thoroughly enjoyed the session. Make sure you book a session in advance as they tend to be fully booked quite quickly!
Cost of my spa session: VND 1,865,455.00
Besides these standard offerings that most hotels provide, Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi also has a unique grocery store, L'Epicerie Du Metropole, that sells fresh bread, cheese, and chocolates. They also sell their own branded tea leaves, which I bought a tin of. It would in fact be great if you are able to buy some fresh pastries or macaroons before you leave and check out so that you can still enjoy them while on the plane or when you have arrived home. It will be a great memory of your time spent in this hotel. As I was still touring Hanoi, I was sadly unable to purchase any cheese, even though I really wanted to.
Moving on to the hotel’s heritage, there is so much that Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi has to offer. First built in 1901, the hotel has come a long way and has seen much in the country’s history. President Ho Chi Minh used it as a meeting place quite a few times and the government also built a bomb shelter in the 1960s to protect guests while the Vietnam War was in full effect. As the war was dwindling down, it became home to many foreign embassies as the city slowly rebuilt itself.
After it became a luxury hotel, the bomb shelter was forgotten and it was not until 2011 that it was discovered while the hotel’s Bamboo Bar was being renovated. Since 2012, with the exception of Covid restrictions, the hotel has been offering daily tours exclusively to hotel guests to allow them to learn more about the hotel’s and shelter’s history. During my stay, it was unfortunately closed due to the Covid restrictions that were still present then. I will definitely book another stay one day and sign up for the tour. Find out more about this tour here!
For those who enjoy a little more breeze in their hair, in contrast to the dark and humid conditions underground, you are in for a treat. Guests who walk past Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi will notice two iconic vintage Citroen cars. More than just car models, they are in fine working condition and can be booked by hotel guests to go on a tour around Hanoi. The hotel can also arrange a beautiful picnic basket to be packed along with your tour so that you will not go hungry while you travel around Hanoi in style.
For sure, Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi has many unique features and facilities that many other five-star hotels just cannot replicate!
Breakfast:
Breakfast is a luxurious affair at Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi. Besides the exemplary service that I previously mentioned, the variety of food offered during breakfast service should please most people.
Of course, the standard western offerings of eggs, hash browns, bacon, sausages, vegetables, and mushrooms are offered. There is a dedicated egg station as well. Besides that, there are quite a few types of bread for you to choose from. So far so good. For those with a sweet tooth, you can jump straight to the waffles, crepes, or pancakes and add on your choice of topping, such as Nutella or mango sauce.
Smoked salmon and cheese are offered, and I especially loved the hotel’s smoked salmon. It tasted really flavourful and I enjoyed multiple servings of it.
Besides fresh fruits, there are also fresh fruit juices and smoothies. This is beneficial to those who wish to have a clear internal system in the mornings. I do not particularly have a preference to clear my internal system and chose to skip that.
Being in Vietnam, there are of course local offerings. While I was there, the breakfast service’s speciality for the day was Ben Moc, which they thoughtfully elaborated as fresh noodles with pork balls.
As I am not a big eater, I focused on the western options and ate many slices of smoked salmon. However, to maximise the food options, you should definitely share the food with your family, so that all of you can enjoy all that Sofitel has to offer. Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi’s breakfast service is definitely one that you should slowly take your time and enjoy!
Room:
At 48 square metres, the Grand Premium Room is indeed roomy. As should be the case for a room at Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi. This is in contrast to the 32 square metres Premium Room.
With an additional 16 square metres, the Grand Premium Room becomes a lot more spacious and it almost feels like a junior suite. While there is no separate living room, this is often unnecessary for couples who simply do not require a living area when all they need is a nice cosy room. This room is extremely suitable for couples.
When you first step into the room, you will see the inviting King-size bed with the workstation situated on your side. It is located far enough from the bed that you will not feel claustrophobic, while it is still considered close enough within the room, that you can still catch a little television while working. The workstation also has a few essential booklets that allow guests to find out the hotel’s offerings quickly. This includes the room service menu and spa menu located at Le Spa.
The King-size bed is definitely very welcoming. The television is mounted onto the wall in front of the bed so guests will not need to get up to catch some news or a movie. There is also a daybed by the windows so that you can laze on it if you feel a little tired. I actually took a short nap on the day bed in the evening before heading out!
Caffeine options are provided by Nespresso and Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi’s own tea blends. It is not often that hotels serve their own branded tea or coffee. However, Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi certainly does it well. Also for sale at its own shop, I made sure to buy a tin of tea leaves before heading home. Its mini bar is also well-stocked. Besides Evian mineral water and Perrier sparkling water, there is a variety of beverages, including fruit juices, soft drinks, beer, and spirits. There are also non-chilled liquor wine, and tea, that are available for sale.
The bathroom is technically roomless, as it can only be sheltered from the bedroom via translucent curtains. I can understand how this might be very romantic for couples and especially those on a honeymoon. However, this room may not be too suitable for families or siblings staying together. Thankfully, the toilet is located at the end of the bathroom with a separate door. There should not be any potential embarrassment in this setting.
The spacious bathroom comes with two sinks located a distance from each other so that there will not be any unnecessary arguments first thing in the morning. The huge mirror also makes the area look bigger and this allows the room to feel much bigger. There is a small bathtub beside the windows, and while it looks pretty, it may not be the most functional apparatus in the room. However, it definitely makes the bathroom look more beautiful!
One good thing I noticed in this room is the generous amounts of towels. I like such hotels where there are many towels available. We know that towels can be really useful, and in the absence of a kitchen, these towels are our go-to item to wipe our hands or face. During my stay in this hotel, there was no need to request additional towels at all.
The toiletries are provided by Balmain, a French luxury brand. While some Sofitels reserve Balmain toiletries for their suite guests, it is nice to know that Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi offers these toiletries to non-suite guests as well.
One last thing I noticed while staying in this room is the availability to request a bubble bath to be set up. While a simple soothing bath that can be prepared using bath salts and essential oils or Hermes fragrances is complimentary, a special bath that is aimed at relieving your muscles and detoxing your body will be chargeable. Depending on how much your body requires a detox, it could be a fun experience as you bathe in ginger and cinnamon. The best part of it: no preparation is required! Simply contact the concierge and they will send someone to set it up for you. Unfortunately, as I was too busy during my stay at Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, I did not manage to try it. However, I will make sure to try it the next time I am there! The things to try the next time I am here keep adding up!
P.S. Check out my review of Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah’s Waldorf Astoria Suite with Sea View here to see if I enjoyed an ice-cold bubble bath in the comfort of my suite!
Club Metropole Lounge:
The lounge is located at the Opera Wing and is a really large space. While most guests would make use of the lounge to enjoy their afternoon tea and evening cocktails, I enjoyed making use of the space to do my work as well. It appeared clear that the lounge was designed for business travellers, where the numerous tables and spacious aisles allowed for concentration. It has lots of space and depending on your group’s size, you will find suitable spaces for individuals, couples, and families. In fact, while I was there as a solo traveller, I never felt claustrophobic despite having many groups in the lounge come evening time.
When I first checked in, my room was not yet ready. As a result, I was invited to the lounge while they got my room ready. I proceeded to do some work while waiting. As a testament to how conducive the lounge was to doing some work, I did not notice how much time had passed until the staff invited me to enjoy some afternoon tea at the lounge. I only realised later that 2 hours had already passed.
The afternoon tea service was beautifully arranged. Many party-size sandwiches, pastries, and sweet treats are on offer. Macarons, mini muffins, and cakes that are suitable for both children and adults can be found. Freshly cut fruits and whole fruits are also available for guests to enjoy. There are also heated crepes and chocolate pudding in case anyone with a sweet tooth wants some hot food.
During evening service, it is when the lounge becomes considerably more crowded. Nevertheless, the staff members appeared more than able to handle the influx of people.
I was very quickly ushered to an available seat and I was offered a drinks menu. The staff also took his time to explain the drinks menu and made sure I understood the offerings before leaving me. As I am not much of a drinker, I naturally opted for a glass of champagne before heading to the food area.
There are more local and fresh food options, including three different types of salad and a serving of canapes. Besides that, they offered the standard evening service of cold cuts, smoked fish, and cheese. Cakes and other sweet treats that were on offer during afternoon tea are also available here. There are also different bread options for people who need some flour in them. While it cannot be strictly considered as a full meal, you can easily enjoy enough during the evening service to consider it a full meal! There is always room service!
Outside of afternoon tea and evening services, there are always non-alcoholic beverages and cookies for you to enjoy. I definitely enjoyed my time at the Club Metropole Lounge.
Room Service:
While I usually write a separate room service review when staying in hotels, I decided not to do so for this hotel as I only ordered a bowl of pho. Hence, it made more sense to include it as part of the hotel review instead.
I ordered a bowl of beef pho for dinner (supper) during my stay at the hotel. As a true five-star hotel, the bowl of pho was served in nice china that made you feel at home.
The pho was delicious, and the broth was rich and tasted flavourful. The hotel was also generous with the serving, with huge chunks of chicken meat filling the bowl. Before long, I finished the bowl of pho and was left wanting more. This meal was in line with what I enjoyed in all of my meals at Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, which is just top-notch.
My only regret was that I could only order one dish as I was too full from my earlier meal at the Club Metropole Lounge. This is perhaps a testament to the hotel, where the staff make sure to pamper their guests and does not leave them feeling lacking. I will make sure to find a little more space for a proper meal for my next visit to this grand hotel so that I can write a proper room service review.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi. The Grand Deluxe room was pleasant enough, with service standards provided by the staff members an absolute delight. All the food offerings were also fantastic. From the hotel’s breakfast service to the afternoon tea and evening services at Club Metropole Lounge, the food options were simply perfect. I hope to be back at Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi one day to try one of their amazing suites!
Click here to find out more about Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi and book a stay today!
Cost of Premier Suite: VND 8,904,509.00 (approximately S$530) a night - stayed over a weekend in April 2022
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