Hotel
Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi
Hanoi's grand colonial hotel, open since 1901, with a restored wartime bomb shelter, celebrated restaurants and a guest list from Charlie Chaplin to Graham Greene.
A luxury hotel on West Lake with overwater rooms, six restaurants, an outdoor pool and Sunset Bar, which the hotel describes as Hanoi's only overwater bar.
Good to know
InterContinental Hanoi Westlake offers a resort-style stay without leaving the city. It stands on the shore of West Lake in Tay Ho district, and many of its rooms are built over the water, looking out across the lake. It is a world away from the dense streets of the Old Quarter, and it suits travellers who prefer to return to a lakeside setting after a day of sightseeing.
Rooms range from Classic rooms to junior suites, one-, two- and three-bedroom suites and a Presidential Suite, and many categories are offered with overwater lake views. If the view matters to you, book one of the overwater lake-view categories rather than a standard room, and ask about the position of the room when you confirm.
The hotel has six on-site restaurants. Saigon Restaurant is described by the hotel as offering award-winning dining, and Penfolds Lounge is a private dining space for up to 20 guests. The highlight for many visitors is Sunset Bar, which the hotel describes as Hanoi's only overwater bar. As the name suggests, it is at its best in the early evening, and it is worth visiting for a drink even if you are staying elsewhere. There is an outdoor pool with views across the lake and a fitness centre.
Practical details are straightforward. Check-in is from 3pm and check-out by noon, and the minimum check-in age is 18. Parking is free for registered guests, and Wi-Fi is complimentary. The hotel does not run a complimentary shuttle, so allow for taxis or ride-hailing to reach the Old Quarter. Noi Bai International Airport is about 22 kilometres away, which makes it a convenient choice for a final night before an early flight. Pets are not allowed.
Tay Ho has restaurants such as the Michelin Bib Gourmand Chao Ban and the farm-to-table Lamai Garden, and Tran Quoc Pagoda is on the lake's islet. The hotel suits couples, families who want a pool and more space, and business travellers, and works well as part of a stay that balances time in the centre with relaxation by the lake. Reservations can be made through IHG or at [email protected].
At 05 Tu Hoa Street on West Lake, in Tay Ho district.
Yes, several room categories are overwater with lake views.
An overwater bar that the hotel describes as the only one of its kind in Hanoi.
Six on-site restaurants, including Saigon Restaurant.
Yes, an outdoor pool with views across the lake.
Check-in from 3pm and check-out by 12 noon.
Yes, for registered guests.
Noi Bai International Airport is about 22 kilometres away.
Bar
Vietnam's first jazz club, founded in 1997 by saxophonist Quyen Van Minh, with live jazz every night from 9pm on Trang Tien Street.
Café
The family café where egg coffee was invented in 1946, still run by the founder's son in an alley off Nguyen Huu Huan Street in the…
Restaurant
Chef Sam Tran's Michelin-starred restaurant opposite the Temple of Literature, serving a single seasonal tasting menu rooted in traditional Vietnamese cooking.
Thing to do
The historic trading district north of Hoan Kiem Lake, known as the 36 streets, where each street was once named after the goods sold there.