The Sofitel Metropole Hanoi is currently undergoing construction work between 8:00 and 19:00 but will remain open to guests.
This is simply the place to stay in Hanoi. The hotel itself dates back to 1901, to the French colonial days, and it shows in every detail. In most East Asian capitals, the premier hotel is an ultra-modern Peninsula or Mandarin Oriental, or something like Singapore's Fullerton, a 21st-century hotel in an historic shell.
The Metropole is a bit more of a time machine, with its French Colonial exterior, and its period interiors — though the Opera Wing is brand-new, and up-to-date in the more typical international style. The luxury here is not a function of the number of switches and buttons on the bedside control panel; this is an old-school five-star hotel, with a discreet atmosphere and service fit for executives and statesmen alike. The sheen of novelty may be missing from the Metropole, but the experience is no less rich and comfortable.
There are two very fine restaurants, quite natural for an ex-colony — Spices Garden serves upscale traditional Vietnamese cuisine, and Le Beaulieu (the haunt of diplomats and journalists for a hundred years) is well-known for fine French cuisine and an extensive selection of wines. There are three bars, a swimming pool, extensive conference facilities, and a well-equipped health club — in short, everything one expects from a capital city's top hotel.
What one does not necessarily expect is to be so thoroughly steeped in history, or so aware of the lingering presence of French culture. This sense of not-so-distant past is what gives the Metropole its unique personality, and sets it apart from the shiny new mega-hotels of the East. On the whole, an utterly fascinating experience — we challenge you to stay here without remembering The Quiet American.
Sofitel Metropole Hanoi
15 Ngo Quyen Street
Hanoi, Vietnam
363 Rooms
Style: Traditional Elegance
Atmosphere: Lively
Showing posts with label Ha Noi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ha Noi. Show all posts
27 Jul 2009
Sofitel Metropole, Hanoi
Hotel Hilton neben der Oper...
Centrally located in Hanoi’s elegant French Quarter, the Hilton Hanoi Opera hotel is a short walk from the famous Old Quarter and the city’s bustling business district. Voted ‘Vietnam’s Leading Hotel’ for the last five years by the prestigious World Travel Awards, the Hilton Hanoi Opera is a landmark in the city.
Relax in the comfort of a traditionally furnished Vietnamese room with high-speed internet access, cable TV and separate work areas. Guests staying in Executive Rooms also enjoy complimentary breakfast and refreshments in the Executive Lounge.
Swim laps in the outdoor pool with Opera House views, work out in the fitness center or unwind in the jacuzzi and saunas. Dine on contemporary Vietnamese cuisine in Ba Mien restaurant or enjoy a cocktail and listen to the live jazz in the Lobby Lounge. There are seven spacious meeting rooms at the Hilton Hanoi Opera hotel including a ballroom and business center.
22 Jul 2009
InterContinental Hanoi
The words luxury, opulence, grandeur and elegance define the best Intercontinental Hanoi Westlake Hotel. As a new venture of Intercontinental group, the hotel offers a serene and sumptuous lifestyle to its guests. The prime location, attentive hospitality, exclusive facilities and seamless services of Intercontinental Hanoi Westlake hotel truly make everyone a privileged visitor.
Rooms at Intercontinental Hanoi Westlake Hotel
With contemporary Vietnamese design, vibrant color and modern conveniences, 359 guestrooms have been adorned here. Each room is adjoined with a large private balcony from where boarders can explore the breathtaking view of the city, pool or the lake. The Hotel Intercontinental Hanoi Westlake provides a myriad range of rooms including Deluxe Room, Atelier Rooms, Club Intercontinental, Lotus Suite, Westlake Suite, and the Presidential Suite. Needless to say, all the rooms are furnished meticulously with satellite TV, in-room safe, private bar and many more. Truly, the rooms at Intercontinental Hanoi Westlake Hotel are the address of a luxurious lifestyle.
Facilities and Services at Intercontinental Hanoi Westlake Hotel
With unmatched facilities and services, Intercontinental Hanoi Westlake Hotel serves its guests impressively. The personal services of the hotel include the services like concierge, valet car parking, currency exchange, cash machine, just to name a few, while the business services of the hotel comprise of a business center available round the clock, photo copy facility, courier service, broadband connectivity, limousine service, secretarial service, interpretation service and many more. With a large swimming pool, children's pool, a health club providing cardio equipment, sauna, stream room, aerobic and yoga classes, the hotel has taken care of the recreational part as well.
On the other hand, the restaurants and bars of the hotel can please individuals' palate. The wining and dining experience at Milan Saigon, Café du Lac, The Sunset Bar, and The Diplomat Lounge is an epicurean delight indeed.
Location of Intercontinental Hanoi Westlake Hotel
Intercontinental Hanoi Westlake Hotel is located at the center of Hanoi. From Noi Bai International Airport, it takes hardly 40 minutes by car to reach the hotel. By boarding at the hotel, travelers can easily explore various tourist destinations of the city.
Rooms at Intercontinental Hanoi Westlake Hotel
With contemporary Vietnamese design, vibrant color and modern conveniences, 359 guestrooms have been adorned here. Each room is adjoined with a large private balcony from where boarders can explore the breathtaking view of the city, pool or the lake. The Hotel Intercontinental Hanoi Westlake provides a myriad range of rooms including Deluxe Room, Atelier Rooms, Club Intercontinental, Lotus Suite, Westlake Suite, and the Presidential Suite. Needless to say, all the rooms are furnished meticulously with satellite TV, in-room safe, private bar and many more. Truly, the rooms at Intercontinental Hanoi Westlake Hotel are the address of a luxurious lifestyle.
Facilities and Services at Intercontinental Hanoi Westlake Hotel
With unmatched facilities and services, Intercontinental Hanoi Westlake Hotel serves its guests impressively. The personal services of the hotel include the services like concierge, valet car parking, currency exchange, cash machine, just to name a few, while the business services of the hotel comprise of a business center available round the clock, photo copy facility, courier service, broadband connectivity, limousine service, secretarial service, interpretation service and many more. With a large swimming pool, children's pool, a health club providing cardio equipment, sauna, stream room, aerobic and yoga classes, the hotel has taken care of the recreational part as well.
On the other hand, the restaurants and bars of the hotel can please individuals' palate. The wining and dining experience at Milan Saigon, Café du Lac, The Sunset Bar, and The Diplomat Lounge is an epicurean delight indeed.
Location of Intercontinental Hanoi Westlake Hotel
Intercontinental Hanoi Westlake Hotel is located at the center of Hanoi. From Noi Bai International Airport, it takes hardly 40 minutes by car to reach the hotel. By boarding at the hotel, travelers can easily explore various tourist destinations of the city.
19 Mar 2009
Fanciful Hoan Kiem Lake in mist
In the fog, the historic lake of Hoan Kiem appears fantastical, like a water-colour painting. Ngo Minh Chau shares his photos:
Source: VNE
6 Jan 2009
Impressive Hanoi
Area: 3.324,92 sq. km.
Population: 6,232,900 habitants (8/2008).
Administrative divisions:
- 9 urban districts: Hoan Kiem, Ba Dinh, Dong Da, Hai Ba Trung, Tay Ho, Thanh Xuan, Cau Giay, Long Bien, Hoang Mai.
- 2 cities: Ha Dong, Son Tay.
- 18 rural districts: Dong Anh, Soc Son, Thanh Tri, Tu Liem, Gia Lam (old Hanoi); Ba Vi, Chuong My, Dan Phuong, Hoai Duc, My Duc, Phu Xuyen, Phuc Tho, Quoc Oai, Thach That, Thanh Oai. Thuong Tin, Ung Hoa (former Ha Tay province) and Me Linh (a former district of Vinh Phuc province).
Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), Hoa, Muong, Tay, Dao...
Hanoi is the capital of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the center of culture, politics, economy and trade of the whole country.
Population: 6,232,900 habitants (8/2008).
Administrative divisions:
- 9 urban districts: Hoan Kiem, Ba Dinh, Dong Da, Hai Ba Trung, Tay Ho, Thanh Xuan, Cau Giay, Long Bien, Hoang Mai.
- 2 cities: Ha Dong, Son Tay.
- 18 rural districts: Dong Anh, Soc Son, Thanh Tri, Tu Liem, Gia Lam (old Hanoi); Ba Vi, Chuong My, Dan Phuong, Hoai Duc, My Duc, Phu Xuyen, Phuc Tho, Quoc Oai, Thach That, Thanh Oai. Thuong Tin, Ung Hoa (former Ha Tay province) and Me Linh (a former district of Vinh Phuc province).
Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), Hoa, Muong, Tay, Dao...
Hanoi is the capital of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the center of culture, politics, economy and trade of the whole country.
Vietnam National Administration of Tourism
4 Jan 2009
Boisterous brouhaha Hanoi flower festival 2009
The 2009 Hanoi flower festival is expected to open on December 31, 2008 and close on January 4, 2009. It is among many activities to welcome big cultural events 2010.
Held by the Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports & Tourism and the Vietnam Culture & Arts Exhibition Centre, the festival will take place around Ly Cong Uan Statute, from Trang Tien Trade center to Ba Kieu Temple on Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Hoan Kiem District. Flower streets will be formed combined with traditional career villages in Hanoi such as Chuong Conic Hat Village, Trang Son Fan Village will contribute to an atmosphere of both modernity and tradition.
Hanoi flower artisans will present samples of fresh flowers, silk and paper flowers, as well as bicycles, conical hats and fans decorated with colorful flowers. Besides, special works of art will include two 15m-long dragons, a 5m fan, traditional long dresses (Ao Dai) made of flowers of all kinds. A model of Hanoi Old Quarters made of ceramics will be rehearsed.
The flower festival aims to honor artisans as well as flower villages and flower streets. The event will mark the start of series of art programs to be held in 2009.
Held by the Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports & Tourism and the Vietnam Culture & Arts Exhibition Centre, the festival will take place around Ly Cong Uan Statute, from Trang Tien Trade center to Ba Kieu Temple on Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Hoan Kiem District. Flower streets will be formed combined with traditional career villages in Hanoi such as Chuong Conic Hat Village, Trang Son Fan Village will contribute to an atmosphere of both modernity and tradition.
Hanoi flower artisans will present samples of fresh flowers, silk and paper flowers, as well as bicycles, conical hats and fans decorated with colorful flowers. Besides, special works of art will include two 15m-long dragons, a 5m fan, traditional long dresses (Ao Dai) made of flowers of all kinds. A model of Hanoi Old Quarters made of ceramics will be rehearsed.
The flower festival aims to honor artisans as well as flower villages and flower streets. The event will mark the start of series of art programs to be held in 2009.
More photos:
Photos by Vnexpress
1 Dec 2008
History comes to life in Soc Son
A serene, almost sacred, atmosphere envelops the mountainous scenery of Ve Linh commune in Soc Son district, 30km north of Hanoi ’s centre, where legend has it Saint Giong flew back to heaven on his horse after defeating foreign invaders.
Colour abounds in the area, turquoise blue lakes – believed to be the footprints of Saint Giong’s horse – contrast against the palate of green mountains, hills and trees that mingle softly with the local bamboo, said to be coloured yellow from fire from Saint Giong’s horse. While stones intersperse the soft colours, giving the look of a painting.
An eco-tourism complex is planned for this most historic of places, covering 270 ha, and will include a golf course if you have had your fill of history.
Nguyen Van Lam, director of the Soc Temple Tourism and Relics Management said the area attracts around 15,000 visitors per year.
At the centre of the planned tourism project is Soc Temple , one feels free from the hustle and bustle of city life, and you can almost hear history calling in the wind.
The temple complex was built in the pre-Le Dynasty (980), and has altars to worship Saint Giong, his mother, and local gods and godesses. It was last restored in 1992 and was recognised as a national historic relic in 1962.
The most important feature of the temple buildings is the main altar, made from a mixture of clay, sugarcane juice, paper and lime. It is unique in Vietnam and forms the shape of the mountain ranges surrounding the complex. Seven statues are worshipped at the temple. The statues are standing, a rare sight in Vietnam as Nguyen Vu Dai, a temple guard, explains, “Standing statues are quite rare as most of local temples worship sitting statues.”
The back of the altar opens into a cave, that can be explored if you enter from the left and exit from right.
“Going from left to right symbolises going in by the father gate and out by the mother gate,” said Dai, “the cave represents the resting place of all Vietnamese ancestors.”
Stopping in the middle of the cave and looking towards the statue of Saint Giong, visitors should take a deep breath to receive the “holy” air from the back of the statue.
“You will get the strength of Saint Giong and live longer,” Dai said.
Mid way up Hon Da Trong Mountain there is a big white stone, cleft in two, that locals believe is Saint Giong’s armour. A statue of Saint Giong will be placed at the mountain peak in time for the 1,000 th anniversary of the founding of Thang Long-Hanoi in 2010.
“I have chosen an image of an 18-year-old boy with strong arms and legs for the statue,” said sculptor Nguyen Kim Xuan, the creator of Giong’s statue, “As there is no model for the heroic figure, the statue should symbolise the strength of Vietnamese people to maintain peace and wipe out invaders.”
The finished work will be 40m tall and weigh 50 tonnes.
Colour abounds in the area, turquoise blue lakes – believed to be the footprints of Saint Giong’s horse – contrast against the palate of green mountains, hills and trees that mingle softly with the local bamboo, said to be coloured yellow from fire from Saint Giong’s horse. While stones intersperse the soft colours, giving the look of a painting.
An eco-tourism complex is planned for this most historic of places, covering 270 ha, and will include a golf course if you have had your fill of history.
Nguyen Van Lam, director of the Soc Temple Tourism and Relics Management said the area attracts around 15,000 visitors per year.
At the centre of the planned tourism project is Soc Temple , one feels free from the hustle and bustle of city life, and you can almost hear history calling in the wind.
The temple complex was built in the pre-Le Dynasty (980), and has altars to worship Saint Giong, his mother, and local gods and godesses. It was last restored in 1992 and was recognised as a national historic relic in 1962.
The most important feature of the temple buildings is the main altar, made from a mixture of clay, sugarcane juice, paper and lime. It is unique in Vietnam and forms the shape of the mountain ranges surrounding the complex. Seven statues are worshipped at the temple. The statues are standing, a rare sight in Vietnam as Nguyen Vu Dai, a temple guard, explains, “Standing statues are quite rare as most of local temples worship sitting statues.”
The back of the altar opens into a cave, that can be explored if you enter from the left and exit from right.
“Going from left to right symbolises going in by the father gate and out by the mother gate,” said Dai, “the cave represents the resting place of all Vietnamese ancestors.”
Stopping in the middle of the cave and looking towards the statue of Saint Giong, visitors should take a deep breath to receive the “holy” air from the back of the statue.
“You will get the strength of Saint Giong and live longer,” Dai said.
Mid way up Hon Da Trong Mountain there is a big white stone, cleft in two, that locals believe is Saint Giong’s armour. A statue of Saint Giong will be placed at the mountain peak in time for the 1,000 th anniversary of the founding of Thang Long-Hanoi in 2010.
“I have chosen an image of an 18-year-old boy with strong arms and legs for the statue,” said sculptor Nguyen Kim Xuan, the creator of Giong’s statue, “As there is no model for the heroic figure, the statue should symbolise the strength of Vietnamese people to maintain peace and wipe out invaders.”
The finished work will be 40m tall and weigh 50 tonnes.
Source: Vietnam Plus
Photo from: Xomnhiepanh
Photo from: Xomnhiepanh
11 Nov 2008
Hanoi Photos Continue...
Indochina’s old dame, Hanoi is striving to modernize, yet unwilling to let go of the beauty of its glorious past.
Slightly vain, the city won’t bow down and give any tourists and easy time. Only those who are truly willing to understand and listen will recognize the logic of Hanoi's beauty, the complexity of its chaos and peace, its urban speed and rural tranquility.
History and name
Hanoi used to be called Thang Long (flying dragon). The myth was that in 2010, the new king Ly Cong Uan while visiting this valley saw a dragon flying into the sky, and took this as an omen that this place was a suitable capital to rule. Thang Long had rich soil and good defense because it was surrounded by the Red River and backed by mountains.
The city was later renamed Hanoi (which means inside the river) in 1831 when the Nguyen dynasty moved capital to Hue. Hanoi was returned its status as capital during the French rule from 1887 to 1954, and continued to be the capital, first of Communist North Vietnam (from 1954) and later, of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
As of 2008, Hanoi will be expanded to include the surrounding province of Hatay and parts of Ha Dong, to a size of 3.200km2 and population of over 6 million people.
Slightly vain, the city won’t bow down and give any tourists and easy time. Only those who are truly willing to understand and listen will recognize the logic of Hanoi's beauty, the complexity of its chaos and peace, its urban speed and rural tranquility.
History and name
Hanoi used to be called Thang Long (flying dragon). The myth was that in 2010, the new king Ly Cong Uan while visiting this valley saw a dragon flying into the sky, and took this as an omen that this place was a suitable capital to rule. Thang Long had rich soil and good defense because it was surrounded by the Red River and backed by mountains.
The city was later renamed Hanoi (which means inside the river) in 1831 when the Nguyen dynasty moved capital to Hue. Hanoi was returned its status as capital during the French rule from 1887 to 1954, and continued to be the capital, first of Communist North Vietnam (from 1954) and later, of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
As of 2008, Hanoi will be expanded to include the surrounding province of Hatay and parts of Ha Dong, to a size of 3.200km2 and population of over 6 million people.
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