Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi

Renovated in 2007, this charming, family-friendly, historical hotel is housed in a French colonial-style building, which has stood proudly at the heart of Hanoi since 1901. The hotel has a rich history and a century-long tradition of welcoming ambassadors, writers, heads of state and entrepreneurs and offers guests a blend of warm Vietnamese hospitality and luxury European heritage. It comprises a total of 363 rooms and suites and is ideal for business travellers and holidaymakers alike. Facilities on offer to guests at this air-conditioned establishment include a lobby area with a 24-hour reception and check-out service, a hotel safe, a currency exchange facility, a cloakroom and lift access. It also offers a cafe, a bar, 3 restaurants and conference facilities. Guests may also take advantage of the Internet access (charges apply) and the room and laundry services (for an additional fee).

The rooms and suites are beautifully decorated with wooden floors. In the historical Metropole wing, the original grandeur and charm of the building have been preserved, while in the Opera wing, the newly renovated rooms offer neo-Classical elegance. All accommodation comes with a private bathroom with a shower/bathtub and a hairdryer as well as a king-size or double bed. Each room is also equipped with broadband Internet access, an LCD TV with satellite channels and a DVD player and a direct dial telephone with international calling and a data port, as well as a voice mail facility. Furthermore, a safe, a minibar, tea and coffee making facilities, air conditioning and central heating are provided in all accommodation as standard.

Le Beaulieu Restaurant offers the best French cuisine in town, refined with a great selection of imported products. Le Beaulieu is particularly famous for its evening dinners and Sunday brunches, which have become tradition for Hanoi residents. Spices Garden is the sophisticated place to enjoy Vietnamese food - this healthy and refined establishment offers dishes with exotic flavours and featuring Vietnamese herbs, spices and other well-known traditional specialities. Finally, Angelina, Hanoi's latest and most avant-garde culinary address, is now open. The eclectic Angelina Bar and Lounge is where Hanoi's fashionable elite and a 'who's who' of the city gathers to meet. There is a DJ set every night.

The hotel offers traditional style Vietnamese massage with natural products and relaxing music. The new gym offers state-of-the-art training equipment and a personal trainer service. The outdoor swimming pool with its poolside snack bar is the ideal place to enjoy relaxing in quiet garden surroundings. Sports enthusiasts may enjoy a session of aerobics followed by a relaxing spell in the sauna (charges apply). Golfing fans will find the nearest course, Tam Dao Golf Course, just 90 minutes' drive from the hotel.

Pets are not allowed inside the hotel. Highly flammable articles or explosives are forbidden. A casual yet elegant dress code applies in all public areas of the hotel. For dinner, shorts or T-shirts are not permitted at the Le Beaulieu restaurant. Guests should take particular care when out walking in Hanoi, as the busy traffic may not behave as western visitors are accustomed.

Guests arriving from Noi Bai Airport should take the highway towards the city centre. Head towards Pham Van Dong Street, then towards Tran Quang Khai Street. The hotel is located on Ngo Quyen Street, which is on the right of the opera house.