Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam. It is known for its mix of influences from China, Southeast Asia, and France, as well as its unique architecture and rich culture. The Old Quarter has narrow streets and intriguing shops. The city has numerous temples complemented by multiplying skyscrapers. This week’s feature story features Hanoi’s top hotels and best suites.
1. Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi
2. Capella Hanoi
3. Pan Pacific Hanoi
4. Lotte Hotel Hanoi
5. InterContinental Hanoi Westlake
6. JW Marriott Hanoi
1. Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi
The Telegraph reports, “With swirling rattan ceiling fans, whispered ‘bonjours’ from uniformed staff and crème caramel-coloured marbles throughout, this stately Belle Epoque former railway hotel – in Hanoi’s French quarter – offers romanticized French Indochina with modern amenities. It’s a celebrity favorite. Romantic French Indochina meets modern Asia: businessmen sipping coffee en plein aire under Parisian wrought iron and glass awnings; wafting ceiling fans in a bar with a wall of back-illuminated whiskies and spirits; demure staff are in elegant traditional white silk ao dai (the traditional Vietnamese tunic garment). This is a hotel fit for presidents and film stars. Charlie Chaplin and Paulette Goddard spent their honeymoon here. Mitterand, Chirac and Catherine Deneuve are former guests.”
Forbes Travel Guide says, “Situated at 15 Ngo Quyen since its opening in 1901, Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi draws deeply from a century of stories to weave a rich, nostalgic guest experience in the heart of the Vietnamese capital. Over the years, the Metropole has checked in many illustrious characters, including novelist Graham Greene, writer Somerset Maugham and movie star Charlie Chaplin. Along with the rest of the country, the hotel hit a rough patch after the war but was brilliantly resurrected by the Accor group in the early 1990s and has since reclaimed the hearts of both travelers and Hanoians, who use its classical white façade and green shutters as a backdrop for countless wedding pictures. Choose from the atmospheric rooms in the recently refurbished original Metropole building’s Heritage Wing or equally luxurious but more contemporary digs in the Opera Wing. A superb set of dining venues, a stylish spa and an in-house history tour ensure there’s plenty to explore.”
Grand Prestige Suite
The 1,896 sq. ft. Grand Prestige Suite is the hotel’s largest suite with separate living room, dining area, library and pantry. It is located in the Opera wing facing the hotel garden and courtyard.
More suites at Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi.
2. Capella Hanoi
Forbes Travel Guide writes, “The emblem of grace and grandeur, drama and design, the Hanoi Opera House has been a must-see landmark in the Old Quarter of Hanoi since the neoclassical structure emerged in the early 1900s. And now, the spirit of the opera lives on at the nearby Capella Hanoi, where rich cultural elements and Roaring Twenties glamour converge. Every detail of this 47-room luxury hotel was left to the imagination of decorated designer Bill Bensley, who also happens to be the creative force behind Bali’s Capella Ubud and Cambodia’s Shinta Mani Wild, among other magical escapes. For this project, Bensley conjured up visions of a petite auberge — a little boutique hotel where actors, opera singers, composers, stage and costume designers and spectators liked to stay in opera’s golden age. As with many of Bensley’s designs, stepping inside the hotel feels like walking into an enchanting alternate universe. Each unique room and suite pays tribute to different opera talents, while the property’s theatrical dining destinations showcase authentic turn-of-the-century artifacts. Meanwhile, Capella’s curated cultural experiences — think tai chi beside Hoan Kiem Lake and intimate Song Cai gin distillery visits — celebrate the many treasures in Vietnam’s capital.”
Grand Opera Suite
This 2,150 sq. ft. features an outdoor bar and dining room that seats 10.
More suites at Capella Hanoi.
3. Pan Pacific Hanoi
Conde Nast Traveler writes, “This hotel’s location is hard to beat. It’s just outside the city center, next to the West Lake (home to the Tran Quoc Pagoda, on a tiny island close to the shoreline) and a short walk from Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, the Hanoi Citadel, the Temple of Literature and the Pearl Island Night Food Street. Every single room (there are 328 in total) comes with lake views as standard. There’s a huge sense of space, and it’s also worth noting that many of the rooms will be refurbished in 2025. For the best views, head to the Summit Bar, on the hotel’s twentieth floor. One of our favorite spots is the pool with its retractable roof although we’re also big fans of the hotel’s art collection. With over 130 artworks, many of which are painted by disabled artists, it’s one of Hanoi’s largest private art collections, and you’ll find one of our favorite pieces in the lobby – Bui Huu Hung’s A Royal Concert, which depicts Vietnamese musicians strumming traditional instruments under a blazing sun.”
Pan Pacific Suite
The 3,090 sq. ft. Pan Pacific Suite features two separate bedrooms, distinct meeting, living and dining areas that are perfect for entertaining.
More suites at Pan Pacific Hanoi.
4. Lotte Hotel Hanoi
Forbes Travel Guide inspectors report, “Perched between the vibrant streets of Ba Dinh and the shopping district of Cau Giay, Lotte Hotel Hanoi is a towering symbol of modern Vietnamese luxury. Rising 65 stories above the skyline inside the Lotte Center building, the elegant property combines sleek glass façades with a contemporary aesthetic designed to mimic the clean silhouette of a traditional ao dai tunic. The ambiance balances opulence with warmth, attracting a mix of business travelers, global explorers and discerning locals. Rooms and suites — spanning from the 33rd to the 64th floors — boast floor-to-ceiling windows that frame sweeping views of the city or West Lake. Dining here is an event, with signature restaurants like Grill63 offering fine steakhouse fare, and Tim Ho Wan delighting with internationally acclaimed dim sum. Memorable extras include the rooftop bar on the 65th floor, a tranquil spa and a refreshing city-center pool that feels like a secluded urban oasis. The luxury Hanoi hotel affords easy access to key attractions like Hoan Kiem Lake and the Old Quarter. Explore the city’s vibrant culture just outside your front door or enjoy upscale shopping at the Lotte Center Hanoi mall below your room.”
Royal Suite
The 3,650 sq. ft. Royal Suite is located on the 61st floor. It includes a conference room, separate kitchen, living room, and spacious bedroom.
More suites at Lotte Hotel Hanoi.
5. InterContinental Hanoi Westlake
The Telegraph writes, “This luxe urban resort is uniquely set on the edge of Hanoi’s largest lake. It is still within easy reach of key sights, but its over-the-water pavilions make for a tranquil escape from the Old Quarter’s hustle and bustle. The hotel was designed to resemble an open lotus flower. The main building boasts a striking, sky-high atrium, where the focal point is an enormous crystal chandelier. Walkways – there are buggies available if you don’t want to walk – lead out to a small island that’s home to the circular Sunset Bar (the clue’s in the name) and beyond that, three two-story pavilions with rooms built over the water. The look is contemporary but with a sense of place in colors, textures and materials, and references to Vietnamese culture, such as the decorative mini cyclos [three-wheel bicycle taxis] in the rooms.”
Presidential Suite
This 3,500 sq. ft. suite includes a living area with spacious balconies and lake views. It features two king bedrooms, separate dining room, and private balcony.
More suites at InterContinental Hanoi Westlake.
6. JW Marriott Hanoi
Forbes Travel Guide says, “Less than six miles from the hustle of downtown Hanoi — and the touristy Old Quarter — on the South Tu Liem district’s Vietnam National Convention Center campus is the show-stopping JW Marriott Hotel Hanoi. Designed by New York-based architecture firm Carlos Zapata Studios in 2013, the hotel fuses Vietnamese tradition with an impressive, space-age exterior to produce a modern masterpiece well-situated for meetings, events and sightseeing.
Inside, vast marble lobbies, impossibly high ceilings, sweeping staircases and grand ballrooms fill Hanoi’s JW Marriott. Outside, the man-made lake and manicured grounds are dominated by the hotel’s imposing structure. The JW Marriott has received a Green Globe Certification and has won a number of awards for its environmentally friendly design, specifically for the engineering of the building, where the focus is on the sustainable use of water and energy. A curated collection of restaurants, an eighth-floor wellness center and 405 elegant rooms and suites make this Hanoi hotel a chic respite from Vietnam’s buzzing capital.”
Presidential Suite
This 3,443 sq. ft. modern suite accommodates up to 10 people for sit-down dining.
More suites at JW Marriott Hanoi.
