Will be in Hanoi for two nights in early November. Considering the Sofitel Metropole. We're a 50 y/o couple interested in a brief "don't have to see everything" stopover in Hanoi between Phnom Phen & Hong Kong.

Looks like the rooms are about $130 on various discounted web sites and about $124 on the Sofitel web site.

Anybody been there?

Easiest way from the airport ot the hotel?

Is there a better hotel choice in terms of location & value (we really could care less about saving $20 - $50 a night)?

Any general comments on how two spend two enjoyable/leisurely days in Hanoi?

Not to worry.....our style is to get an overview of the areas and then return to what we like. Itinerary is 6 nights BKK, 2 nights PNH, 2 nights HAN, 4 nights HKG, 3 nights PEK. We'll likely return to the area in the spring. As we've gotten older my attention span for rocks/monuments/temples has deteriorated. Would like to see some....but, quite frankly, one would probably be enough.

Suggestions?

Thanks

Dale & Kathy
Baton Rouge

I recently stayed at the Melia Hanoi which is 5 star, cost about $65 from an Australian site for Vietnam.

www.vietnam-hotel-reservations.4t.com

I would definitely recommend the Sofitel Metropole in Hanoi. Have you been to Singapore? The Sofitel has an atmosphere almost similar to Raffles Hotel. Of course if you haven't been to Singapore, that's not very helpful! What I mean to say is it has an 'old world' colonial feel to the place. The location is right downtown, and you can explore Hanoi (a lovely city) from there on foot easily. There is a bunch of nice restaurants/shops etc in the same area. The Opera House Hilton incidentally is very close, but the Sofitel is a much nicer hotel with it's mix of old & new. (The Hilton is nice enough, but being purpose built, lacks any character)
I'll leave it to others to give you advice on what to do, as most of my trips to Vietnam are work related & I'm not big on doing the tourist trail thing either. I tend to just wander around a city, try different foods, and attempt a few conversations - always fun in Hanoi!

The Vietnamese are extremely nice & gracious people.
If you are back this way in Spring, I would also recommend a visit to Saigon - an ENTIRELY different place, even culturally.

Almost forgot - You can either get an hotel airport pickup, or taxi (pretty regulated) from the airport - about 30 mins.

Enjoy...

I'd like to agree with MichealHD's comments above in support of the Metropole and against the Hilton (whose service seemed very slipshod when I was there).

One thing to note about the Metropole is that much of the hotel is new and very conventional--it's just the one wing which has an original creaking colonial style, and even that's had an extra floor added. So be clear on what you want when you book, especially since the old wing is very popular.

Peter N-H
http://members.axion.net/~pnh/China.html

sofitel would be the best ---great location as noted above...have the hotel hire a guide for you who will drive you around and point things out....we did a walking tour on our own of the old part of the city...it came out of an american guide book, don't remember which one....very cheap in hanoi overall except for 4 and 5* star hotels....but they are cheap too by comparison with usa...a great little restaurant in the old part of the city just across from the cathedral (catholic---its a joke really) is Meditranio on 23 nha tho st....nice shopping area around there too...the owners are aussie ex-pats and the wife gave my wife shopping ideas....hang gai street is really the best---we bought fabulous table cloths at Tan My Shop at 66 Hang Gai street...lots of nice laquer ware everywhere dirt cheap

we used asian trails.com on the internet to arrange much of our stay....they might help you with a guide....we also took a taxi one afternoon, having had the hotel write out several places we wanted to see...most driver spoke little or no english....this was fun....

there is not a great deal to see really... the thing i like the best is the red bridge in the lake downtown...so asian looking and the best picture i have ever taken...

The Metropole in Hanoi is my favorite hotel in the world--at least the limited parts of the world that I've been to. Service there is impeccable and ALWAYS pleasant. I've been there at least 7 times since 1997 and have loved every stay. If you enjoy Vietnamese food, you must get the breakfast buffet which has a great array of tropical fruits, Vietnamese food, and french pastries.

As for things to do, I suggest that you just roam the streets of the Old Quarter and peek into any shops that look interesting. To get to the Old Quarter, just walk around the Lake or take a cyclo from the hotel--not more than $2/person. There is also Ho's Mausoleum, which is very heavily Soviet-influenced.

You can also take a stroll down Embassy Row--a street full of old French villas. Given the colonial tensions with the French, I find it quite amusing that Hanoi has refurbished and maintained a lot of French-period buildings--the Opera House is one example. The Opera House is worth a visit and concert if one is playing while you're there. While the Vietnamese National Orchestra is not all that great (horn section is WAY too loud), just the experience of being in Hanoi and listening to classical music in a French-style opera house is interesting to mull over... I love Hanoi! You'll have a great time.

Check out vietnamstay.com-their rates are cheap-we stayed at 2 star Win hotel close to old quarter. It was USD25 per air cond room. Clean and very quiet. No elevator so request level 2 or 3. You do get a real taste of Vietnam by staying in these smaller family run establishments. There is a bus from Hanoi airport to city(turn right out of terminal and walk 100 mtrs)to bus stop for 2500 dong each. Bus line no. is 7 and runs 5am to 9pm goes into Daewoo Hotel then onto Opera House. It's a real hoot! We travel very lightly so don't consider it if you have lots of luggage. Taxis USD10. Be careful of touts!They can drive you crazy.

I'm sure the Sofitel Metropole is lovely. I'm headed to Hanoi in two weeks, and considered staying there. However, I really wanted a small, boutique hotel. I decided on the de Syloia. It has a better location for me (near the Old Quarter). I opted for a suite with a jacuzzi (sounds good to me after that long flight!), and the price is US$95 a night. The reviews sound good, and I had personal recommendations from several people whose opinions I trust. Still, I haven't seen it yet. Check the info at www.asia-hotels.com

I wouldn't consider the Hilton.

By the way, take a taxi from the airport, US$10.