Hi - we're going to Hanoi for a long weekend in Oct and have a choice between the Sheraton or the Sofitel. We could save over $100 for the weekend if we stay at the Sheraton but does anyone know how it compares as far as convenience of location? thanks!

Not sure about the location but you couldn't find a hotel with more history than the Sofitel Hanoi. THe Spices restaurant is excellent - Didier the Chef is world renowned. I just loved the Breakfast Buffet - all the food is prepared in front of you.
We did the cooking classes with Mai who took us to the market etc.
I justloved the location - istthing inthe morning al the wide boulevard pavements are filled with badmitten players.

check out the Hilton too...very nice and well located

The packages we are looking at only offer Sheraton or Sofitel... I'd book individually but it would be so much more because air is so expensive between hong kong and hanoi.

We stayed at the Sofitel last April and really enjoyed our stay there. As already said the breakfast is really good. The staff were very welcoming. We stayed in the old wing of the building for the atmosphere.

I am living in hanoi, sheraton hotel is far from center but near West Lake. Sofitel metropole is next to hoan kiem lake (center)you can walk in the evening to shopping center.
sheraton is a quite place. can not walk to the downtown
sofitel metropoleis more convinience than sheraton.

Stayed at the Sofitel this past March. Great location. Sheraton is kind of far out from the city center..probably 20 minutes by car. Sofitel is within walking distance to center of town.

there are two sofitel hotels in hanoi: the sofitel plaza and the metropole.
sofitel plaza is by west lake, and the metropole is near hoam kiem lake, a more central location.
big difference between the hotels, metropole is a 5* hotel.
which are you referring to?

metropole. And it sounds like metropole is the one for us! thanks all

Another bit of history - Jane Fonda stayed there during the Vietnam War when she visited the VietCong. BTW it is called the "American War". Another tip is make sure you keep your hands out of yourpockets if you visit Ho's Mausoleum.
Enjoy your honeymoon - we loved Hanoi.