At 125 years old, Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi has never chased the city’s accelerating pace; it has simply held its own. In conversation with Wanderlust Tips, General Manager George Koumendakos traces the hotel’s philosophy of unhurried luxury, from the lacquer-inspired exhibition marking its anniversary to the quiet rituals, literary ghosts and wellness journeys that keep Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi a living witness to Hanoi’s history.
Dear Mr. Koumendakos, thank you for taking the time to speak with Wanderlust Tips at Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi. We are delighted to have you with us today.
Across 125 years, Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi has watched Hanoi transform around it, again and again. In a world that moves ever faster, what does the word “slow” still mean to hospitality today?
At first, “slow” may sound out of step with the times. But it does not mean being outdated. No matter how dynamic a city becomes, there will always be quieter moments within its rhythm. Hospitality is much the same.
Today, standards of luxury service are constantly rising. Brands in general, and the hospitality industry in particular, are quick to recognise new trends to meet guests’ growing expectations. Sustainability, for example, was once seen as an added value; today, it has become an essential standard for luxury hotels.
At Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, I believe true luxury lies in the quality of attention given even to the smallest details. Rather than simply moving on, we take time to remember our guests’ preferences and stories, then turn that understanding into meaningful experiences. We do not rely on formula simply for efficiency. We welcome each guest as an individual. And rather than providing every piece of information through a digital screen, we still share in person the inspiring stories that have been passed down through generations of employees and guests over the past 125 years.
“Slow” does not mean living in the past. It means being present, at a rhythm that feels our own. I believe that is what resonates with guests and encourages them to return whenever they come to Hanoi.
For 125 years, Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi has been a place where guests can slow down and experience Hanoi more deeply through heritage, culinary, craftsmanship and human connection. As the city continues to evolve at great pace, our role is to preserve that sense of continuity: an elegant retreat where every experience is thoughtful, unhurried and memorable.
Lacquer is a material that rewards patience, artisans build and polish each layer over weeks before a piece is finished. In bringing “Indochina and After” into the hotel for its 125th anniversary, what parallels do you see between that rhythm and the way Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi itself has operated for more than a century?
Time is the most important catalyst in lacquer art. With traditional lacquer, there is no way to rush the process. The artist must wait for the right moment before moving on to the next stage, repeating the work over many days and months. The value of a piece lies not only in its final finish, but also in the layers that have been built up and polished with patience throughout the process.
I see many similarities with Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi’s own journey. Since its opening in 1901, the hotel has been shaped not only by its architecture or historic milestones, but also by layers of memories, the dedication of generations of employees, and the experiences created for guests across different periods.
We continue to renew ourselves for the way people live today, but always with respect for the values that have shaped our identity and given us such a strong foundation.
That is why “Indochina and After” is such a natural fit for Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi. The works by artists from the generation that followed the Indochina School of Fine Arts offer new perspectives on Vietnamese artistic and cultural roots through a contemporary visual language. In much the same way, Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi continues to preserve its timeless elegance and enduring heritage within contemporary life, while constantly pursuing excellence and developing increasingly personalised, elevated experiences for the future.
Of all the ways to mark a milestone as significant as 125 years, why did Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi choose art as its principal voice?
For 125 years, Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi has been more than a meeting place for business leaders, distinguished guests and heads of state. It has also been a place where history, culture and art naturally come together. Art has always been part of the life of the hotel: elegant, enduring and woven into its walls.
Here, experiences are delivered almost like inspired performances: multisensory, distinctive and never exactly the same. Our employees are not referred to in the conventional way; we call them Heartists: in other words, artists who act from the heart.
Art is practised here in many different forms. It is not only about viewing artworks. It can also be found in an exceptional culinary creation, in a musical moment, or in the graceful yet precise movements of our highly skilled spa therapists.
The Heritage Wing stands much as it did in 1901, while other spaces have been renewed for a contemporary sensibility. How do you hold that balance, so Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi remains a living embodiment of history without falling out of step with what today’s traveler expects?
We do not see the two wings as opposing worlds. Although they opened almost a century apart, guests can expect the same high level of comfort and service in either building.
The Heritage Wing offers the warmth, classical character and nostalgia of the early twentieth century. The Opera Wing has a neo-classical identity, with brighter and more contemporary touches. Ultimately, it comes down to each guest’s personal preference.
Over the years, we have continued to invest in both spaces to ensure they remain comfortable and relevant for today’s travelers. In 2023, the Heritage Wing underwent an extensive refurbishment, with most furniture renewed and modern amenities introduced within its heritage setting. Coming soon, the Opera Wing guestrooms will also be refreshed, with improvements designed for contemporary lifestyles.
Beyond the facilities themselves, Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi’s distinctive culinary, cultural and musical programmes also make each stay feel individual and memorable.
An unhurried grace already seems woven into Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi’s rhythms, in the ritual of afternoon tea at Le Club Bar, in the quiet of the Bamboo Bar by the pool. Which of these rituals has the hotel held onto most closely as time has moved on?
French art de vivre, combined with Vietnamese hospitality, has been part of Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi’s rhythm for more than a century. We have small rituals that we maintain every day. They are not elaborate, but consistent: a warm “Bonjour” offered with a smile, the sound of the gong welcoming a new day, or the care and precision with which afternoon tea is served.
Over time, these rituals may be refreshed to meet the expectations of today’s guests. But the spirit of Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi remains unchanged: respect for our guests’ time and privacy, a celebration of refinement, and a desire to make every moment of a stay memorable.
The new “Sensations Orientales” journey at Le Spa du Metropole draws on Oriental tradition. How do you see the relationship between wellness and slow travel, now that so many guests choose to retreat not simply to be entertained, but to slow down?
Wellness and slow travel come together in one important way: both encourage guests to experience things more fully, without rushing and with greater depth. Today, many travelers no longer want a packed itinerary that feels like a checklist. Instead, they seek time to reconnect with themselves, restore their energy and connect more meaningfully with a destination.
With “Sensations Orientales,” Le Spa du Metropole offers an experience that goes beyond relaxation and invites each guest to engage all the senses. Inspired by Eastern and Western traditions, it combines acupressure treatments and sculpting techniques with fragrance, a slower rhythm and the tranquillity of the space.
For me, this is an important part of modern travel. It is not about experiencing the most in the least amount of time, but about giving more quality time to oneself and one’s companions: whether that means enjoying an energising breakfast beside a lush garden or spending an unhurried afternoon by the pool.
Charlie Chaplin, Graham Greene and Somerset Maugham all once stayed within these walls, figures whose lives were defined by reflection and creation. How does Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi keep that spirit alive, and pass it on to guests today?
The stories of the remarkable figures who have stayed here have always fascinated our visitors. Preserving and sharing them is not only a source of pride for generations of hotel employees; it is also a way of honouring the history that has shaped today’s Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi: a meeting place for those who appreciate culture, celebrate creativity and seek a deeper connection with Hanoi.
We continue to nurture that spirit through cultural, artistic and culinary experiences, so guests can learn about the past while also feeling the vitality of contemporary Hanoi. These stories are not presented as a history lesson. They are woven naturally into the everyday life of the hotel: through a refreshing Charlie Chaplin cocktail, or the Somerset Maugham Suite, with its intimate garden overlooking the lush grounds.
Most importantly, we want to create a space where every guest can slow down, observe and write their own story here. In that way, heritage is not simply remembered; it continues to live through each new generation of guests.
Much of luxury hospitality is racing to be the fastest, the newest, the most talked about. Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi has chosen a different path, positioning itself as a living witness to history. Do you see that as an increasingly rare choice, even a bold one, in today’s market?
I do not see this as a choice that goes against the times. I see it as a way for Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi to preserve its identity and distinction in a market with more and more options.
Trends certainly have their value, but they often change quickly. Authenticity and service quality, on the other hand, are values that endure. History belongs to the past, but heritage is something we carry into the present and develop for the future.
This approach requires consistency and long-term investment. But perhaps that is precisely what makes Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi different. We do not need to follow every new trend. Instead, we choose carefully how to evolve in a way that is right for the hotel, while safeguarding the timeless values that have defined us for 125 years.
Travelers today seem to want more than a quick check-in, they’re searching for something with real depth. Looking ahead, what role do you hope Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi will play in shaping the slow travel movement in Vietnam?
Today’s travelers are very well informed about the destinations they choose, through a wide range of channels and especially through the experiences shared by those who have travelled before them. Their expectations are therefore higher: not only in terms of service and facilities, but also for experiences that feel personal rather than standardised. This is both a challenge and a source of motivation for our industry.
Slow travel should not be seen as a complicated concept. As modern comforts become more complete, people naturally return to experiences that feel authentic, meaningful and connected to place.
We do not set out to define a trend. Our role is to create the right setting for guests who wish to experience Hanoi at a slower, more fulfilling pace.
Wanderlust Tips sincerely thanks you for sharing your valuable insights into the art of slow travel at Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi. We wish you and the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi team continued success.
About Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi
A prominent fixture in the heart of Hanoi since 1901, Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi has a long tradition as a luxury venue for prestigious events and a popular rendezvous for business and leisure travelers such as playwrights, ambassadors, royalty and heads of state. Blending colonial heritage with neo-classical luxury and a dash of modernity, the hotel is the first Sofitel Legend in the world and the recipient of numerous international awards for its fine service and enchanting ambiance. This legendary landmark has contributed to the richness of local heritage.
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