Colonial Comfort: Historic Hotels in Vietnamese cities

“Vietnam’s cities are famous for a lot of things – their buzz and intensity, their street food, their vivid markets – so it’s easy to forget that they’re also treasure troves for history buffs. The old towns of major cities such as Bangkok, Hanoi and Hoi An pack in winding streets, ancient temples and elegant colonial architecture – and you’ll find these five historic hotels at the heart of them.

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Sofitel Legend Metropole, Hanoi
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Vietnam’s chaotic capital blends traditional culture with centuries of Chinese and French rule. Nowhere is this clearer than in the streets of Hanoi’s Old Quarter, which are alive with hawkers, street food stalls, murals and little temples. Here, you’ll find the colonial Sofitel Legend Metropole with its distinctive white façade and green shutters. From the legendary cocktail bar and Parisian-style restaurant to the illustrious guest list, this is a turn-of-the-century grand dame through and through

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Grand Hotel Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City
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Better known as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City pulsates with infectious energy, and its sleek malls and skyscrapers blend in with French colonial architecture and ancient temples. The Grand Hotel Saigon completely embraces this mix of old and new: its colonial-style Ancient Wing, which dates back to 1930, is flanked by a Luxury Wing designed in 2011. Admire the colonial architecture from the courtyard pool, or head out for an evening stroll along the Song Sai Gon river, just a block away.

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Anantara Hoi An Resort, Hoi An
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A complete contrast to Vietnam’s huge, chaotic metropolises, Hoi An is almost serene. A former port city, its ancient streets are layered with stories – wooden Chinese temples next to colonial Dutch and French buildings like the Anantara Hoi An Resort. On the edge of the Thu Bon River and a short walk from the UNESCO World Heritage Site of ancient Hoi An, this resort exudes the city’s rich traditions from its fabulous culinary experiences to its guided walking tours taking in centuries of history and trade.

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Hotel Saigon Morin, Hue
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Hue is a delight for history buffs, with a stack of ancient monuments and tombs that includes Vietnam’s tallest pagoda. Pronounced ‘hway’, this fascinating city was once Vietnam’s royal capital, and you don’t have to go far to find artefacts from its regal past. The city’s first central hotel, the French colonial Hotel Saigon Morin, was built in 1901 and remains something of a landmark today. It puts you next to the Perfume River, with unrivalled views of the Truong Tien Bridge – and its facilities and service are good enough to have earned it a string of distinguished guests and awards.

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Dalat Palace Heritage Hotel, Da Lat
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When French colonists wanted to escape the heat of Saigon they headed here, to the ‘City of Eternal Spring’. The Dalat Palace Heritage Hotel was built under the watchful eye of the French Governor specifically to entice Saigon’s high society, and the city developed around it. Although you can still find many wooden homes, Da Lat itself has a distinct European resort vibe; and the hotel’s windows overlooking the lake on one side and the cathedral on the other. In summary? Not a bad spot.”