The Sofitel Legende Metropole in Hanoi is deeply embedded into a colourful- and sometimes dramatic- history. His current general manager sees it as an asset to make the hotel even more attractive for visitors.
HANOI- It is one of the most legendary hotels in Southeast Asia and probably one of the most historical. The Sofitel Legende Metropole in the heart of Hanoi has been for over hundred years a symbol of elegance and luxury, incarnating the ultimate of the French art de vivre in Indochina. The hotel had also its fair share of dark chapters in its history.
During the Vietnam War, the hotel continued to operate, welcoming media, war correspondents, foreign politicians and even celebrities who wanted to demonstrate their solidarity towards Vietnamese people. Among the most famous celebrities of the time were Jane Fonda and Joan Baez. Guests of the hotel can today see the original LP sleeve of Joan Baez song “Where are you my son”, written in 1972.
The poignant song –the sounds of bombs and woman calling for their children killed in bombing- was composed as the American singer spent days hidden in the shelter of the Metropole Hotel in 1972 as bombs were falling over North Vietnam capital. Guests can also be heard in the shelter. Built in the late sixties for the hotel guests (he could contain up to 40 people as well as food and water supply) is one of the rediscovery his shelter was discovered during the renovation of the Bamboo Bar. “We have been lucky to find back the shelter as no employee could recall of its location. Which was normal as the shelter was only reserved to hotel guests”, explains Kai Speth, the Hotel’s General Manager.
“We faced resilience about the significance of opening such a place. It could have been considered as “colonialist”; some even feared that it could even revive resentment feelings. We finally decided to turn it into a memorial. Some people even suggested to turn it into a club but that is an option that we turned down immediately. We could not morally do this kind of transformation in a place so much embedded into Vietnam’s tragic history,” he explains.
There was a lot of excitement about possible discoveries after digging the shelter. The location had been flooded by water. Once dried out, the hotel management found a couple of intact light bulbs, a bottle of wine, some graffiti and metal blast doors.
For Kai Speth, history represents an invaluable part of the hotel’s character. “They are many colonial historical hotels in Southeast Asia. However, I believe that few have such a rich and still tangible history such as in the Metropole Hotel. This is why when we carry the renovation of the historical wing, we did not turn it into a brand new facility, keeping the old atmosphere. “We love to hear the wooden floor cracking down when walking along the corridors!”
Paying tribute to the long history of a house opened in 1901, Kai Speth opened earlier this year an exhibition about the history of the hotel exposing memorabilia and old pictures of the hotel and of Hanoi. As a commitment to its wonderful heritage, the hotel offers tours (free of charge) up to four times a day to anyone interested with the history of the hotel. Only the shelter is not visible to external visitors. This is deliberate: the old “Bunker” should remain a place of memory. It is only visible to hotel guests or on request to the Marketing department.
Sofitel Legende Metropole General Manager thinks also to do more to preserve the wonderful heritage of Hanoi. “We are looking to work at more initiatives such as preserving some areas or organising special events around the hotel and the beautiful French buildings present in the area,” he says.
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
