A tribute to timeless elegance, storied history, and enduring legacy.

The Birth of A Legend

In 1899, Gustave-Emile Dumoutier filed a request to convert the buildings on his land at the corner of Boulevard Henri-Rivière (now Ngo Quyen Street) into a hotel. With an extra capital of 500,000 francs from businessman André Ducamp, the two French investors set out to transform a modest landscape into Indochina’s most ambitious architectural feat.

Behold the Grand Dame’s Debut

In 1901, construction of the Grand Hôtel Métropole Palace was completed. Where 10 years earlier a small, muddy lake was, a grand hotel now took shape. Its facade spanned over 80 metres, making it the largest hotel complex in all of Indochina, or as the Revue Indo-Chinoise remarked in a comment that needs no translation: ‘un immense hôtel’.

In the summer of 1901, the hotel opened its doors to guests for the first time. Soon it would become known more simply as le Métropole. And the legend began.

Celebrate 125 Years of A Legend

Since its inception, the Hotel Metropole Hanoi has a long tradition as a luxury venue for prestigious events and a popular rendezvous for business and leisure travelers. For more than a century, we have had the honour of welcoming global luminaries, including playwrights, screen stars, ambassadors, royalties, and heads of state, who have all become part of our enduring story.

A Trip Down Memory Lane

“125 Years of A Legend” Exhibition

Journey through a visual tribute to our timeless elegance and enduring legacy. This curated exhibition features rare photographs of Metropole Hanoi, spanning from early 20th-century Colonial Indochina to the wartime and all the happenings in-between, as well as the decades beyond.

The hotel has remained a constant through the city’s major shifts. It has evolved alongside Hanoi, representing the intersection of ancient tradition and modern growth.

Stroll through our lobbies to take a glimpse of the memories of a bygone era that has weathered over a century of change.

❊ On display from 19 May to 30 June 2026
❊ Location: Heritage Wing & Opera Wing Lobbies

We proudly present Le Petit Journal – our exclusive bi-monthly newspaper that shares the finest moments, exclusive updates, and legendary experiences at the Metropole.

We invite you to explore this edition at your leisure and immerse yourself in the season’s most exquisite moments at Metropole Hanoi.

READ LE PETIT JOURNAL IN FULL

Delve deeper into our storied past with the Metropole History Book – an archive of untold tales and important milestones of both the property and of the capital city it calls home. Visit La Boutique or our E-Shop to take home this special memento.

THE METROPOLE E-SHOP