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In 1996, Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi was awarded the title of the first 5-star hotel in Hanoi by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism. Photo: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi

Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi is the oldest hotel in the capital, with a history of more than 120 years.

The hotel consists of two buildings: Heritage Wing (corner of Ngo Quyen - Le Phung Hieu streets) and Opera Wing (Ly Thai To street). Heritage Wing was built from 1901 to 1908, while Opera Wing was built in 1992.

The hotel has welcomed many world-famous figures, including heads of state, royal family members, actors, writers, and musicians. Former US Presidents George W. Bush and Donald Trump, former French President Francois Hollande, and former Swiss President Johann Schneider-Ammann are among the notable guests. Recently, Russian President Vladimir Putin stayed here during his visit to Vietnam from June 20.

One of the "mysteries" at Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi is its special bomb shelter, which has been featured in many domestic and international newspapers.

The bomb shelter under the hotel was discovered in 2011 when a group of workers was renovating the bar and dug 2 meters deep into the ground. On May 21, 2012, this place opened for hotel guests to visit.

 
The shelter is open for guests staying at the hotel to visit. Photo: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi

After the war, this bunker was closed and sealed until it was accidentally discovered by the hotel's maintenance department. The 40-square-meter bunker was then preserved in its original state.

Photo: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi

The shelter has a ceiling higher than 2 meters, 6 rooms, and two entrances—one below the swimming pool and one leading to the center of the hotel. The ventilation system was designed to ensure air for 40 guests taking shelter from bombs.

Before 1972, this was a bomb shelter for many famous people, including actress Jane Fonda, anti-war activist Tom Hayden, and Australian diplomat Bob Devereaux.

In a room in this bunker, American singer Joan Baez recorded part of the song "Where Are You My Son" during the resistance war against the US in the winter of 1972. The song's title was taken from the lament of a mother who lost her only son during the US bombing campaign against Hanoi.

In 2013, the bomb shelter of the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi hotel was awarded an honorary award for cultural heritage preservation.

Linh Trang