Capella Hanoi, Vietnam

Designed to celebrate the mesmerising art of opera in the Roaring Twenties, Capella Hanoi is a lavish hideaway steeped in elegance and art-deco influences. Stepping over the threshold, you’ll enter a world of spellbinding elegance. Reminisce over opera’s captivating icons at the Diva’s Lounge as you sip on handcrafted 1920s cocktails and sample Vietnamese-inspired tapas or head to La Grotta – a soothing space with an indoor pool designed to resemble a haven for opera singers to rest their voice. Between dining at the hotel’s Backstage restaurant and relaxing at the serene Auriga Spa, you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped back in time to an era of glitter and glamor. All with a Vietnamese twist.

Location

Hidden away in a peaceful boulevard along Hoan Kiem Lake, Capella Hanoi is located within Vietnam’s dazzling capital and is a quick 25 minute drive from the airport. Just moments away from the Hanoi Opera House and the charming Old Quarter, the hotel’s convenient location makes for an invitingly effortless stay – where everything is at your fingertips. For a moment of peace amid the bustle, take a stroll beside pagoda-style gateways as you admire Thap Rua – an historic tower in the center of Hoan Kiem Lake named after the legend of its renowned golden turtle.

Your room

Featuring imperial Vietnamese décor with beautifully intricate motifs and art deco features, the elegant design of Capella Hanoi radiates 1920s glamor. Each of the hotel’s 47 rooms and suites is decorated with operatic memorabilia that pays tribute to legendary opera artists and performances. If we had our pick, we’d opt for the Grand Opera Suite. Inspired by Puccini’s tragic love story, Madame Butterfly, you’ll find dramatic gold and black detailing, glittering chandeliers paired with traditional Vietnamese artwork, and a lavish outdoor bar. And a rooftop jacuzzi. Soaking up the views from your spacious alfresco terrace, this is the perfect place to unwind during the day – or beneath the moonlight.

Why we like it

The list of why we love this hotel goes on. And on. But two of our favorite touches have to be their lively ‘Living Room’ concept and their ‘Capella Curates’ programme. The former, a cultural and social lounge that hosts everything from artisanal bamboo weaving to fascinating dialogues on the life of French actress, Sarah Bernhardt (and how to bake her namesake cookie). The latter, a carefully-curated selection of experiences including ceramic-making at Bat Trang Village and learning the art of Vietnamese lacquer painting. Each one celebrates the beauty of local crafts and inspires guests to embrace artistic techniques passed down through generations. Sign us up.

Sustainability

In partnership with Solar Buddy, Capella Hanoi is part of a long-term project to bring sustainable, solar-powered light to children in Muong Lat, located in the northwest mountains of Vietnam. The project’s aim is to provide children living in poverty with greater access to light as well as the ability to have a productive (and well-lit) study environment after the sun sets.