This luxury five star hotel is the place to stay in Hanoi. Think Catherine Deneuve in Indochine and a Vietnam in the last throes of French Colonialism and you have the feel of this place. History seeps out of every pore. The hotel sat and watched as Hanoi weathered war and peace. And foreign correspondents and diplomats have gathered in the Le Beaulieu restaurant to discuss both for over a century. No wonder Sofitel has named this hotel as the first of its new Sofitel Legends brand because that's what this hotel is - a legend. The new Opera Wing has swish suites and rooms but The Luxury Travel Bible says you just have to stay in the historical Wing to really imbibe the mood of this grand time-warp hotel.