Luxury living in northern Vietnam
Vietnam is a country that has so much to offer, there truly is something for everyone including luxury travellers who enjoy the finer things in life. Having first visited Vietnam in 2004 we have been fortunate to explore many different parts of the country since that maiden Vietnam trip. By spending time in both Hanoi and Lan Ha Bay during our recent trip we were able to enjoy the unique experiences on offer and remind us just how much we love Vietnam.
Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi was our home in Hanoi where we enjoyed the refined and attentive service whilst also learning about the history of this iconic hotel. After our time in Hanoi, we then headed to the coast and boarded Ambassador Signature for a Lan Ha Bay cruise through the enchanting limestone karst that the region is famed for. Many travellers combine Hanoi with a Ha Long Bay cruise, in fact we have done exactly that ourselves previously, but this time we decided to explore nearby Lan Ha Bay instead, where the scenery is equally as spectacular, also being more tranquil and less crowded due to the reduced number of visitors.
Timeless luxury at Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi
Considered to be one of the most iconic hotels in the region, Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi enjoys a location that is ideal for exploring the historic old town, which when combined with the hotel feeling like a destination in itself, makes for the perfect combination. The property first opened in 1901 and is known as the ‘Grand Dame’ of Vietnamese hospitality, an impressive list of writers, dignitaries, royalty and world leaders have chosen to stay there ever since.
An extensive restoration of the rooms and public areas in the Heritage Wing that was completed in 2023, carefully preserved the character and history of the hotel whilst introducing the modern luxury expected from a luxury hotel in 2026 and beyond. Our room in the Heritage Wing boasted original hardwood floors that had been meticulously restored, hand painted artwork and bespoke Italian marble bathrooms. Special mention to the staff team who were always there and willing to help, from arranging early check in upon arrival to assisting with our onward transfers they ensured that we were very well looked after during our stay. In addition, we were exceptionally well catered for as vegan guests, with bespoke vegan dishes for breakfast and a sophisticated and creative plant based vegan fine dining experience at the award winning Le Beaulieu.
Experiential vegan fine dining at Le Beaulieu
We certainly couldn’t miss out on the opportunity to dine at Le Beaulieu during our stay and can happily report it was an absolute highlight of our time at Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi. Recently redesigned as part of the Heritage Wing restoration project, Le Beaulieu continues to serve a varied selection of global and local guests, all wanting to enjoy this storied fine dining restaurant in the heart of Hanoi.
Serving French cuisine in the same location since 1901 makes Le Beaulieu the oldest operating restaurant in Hanoi and whilst the number of vegan diners may be limited, we were delighted to discover a vegetarian tasting menu available which was adapted to be vegan upon request. Our long and leisurely fine dining experience commenced with delicate canapés, freshly baked breads and a refreshing gazpacho which were all presented by knowledgable staff who explained each and every dish as it was served. The selection of main courses each championed simple ingredients including carrot, tomato and cauliflower that were thoughtfully plated and delicious. We still talk about our dessert at Le Beaulieu today as it was simply sublime. A chocolate and strawberry creation from the heavens which remains one of the finest vegan desserts we have enjoyed anywhere during our travels.
Explore Lan Ha Bay with Ambassador Cruise
Waving goodbye to Hanoi and the wonderful team at Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, we headed to the coast to continue our latest Vietnam adventure. Less than 3 hours via private transfer saw us preparing to join Ambassador Signature for our Lan Ha Bay cruise. Offering the same striking limestone karst formations and stunning scenery as nearby Ha Long Bay, Lan Ha Bay proved to be an excellent choice as it was much quieter yet equally as beautiful.
Ambassador Signature is the newest addition to the Ambassador Cruise fleet and features 39 spacious cabins on two decks, our modern and stylish Ambassador Executive cabin was on the second floor which allowed us to enjoy the ever changing scenery during the cruise through the large floor to ceiling window and the private balcony. There were trips ashore available each and every day but we decided to spend our days soaking up the scenery and marvelling at the limestone karsts seemingly drifting past in each and every direction. We also found time to further our relaxation with massages at the on board spa which certainly enhanced our Lan Ha Bay cruise experience.
Everything you need to plan your trip in 2026
🌟 Luxury hotel deals from Booking
🏡 Vacation rentals from VRBO
✈️ Flights from KIWI
🛫 Private jets from Private Jet Finder
🅿️ Airport parking from ParkVia
🛋️ Airport lounges from Priority Pass
🚖 Airport taxis from Welcome Pickups
🚗 Car rentals from Discover Cars
🚐 Luxury RV rentals from RVshare
🚢 Cruises from Cruise Direct
🛥️ Ferries from Direct Ferries
🎫 Attractions tickets from Tiqets
🏞️ Tours from Viator or GetYourGuide
🛡️ Travel insurance from Safety Wing
🏥 Medical insurance from World Nomads
🧳 Luggage from Case Luggage
🛅 Luggage storage from Stasher
📚 Travel guides from Lonely Planet
📕 eBooks from Kindle Unlimited
🎧 Audiobooks from Audible
🎬 Movies from Prime Video UK
🎵 Music from Amazon Music UK
💶 Travel currency from Wise
📱 SIMs from SimOptions
🌐 VPNs from ExpressVPN or NordVPN
🛂 Visas from iVisa
Vegan dining options with Ambassador Signature
Dining plays a major role in any hotel stay or cruise experience and from the very start the crew of Ambassador Signature made every effort to ensure were very well catered for as vegan guests. During each and every meal we enjoyed a wide variety of dishes that were thoughtfully prepared rather than adapted at the very last moment. Fresh vegetables and tropical fruits were omni present, whilst dishes with their roots in both Vietnamese and Indian cuisine were prepared and presented with care and consideration.
In addition to the delicious food, the attentive service from the staff team made our meals aboard Ambassador Signature an absolute pleasure. This was the same at breakfast each morning, during our relaxed lunches in the restaurant or whilst dining under the stars; the team always being attentive to our vegan needs at each and every meal which ensured we were most certainly never hungry and always excited to see what we would be served next!
The combination of Hanoi and Lan Ha Bay worked particularly well during our recent trip, offering contrasting experiences including the fast paced energy of the bustling capital and the relaxed vibes of the scenic coast. Our luxury stay at Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi and our luxury cruise with Ambassador Signature each played contrasting roles in our latest Vietnam vegan travel adventure, and combining the two distinctly different destinations felt like the perfect way to experience Northern Vietnam.
Paul Eyers
Paul Eyers is co-founder of Vegan Food Quest who write about luxury hotels and resorts in Southeast Asia with a focus on sustainable travel, eco travel and vegan travel. Currently based in Malaysia, Paul also writes about sporting events and some of the finest golf courses throughout the region.
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A very tempting combo of destinations. Hanoi’s energy paired with the tranquility of Lan Ha Bay must be a nice intro to North Vietnam.
Thank you for your comment Kehinde, it’s always nice to receive the first comment in our articles! You are correct about the “tempting combo of destinations” as Hanoi and Lan Ha Bay are in fact the perfect combination in our opinion…
Having had 2 trips to Da Nang , the next plan is Hanoi , Vegan fayre in Vietnam is excellent for all budgets
you will love Hanoi Terry, it’s a great city to explore and there are vegan options everywhere!
Thank you for another fantastic article. These hotels are now on our list for future stays as we are yet to disccover Northern Vietnam, we loved the central area and plan to return to head north soon.
Halong Bay is a must see and this option looks perfect.
Looking forward to seeing your next blog.
thank you for your comment, it’s great that these blog posts inspire you for your next trip to Vietnam!
I’ve always wanted to visit Vietnam and Sofitel Legend sounds like an excellent option in Hanoi that i will certainly consider when i finally get around to planning my trip to Vietnam, thanks for sharing!
Sofitel Legend is an excellent choice and you most certainly won’t be disappointed if you choose to stay there when you visit Hanoi
As a vegan traveller, too often an ignored minority, it was a pleasant change to see vegan food taken seriously.
we may still be the minority, but this is slowly changing when it comes to availability of exciting vegan food throughout the region…
Cruise looks Good. We did one in 2024 but we were a little diappointed wiht the vegan food options.
Will try the Ambassador Cruise next time.
nothing worse than being on a cruise with limited food options as you can’t just get off and go elsewhere. Ambassador were impressive both pre cruise when we informed them that we were vegan and also during the cruise when they continued to adapt dishes for us.
I’m currently planning a trip to SEAsia that will include time in the north of Vietnam so the timing of your article is perfect. Hanoi and Ha Long Bay were both already in my plans, but now i will consider Lan Ha Bay as an alternative due to it being quieter, thank you for sharing.
Lan Ha Bay and Ha Long Bay offer very similar experiences so the smaller crowds that choose to cruise Lan Ha Bay certainly don’t miss out, in fact they enjoy a more relaxed experience
Great article and photos. I’ve not travelled to North Vietnam in a decade and I am definitely keen to return soon. The plant-based food options look absolutely delicious.
so many amazing plant based food options all over Vietnam, hope you manage to arrange a trip back there soon…
What an interesting and informative review.
The Hotel Metropole looks absolutely stunning. A combination of historic and modern which makes for an interesting stay. Le Beaulieu restaurant made your stay special by their close attention to detail and ability to provide excellent vegan food. The chocolate and strawberry dessert looked amazing.
I can understand why you chose to visit Lan Ha Bay. I visited Ha Long Bay many years ago, and yes, it was amazing but even then there were too many small tourist boats. Having the experience of a luxury cruise on the Ambassador Signature to Lan Ha Bay, where the scenery is equally beautiful, but with fewer tourists, would certainly be worth considering in the future. The onboard accommodation and the food definitely meet the luxury travel definition. I’m not surprised you chose to stay onboard.
Combining the Hotel Metropole with the Ambassador Signature Cruise is a perfect way to spend time in Hanoi.
thank you for your kind words, it’s always great to know that our posts are helpful and informative. i can only imagine that HA Long Bay was much quieter more than ten years ago as tourism has grown exponentially in the region in recent years. Lan Ha Bay is still busy but quieter than Ha Long which combined with a luxury cruise makes it very enjoyable indeed!
I’ve often thought about visiting Ha Long Bay, but Lan Ha Bay sounds like a much more peaceful alternative.
both are beautiful and peace can be found when cruising either, but Lan Ha Bay is most certainly the quieter of the two so we were very happy with our choice
The Heritage Wing sounds beautiful. Original hardwood floors, hand-painted artwork, and attentive service make it seem like such a special place to stay. Certainly lives up to your luxury living headline.
thank you for your comment Alison, we loved the refurbed rooms and the service at Sofitel Metropole, it was luxury living for sure!
Great article Paul, I really enjoyed reading it. Seems like you had an amazing time!!
thank you Marguerita, glad you enjoyed our latest post and yes, we had an amazing time!
Probably worth travelling to Hanoi for the chocolate and strawberry dessert alone.
well Natasha, we would have to agree, it was sublime…
This place looks absolutely amazing. Luxury and beauty combined!
it was an amazing trip, luxury living at the very best!
The photos and descriptions of the limestone karsts are breathtaking. I can understand why you chose to spend time relaxing on the balcony instead of taking every shore excursion.
the view from our balcony was every changing and so very peaceful, we loved it!