Concierge.com's insider take:

Despite fierce competition from new luxury rivals, the ideally located Metropole remains the most prestigious address in Hanoi for diplomats, celebrities, and an increasing number of high-end travelers. Opened in 1901 in the heart of the French Quarter, the Metropole has an illustrious history—past guests include Charlie Chaplin (on his honeymoon), Jane Fonda, and Jacques Chirac. With completion in early 2008 of a new wing and conversion of an adjacent office block, the grand hotel more than tripled its size, to 363 rooms. Every room has broadband Internet, an LCD television, and a DVD player. The new digs also have a business center, library, and 24-hour butler service on the Club Floor. Further pampering will soon be available at a new spa and fitness center. Old-fashioned romantics may prefer the smaller rooms in the original Colonial Wing, which have hardwood floors, period furniture, and bamboo wall coverings—though the traffic outside on busy Ngo Quyen Street can reduce the charm. The solution? Join the fray in the hotel's vintage ride, a chauffeur-driven 1953 French Citroën—the sanest, most stylish way to tour the city or go on a shopping spree. Half- and full-day cooking classes include market tours and lunch. Dine in at one of the in-house restaurants: Spices Garden serves upmarket Vietnamese fare, and Le Beaulieu specializes in classic French cuisine. The hotel also has three bars, including the Met Pub, which usually has live music.