Latest news with #MetropoleHanoi
West Australian
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Charlie Chaplin makes a comeback in Hanoi (sort of)
Movie star Charlie Chaplin honeymooned at the Metropole in Hanoi with wife and actress Paulette Goddard in 1936. And the black-and-white film legend has now made a comeback, of sorts. For Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi held a new exhibition called Charlie Chaplin: Echoes of a Legend, which featured items from the private collection of Australian collector Paddy MacDonald. The display in this iconic 124-year-old luxury hotel in Vietnam's capital included rare posters and original century-old sheet music. There was also an edition of TIME Magazine published on July 6, 1925, which was the first time an actor had featured on its cover. Mr MacDonald's memorabilia has been sourced in nearly 50 countries around the world, including Australia, the US, Ireland, France and Cuba. The exhibition at Metropole Hanoi opened on June 24 — the start of a month-long showcase in the hotel's Heritage Wing and Opera Wing lobbies. The exhibition closed on July 22. At the opening, Mr MacDonald reflected on Chaplin's legacy and the enduring power of culture. He commented that: 'A hallmark of the Metropole Hanoi hotel is culture.' And he quoted Chaplin, who once said: 'Culture does more to change things than legislation or academic papers — it gives us heroes and helps us accumulate inner strength.' The actor's legacy at the hotel is evident: + The Charlie Chaplin Suite, on the third floor of the hotel's newly renovated Heritage Wing, has natural wood flooring, hand-tufted carpets and bespoke furniture. + It took 21 months to restore and renovate The Heritage Wing, with its 103 guest rooms and suites. It reopened early in 2024. The Hotel Metropole Hanoi has lived at the heart of Hanoi since 1901. It has hosted holiday makers and business travellers, playwrights, ambassadors, royalty and heads of State. The team there says: 'It blends colonial heritage with neo-classical luxury and a dash of modernity. The hotel is the first Sofitel Legend in the world and the recipient of numerous international awards for its fine service. This legendary landmark has contributed to the richness of local heritage. 'The hotel includes 358 rooms that are divided into two wings — the historical Heritage Wing and the neo-classical Opera Wing. There are three legendary suites that are named after famous residents and visitors to the hotel (Graham Greene, Charlie Chaplin, Somerset Maugham).' There are six restaurants and bars.
Miami Herald
20-05-2025
- Miami Herald
Hanoi's spectacular Train Street is becoming off-the-rails popular
HANOI, Vietnam - Hundreds of tourists from all over the world sit chatting on folding chairs, sipping traditional egg coffee and fresh coconut water in the heart of Hanoi. What makes this Vietnamese street scene so special is the railway track running between narrow blocks of houses with their many colorful cafés. The atmosphere remains relaxed - until things suddenly become hectic: waiters hurriedly remove all chairs near the tracks and urge guests to press their backs as close as possible to the walls of the houses. The initially calm mood becomes increasingly excited, with most visitors eagerly readying their smartphone cameras. A shrill whistle then pierces the air, and just seconds later a train thunders past at full speed, right under the noses of the onlookers. Train Street has long become one of Hanoi's most popular yet controversial attractions, and is currently experiencing a particular boom. Numerous tourists from around the globe have traveled to the Southeast Asian country to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. Once considered a hidden gem with just a handful of cafés, the picturesque street was discovered on social media in 2018, triggering a rush of selfie-hunting Instagrammers. More cafés and souvenir stalls opened, residents set up food stands, and special spots for photos were arranged. However, due to safety concerns, authorities have repeatedly closed the tourist attraction in recent years, most recently this March. Several incidents have occurred, including one where a train had to make an emergency stop to avoid colliding with crowds of visitors. In 2022, a tourist from South Korea was grazed by a slow-moving train. He was lucky to escape with only minor injuries. "Such bans usually don't last long – at some point, the cafés just reopen," says a female employee of the historic Metropole Hanoi hotel. The 600-foot-long railway track dates back to the French colonial era and was built in 1902. Trains still roar through here several times a day. Once the spectacle is over, café owners quickly move chairs and tables back toward the tracks, as more visitors seeking the thrill of an up-close moving train are already waiting. __________ Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
