Eight decades after French architects imagined an exquisite mansion in the heart of Vietnam, their vision is now fulfilled as La Residence Hue Hotel and Spa joins the elite MGallery Collection — a collection of memorable and unique hotels by Accor.Introduced in 2008 by Accor, the largest international hotel operator in Vietnam, the hotels and resorts in the MGallery Collection are chosen from thousands of upscale properties on the basis of outstanding design, vision, history or location. World-traveller and actress Kristen Scott Thomas is the ambassador for the MGallery portfolio of properties, which numbers 45 unique hotels on 5 continents with the inclusion of La Residence Hue.
The 81-year-old boutique hotel is the third property in Vietnam to become a member of the MGallery Collection, and the first in the country to join the MGallery roster of “historic” hotels, alongside time-honored establishments such as the Covent Hotel in Amsterdam, the Grand Hotel Beauvau in Marseilles, and the Hotel Frances in Santo Domingo.
Besides its heritage background, the hotel also boasts strong design connections borne of its architectural roots. At the height of the art deco movement in 1930, the mansion at 5 Le Loi in Hue was built as part of the French Governor’s official residence in the former colony of Annam.
Over time, the hotel, with its distinctive bowled façade, long horizontal lines and nautical flourishes, has become a Hue landmark and a destination in its own right. With 200m of frontage along the south bank of the fabled Perfume River, the hotel’s terraces, gardens and ample banks of windows offer outstanding views of Hue’s Flag Tower bastion and Truong Tien Bridge.
Inside, the hotel’s age-old ambiance is evoked by a fusion of art deco styles. In three, linked buildings, the hotel’s 122 guest rooms and suites blend old-world charm with Asian opulence. Nostalgic touches like louvered shutters, hardwood floors and lofty ceilings evoke the romance of the Indochine era, encouraging guests to take a step back in time.
The Signature Suites — including the palatial, 76-square-metre Resident’s Suite — are a collection of individually designed and uniquely decorated spaces.
In the centre of the hotel’s main building is Le Gouverneur Bar, where a spectacular mural by Roland Renaud arches over the room, depicting scenes of Vietnamese daily life. The hotel’s fine-dining restaurant, Le Parfum, serves up a blend of Mediterranean cuisine with strong French overtones, plus traditional Vietnamese dishes.
