LA RÉSIDENCE HUE HOTEL & SPA V ietnam’s Grande Dame BY ALEXAND RA PANZELLA
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a Résidence in Hue, Vietnam, is one of the grande dames of the country and worthy of a trip to this magical city. The hotel was once a grand mansion built in 1930 as part of the former colonial governor’s residence. This architectural show-stopper overlooks Hue’s Perfume River, and it was restored and reopened in 2005 as a deluxe hotel. The city of Hué is steeped in history, from the days of the imperial court to the Vietnam War. La Résidence is perfectly located for getting around yet also perfectly secluded. The main sites are the Nguyen Tombs—a grand set of complexes of the Nguyen Dynasty kings, anchored by mausoleums within gardens, courtyards, pavilions, palaces and stela houses. Nearby sits the massive Citadel, an over-the-top interpretation of the dynastic capital in Beijing, as well as many pagodas, including
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Tu Hieu. The hotel’s 200 meters of frontage sits along the south bank of the river with terraces, gardens and a wall of windows, o ff e r i n g s p l e n d i d v i e w s o f t h e c i t y ’s Flagtower Bastion, Citadel and the Trang Tien Bridge. The style cues of the hotel date back to its era of completion: art deco. The redesign honored that influence; the art deco design touches can be seen throughout the hotel. They’re found in the door frames of the reception hall and billiard room, the ceilings and doors of the restaurant, and in the indirect lighting and staircase banisters–all hallmarks of the art deco movement. In three connected buildings, the hotel’s 122 guest rooms and suites combine age-old charm and Asian opulence, with louvered shutters, hardwood floors and lofty ceilings. Each room features a private balcony or terrace with views of the river.
Rooms are decked in warm, vibrant colors with golden and chocolate brown tones. Signature suites feature four-poster beds and roomy claw-foot tubs. As for the offerings of the hotel, Le Parfum restaurant serves Mediterranean cuisine with a strong French accent. One of the highlights of the menu is the authentically Hue-style beef pho from the local side of the menu. The Le Gouveneur Bar is the physical and social heart of the hotel, with guests socializing and working over tea in the afternoon and over cocktails by night. The spa has a diverse menu that ranges from a rigorous Vietnamese massage with fire to facials with high-end products from the Italian line Comfort Zone. Near the garden, there’s a 30-meter saltwater swimming pool.
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