Hotel de la Coupole stands on Hoang Lien Street in Sa Pa, the hill town in Vietnam's far north, and it was the first modern hotel of its kind in the town. Bill Bensley designed it, and he mixed the French Indochine style with the colours and textiles of the hill tribes who live in the valleys around. The result is theatrical, full of pattern and colour, and it suits a mountain town with a long colonial past. There are 249 rooms. Chic serves French cooking, Cacao is a French-style bakery and café, and Absinthe is a rooftop bar for cocktails, wine and tapas. On the seventh floor are Nuages Spa, which offers traditional Red Dao treatments, and an ornate indoor pool, with a gym, sauna and kids' club as well. The hotel is close to the station for the Fansipan cable car, which climbs to the summit of Vietnam's highest mountain. Most guests arrive from Hanoi by road in five to six hours, or take the train to Lao Cai and a shuttle for the final hour.
- Nearest airport
- Noi Bai International Airport (HAN), about 4 hours by road
- Rooms
- 249 rooms
Insider tip Take the Fansipan cable car early in the day, before cloud settles on the peak; the station is a short walk from the hotel.
Why I choose it It brings real design and comfort to Sa Pa, so guests can walk the rice-terraced valleys by day and return to warmth and good food.