Whimsical new luxury hotel puts spotlight on Vietnam’s mountainous north

Once a sleepy town famous for its rice terraces and ethnic tribal cultures, Sapa – a five-hour drive from Hanoi – has grown in recent years to become one of the hottest tourist destinations in Vietnam.

With a population of less than 140,000, the area welcomed more than 1.6 million visitors in the first half of 2019 – accounting for 57% of tourists visiting the entire Lao Cai province.

Along with this travel growth, naturally, has been an influx of new hotels.

But the latest and arguably the first five-star international property is taking things to a new level. The glamorous Hotel de la Coupole was designed by Bill Bensley – the mastermind behind some of Asia’s most stunning hotels, like Rosewood Luang Prabang and Cambodia’s Shinta Mani Wild – and resembles a luxurious European palace from the early 20th century.

A throwback to the early 1900s

“The DNA of the hotel is the nostalgia of the French Indochine era of the early 1900s,” says Jean-Pierre Joncas, Hotel de la Coupole’s general manager. “French haute couture blended with vibrant hill tribe ethnic colors.”

The interior of the 249-key hotel reflects this DNA.

The fa?ade and “classic” rooms adopt shades of mustard – a typical color used in the French Indochine era, while other rooms feature bright orange and ruby red colors, inspired by Sapa’s Hmong hill tribe.

Palatial structure: Sapa's luxurious Hotel De La Coupole resembles a luxurious European palace from the early 20th century.

Hotel de la Coupole: Hotel de la Coupole is Sapa's latest -- and arguably first -- five-star international luxury hotel.

Sapa in the 1900s: "The DNA of the hotel is the nostalgia of the French Indochine era of the early 1900s. French haute couture blended with vibrant hill tribe ethnic colors," says Jean-Pierre Joncas, Hotel de la Coupole's general manager.

Tourism is booming: With a population of less than 140,000, the area has welcomed more than 1.6 million visitors in the first half of 2019 -- accounting for 57% of tourists visiting the entire Lao Cai province.

Old World glamour: Antique objects -- including original storefronts from 1900s Paris -- are a part of the hotel's elaborate interior.

Bobbins kids club: The hotel offers a range of programs for young guests.

La Grand Bassin: The hotel was designed by Bill Bensley, the mastermind behind some of Asia's most stunning hotels, including Rosewood Luang Prabang and Shinta Mani Wild in Cambodia.

A mixture of cultures: Fabrics pay tribute to Hmong culture. The chandelier in the lobby was inspired by a traditional Hmong hat.

50 shades of mustard: The fa?ade of the hotel is covered in 50 shades of mustard -- an iconic color used often during the French Indochina era.

Dining options: In terms of dining, the hotel is home to a French restaurant with a local twist, a rooftop bar overlooking the mountains of Sapa and a French patisserie.

Presidential suite: Every room in the 249-key hotel has a curved balcony.

Hotel de la Coupole: Vietnam's hottest new luxury retreat

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Embroideries and patterns on some of the fabrics also pay tribute to Hmong culture. The chandelier in the lobby is inspired by a traditional Hmong hat.

Antique objects – including original storefronts from 1900s Paris – are part of the hotel’s elaborate interior.

“With the development of tourism, as an operator, we really want to educate our guests so that they respect the area and they respect the local cultures that they may be meeting for the first time,” says Joncas.

“And on the other side, we do want to work with the locals and the local community… about how to preserve that culture and preserve their uniqueness.”

Some of the biggest highlights include an indoor spa and swimming pool, La Grand Bassin, that looks like a scene from a Wes Anderson movie, a 435-square-meter ballroom and a kids’ club for the young ones.

In terms of dining, the hotel is home to a French restaurant with a local twist, a rooftop bar overlooking the mountains of Sapa and a French patisserie.

Hotel de la Coupole is a part of Accor Hotel Group’s boutique MGallery Hotel series, which focuses on history, literature and culture.

Hotel De La Coupole, 1 Hoang Lien Street Sapa District Lao Cai Province, Sapa; +84 21 4362 9999

CNN’s Jon Jensen contributed to this feature.

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