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Metropole Hotel in Hanoi Discovers Its Vietnam War Bunker

Where: 15 Ngo Quyen Street, Hanoi, Vietnam

Today's cool hotel history lesson for today involves the Metropole Hotel in Hanoi which recently discovered a Vietnam War-era secret bunker that once housed Jane Fonda, Joan Baez and a few others during the 1972 Christmas bombings by American forces.

After the bombings and the war, the bunker had been sealed and forgotten. And while the hotel always knew of the shelter, they could never find it. Until over the summer, when during renovations of their poolside bar, a worker's drill hit a piece of concrete. The seven-room, five-foot high bunker had finally been uncovered. Associated Press reports:

Since then, workers have been excavating the flooded and low-ceilinged space. Not much has been found in the seven rooms: a wine bottle, a rusty paint can and a light bulb still in a socket. But a few tales remain, some involving famous guests. “If these walls could talk, they would tell a lot of stories,” says hotel general manager Kai Speth, while giving The Associated Press an exclusive first glimpse. The bomb shelter “needs to be brought back into the life of the hotel as a reminder of what this hotel and this town went through.”

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Vietnam Hotel Scene / Hilton Hotels / Hanoi Hilton / → All Tags

The Hilton Hanoi is Not the Hanoi Hilton

Where: 1 Le Thanh Tong St., Hanoi, Vietnam

All this week our roving correspondent Claire Duffett will be sending back her reports on the Vietnam Hotel Scene. Any questions or suggestions? Send 'em our way and we'll have Claire answer them for you.

Hilton’s PR division in Southeast Asia probably despises John McCain’s nomination for U.S. president more than they did the release of “One Night in Paris," Paris Hilton's sex tape. Suddenly, “Hanoi Hilton,” resurfaced as a euphemism for unspeakable torture and hardship. Well, guess what, Hanoi has a real-life Hilton and it’s actually quite lovely.

The stately Hilton Hanoi Opera Hotel and the Hoa Lo Prison museum, aka "Hanoi Hilton" buildings are located only a few blocks from each other. We visited the actual hotel as well as the notorious Vietnam War-era prison, which now functions as a Communist propaganda pulpit.

The museum depicts the oppression of Vietnamese prisoners during French occupation through the early part of the 20th Century, and the subsequent benevolence shown toward McCain and his fellow soldiers when they were imprisoned. There are photos of American soldiers playing basketball, decorating Christmas trees, and laughing together over holiday feasts.

In fact, they make it look better than the Hilton, and that is hard to do.

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Amazing Race / Vietnam Hotel Reviews / → All Tags

Amazing Race 10 Hotel Update :: Hanging Out at the Hanoi Hilton...or Not

Where: 15 Ngo Quyen Street, Hanoi, Vietnam

We know the Hanoi Hilton isn't really an actual hotel but rather the Hoa Lo prison in Vietnam where American POWs like John McCain were kept.

Yet we thought we would mention it in this week's Amazing Race recap. The Racers' task last night was to find McCain's flight suit within the Hoa Lo prison, then they were on to Din Vac to make either a coal brick bridge or a birdcage at a Buddhist Temple.

They didn't get a chance to stay over in the episode but if they wanted to check out a real Hanoi Hilton they could have stopped in at the Hilton Hanoi Opera. However, we would stay at the Sofitel Metropole Hanoi mainly because the reviews are better and Sofitels are pretty good abroad.

Here's a pretty simple review of the place:

I have never stayed in a nicer hotel in the world. The place is very well done and the staff just snaps to if anything needs to be done. One of the nicest restaurants. But like the rest of Asia this place has terrible beds. Just a mattress and a pillowtop on a slab of wood.

Sounds better than the beds at the Hanoi Hilton.

For more on the Amazing Racer adventures in Hanoi, skip on over to Jaunted for the Chasing Racers map.

Related Stories:
· Hanoi Hilton Opera reviews [TripAdvisor]
· Sofitel Metropole Hanoi reviews [TripAdvisor]
· Chasing Racers Map [Jaunted]

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A Place To Bank On AirCon In Vietnam

Where: 1 Le Thanh Tong Street, Hanoi, Vietnam

Vietnam War buffs hoping to spend a night in the "Hanoi Hilton" -- where over 300 US pilots were held during the War, will be disapointed. All that remains of that Hilton aka Hoa Lo prison is a small museum.  

The NY Times checks in and discovers the Hilton Hanoi Opera, has very little to do with prisons.

Nope Hilton Hanoi, which opened in 1999, looks more like a bank. Colomns on the outside, ornate ceiling, 3 story lobby. And like banks, this hotel loves money. Hilton only slightly marks up the food: a bowl of rice-noodle soup costs 15 cents round the corner, and $4.50 (plus gratuity and tax) in one of the three restaurants. As for the $85/night room rates... well, you are paying to stay at the Hilton.

And also like banks, standardization is key. The rooms look like Hilton rooms anywhere. But, if traveling in Vietnam means some dingey diggs, this predictablilty can be just what you are looking for: The West.

Related Stories:
·  Hanoi: Hilton Hanoi Opera [NY Times]
·  Hilton Hanoi Opera Guest Reviews [Trip Advisor]