Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi Unveils Art Exhibition

Hanoi, Vietnam, September 4, 2026 / TRAVELINDEX / As part of its 125th anniversary celebrations, Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, in collaboration with The Muse Artspace, presents “Indochina and After,” an exhibition exploring the continuing evolution of Vietnamese art from the Indochina era to contemporary practice.

For 125 years, Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi has stood as a living legend in the heart of Vietnam’s capital, welcoming business leaders, celebrated personalities and heads of state, while serving as a meeting place for history, culture and art. The exhibition continues this spirit, opening a dialogue between heritage and contemporary creativity within the hotel’s timelessly elegant setting, while adding a cultural highlight to the hotel’s anniversary programme throughout 2026.

Inspired by the question of what followed the legacy of Indochina-era art, the exhibition does not regard Indochina as an endpoint in history. Instead, it turns to later generations of artists who draw on Vietnamese cultural roots to develop their own visual languages and express these values through a contemporary lens.

On view from Aug. 17 to Oct. 8 in the hotel’s Opera Wing lobby, the exhibition brings together three distinguished Vietnamese artists: Phan Cam Thuong, Ly Truc Son and Do Thi Kim Doan, each presenting a distinctive perspective and artistic practice.

The exhibition’s curator, Van Vi, said: “The three artists meet at one shared point: their ability to transform Vietnamese cultural values into a visual language for the present.”

Artist and cultural scholar Phan Cam Thuong presents a series of lacquer paintings inspired by Vietnam’s ancient cultural heritage. In these works, memory and traditional symbols are distilled through imagery, materiality and visual rhythm.

Ly Truc Son, who spent many years working in France and Germany, developed his painterly language through engagement with the aesthetic spirit of Indochina. His paintings move beyond local boundaries, connecting Vietnamese art with broader currents of modern painting.

Do Thi Kim Doan presents her “Garden Corner” series, capturing the quiet beauty of everyday Vietnamese family life in lacquer works rich in emotion and depth.

George Koumendakos, General Manager of Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, said: “Art and culture have always been integral to the identity of Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi. As we celebrate our 125th anniversary, we are proud to present ‘Indochina and After’ as an expression of our longstanding commitment to preserving heritage while creating a space where contemporary creativity can continue to flourish and inspire.”

Presented as one of the highlights of the hotel’s “125 Years of a Legend” programme, the exhibition honours the enduring artistic legacy of the Indochina period through a contemporary perspective. It brings the richness of Vietnamese art and culture to both local audiences and international visitors.

ABOUT SOFITEL LEGEND METROPOLE HANOI
A prominent fixture in the heart of Hanoi since 1901, Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi has a long tradition as a luxury venue for prestigious events and a popular rendezvous for business and leisure travelers such as playwrights, ambassadors, royalty and heads of state. Blending colonial heritage with neo-classical luxury and a dash of modernity, the hotel is the first Sofitel Legend in the world and the recipient of numerous international awards for its fine service and enchanting ambiance. This legendary landmark has contributed to the richness of local heritage.

The hotel includes 358 rooms that are divided into two wings – the Heritage Wing, dating back to 1901, and the neo-classical Opera Wing. There are three legendary suites that are named after famous residents and visitors to the hotel (Graham Greene, Charlie Chaplin, Somerset Maugham).

With six exquisite restaurants and bars, Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi offers a diverse array of culinary experiences: Le Club Bar treats guests to its signature Metropole brasserie and iconic high tea; Le Beaulieu presents contemporary French fine-dining at its finest; Spice Garden offers elevated Vietnamese cuisine; meanwhile, angelina – Hanoi’s bespoke bar-lounge-restaurant delivers a world-class beverage experience alongside imaginative comfort food; La Terrasse brings Parisian-inspired al fresco dining to the sidewalks of Hanoi; and the Bamboo Bar invites guests to unwind in a serene Indochine setting by the pool.

Guests can indulge in luxurious facilities featuring lush gardens, a tranquil heated outdoor pool, a well-equipped fitness centre, and full-service meeting rooms. Rejuvenating treatments await at the enchanting Le Spa du Metropole, while curated treasures can be found at the hotel’s luxury gift shop, La Boutique, and its gourmet deli and patisserie, L’Epicerie.

ABOUT SOFITEL LEGEND
A pioneer of French luxury hospitality since 1964, Sofitel today embodies heartfelt and committed luxury, with a French zest. Alongside its 120 elegant and unique properties, the brand inaugurated in 2009 a collection of emblematic hotels under the Sofitel Legend banner: unrivalled luxury addresses with a legendary heritage and highly personalised service. Each stay is timeless, offering sumptuous surroundings, renowned restaurants and modern comforts for an inspiring luxury experience. Noble, rare and soulful, Sofitel Legend hotels captivate with their architectural beauty, breathtaking views and mesmerizing ambience.

Sofitel Legend now comprises 5 hotels, each more magnificent than the last, set within beautiful and culturally-rich destinations around the world: Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam, Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo, Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena, Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi and Sofitel Legend People’s Grand Hotel Xi’an.

Sofitel Legend is part of Accor, a world leading hospitality group counting over 5,500 properties throughout more than 110 countries, and a participating brand in ALL – Accor Live Limitless – a lifestyle loyalty program providing access to a wide variety of rewards, services and experiences.

ABOUT THE MUSE ARTSPACE
The Muse Artspace is a Hanoi-based curatorial platform, focusing on modern and contemporary Vietnamese art practices, particularly artists with distinctive cultural depth and visual languages.

The Muse’s approach is rooted in research and context. Rather than simply arranging artworks, each project places them in a meaningful relationship with art history, the artist’s own narrative, the exhibition space and contemporary life. Guided by this approach, The Muse has realised more than 30 exhibition projects, alongside research initiatives, art tours and professional sharing sessions. Its work focuses on practices associated with lacquer, silk and painting that carry the cultural memory of Vietnam.

With “Indochina and After,” this approach extends to a particular historical context: lacquer works inspired by Vietnamese culture and viewed through the lens of modern art, offering evidence of a living continuity within today’s artistic landscape.

ABOUT CURATOR VAN VI
Van Vi is the curator of The Muse Artspace and has organised more than 20 fine art exhibitions, contributing to the development of an emerging role in Vietnam’s art scene: that of the independent curator.

Van Vi’s exhibitions often pose open-ended questions, inviting audiences to engage alongside practising artists. Her notable projects include Retro, an exhibition combining fashion and painting; A Walk through the World of Lacquer; Within the Flow of Silk; Art is Long, Time is Fleeting; Women Reading; as well as solo exhibitions by Phan Cam Thuong, Nguyen Van Trinh and Vu Van Tich.

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