HANOI (Jan. 30, 2018) — In the days leading up to the Lunar Year of the Dog, Vietnam’s most storied hotel will host a festive open-air bazaar featuring more than a dozen stalls selling gourmet foods and beverages, designer clothing and luxury gifts.
The five-day Tet Ha thanh (Hanoian market in Vietnamese) at Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi aims to share the observances of the Vietnamese new year with locals and visitors alike. For the first time, a Vietnamese house, designed by local artist Pham Ha Hai, will be set up on the hotel’s patio, where visitors can enjoy a range of Tet holiday foods including pho, banh cuon and bun cha.
Meanwhile, the hotel’s open-air courtyard will be transformed into a bustling Hanoian market. Some 15 new vendors will take part in this year’s bazaar including Vietnamese fashion designers Hoa Nguyen as well as former Miss Vietnam 2010 Ngoc Han, Liti Florist, Orfarm, Fargreen, Hellomam, C-Brewmaster beer, Three Trees jewellery, and local fine tea producers, Thuong Tra. A special Tet holiday hamper filled with delicious delicacies from L’Epicerie du Metropole will also be available for sale.
The market will be gratuit and open to the public from 11am to 8pm from Feb. 3 to 7.
“This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Metropole’s Tet lunar new year bazaar and we’re expecting the turnout to be bigger and better than ever before,” said William J. Haandrikman, general manager of the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi. “We’re inviting everyone to come and celebrate with us and to stock up on gifts as well as traditional food items before the big day.”
At Tet Ha thanh contestants will compete to make the best banh chung (traditional rice cake) on the opening day of the bazaar. And a spectacular dragon dance will bring good fortune to all in attendance. On Sunday, there will be a banh cuon-making (rice noodle roll) competition, on Monday, a gio-making competition, while on Tuesday, there will be a fruit carving competition. On Wednesday, the final day of the market, contestants will battle it out as to who can make the best spring roll. Winners will receive cake vouchers for the hotel’s delicatessen L’Epicerie du Metropole.
At the same time, boughs of pink peach blossoms, potted shrubs of kumquats laden with orange fruit as well as bonsai trees will grace the lobby of the historical hotel.
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, guests can look forward to a special Tet menu, including traditional holiday delicacies such as banh chung and bun cha, at Hanoi’s premier fine Vietnamese dining restaurant, Spices Garden. The Tet gala dinner on Feb. 15 costs 1,950,000++ VND per person.
For additional pricing and more information, please contact +84 24 3826 6919 or email h1555-fb3@sofitel.com.
