THERE are several legendary hotels in the region that many of us aspire to visit and may, perhaps, be lucky enough to stay in at least once in our lives.
Their names easily roll off our lips, and people nod approvingly when they are mentioned in the best social circles.
The region's most regal heritage properties now offer the finest contemporary facilities, as they have had to incorporate them over the decades to ensure they remain relevant with contemporary global travellers.
When most of the 10 hotels on this list were built, air conditioning and the Internet didn't exist, and it would be impossible for these hotels to survive now if they didn't offer them.
Over the past few years, I have travelled the region seeking out the most refined, revered and respected hotels that are destinations in their own right.
They have earned the finest rreputations for offering personalised service, gracious hospitality and elegance in all they do.
Here are my top 10 for you to consider, dream about and visit one day to take in all that they have to offer.
To me, they are all grand and are listed alphabetically.
AZERAI LA RESIDENCE, VIETNAM
A property with a similar historic theme is the Azerai La Residence in Hue, Central Vietnam. The former 1930s mansion of the French Resident Superieure, or Governor, is now a grand heritage hotel. This fine example of French Art Deco architecture features balcony terraces that offer sunset views over the Perfume River and The Citadel, a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation World Heritage Site. Azerai’s extensions and retrofit are tasteful and complement to the original mansion. Begin evenings with a beverage in the smart and intimate Le Gouverneur Bar, then continue with refined Vietnamese/European dining at the Le Parfum Restaurant.
EASTERN AND ORIENTAL (E&O), PENANG
It’s amazing how things change. Once regarded as the finest hotel east of the Suez Canal, today few guests understand the significance of the canal. Built in 1885, the E&O has undergone several restorations and additions. Now, the hotel has two wings — the original Heritage Wing and the Victory Annexe, which was added in 2013. An expansive lobby of marble and a domed ceiling warrant distraction. Stand in the middle and gently clap your hands to appreciate the reverberations. All the rooms are decorated with period furniture, while contemporary conveniences have been subtly incorporated. Relax in the pool, savour lavish English afternoon teas, sip sundowners in Farquhar’s Bar and move on to dinner in the lush surroundings of Java Tree, where Nyonya delights and classic European dishes accompany fine wines.
ANANTARA CHIANG MAI RESORT, THAILAND
The former British Consulate building is the centre of the sleek and smart resort beside the tranquil Mae Ping River, with the ever-busy night bazaar just minutes away. Its Brit Bar has been repurposed into the private members’ club of Her Majesty’s secret service. Upstairs, Service 1921 dishes up the finest meat and seafood, including dry-aged beef. Bodhi Terrace offers the finest Thai food in a magical riverside setting. A few rooms featuring minimalist aesthetics are the handiwork of the late Kerry Hill, a legend in regional resort architecture. Bubbles, Chiang Mai’s first Champagne rooftop bar, overlooks the river.
CENTARA GRAND BEACH RESORT AND VILLAS, THAILAND
This seaside retreat in the Thai holiday resort of Hua Hin is not as well-known as other regional heritage hotels but is, by no means, less grand. The historic property, dating back to the 1920s, was developed during an era of rapid regional rail expansion, and the then-king was a rail enthusiast who had been given a rail set by Queen Victoria. When the railway reached the idyllic fishing village of Hua Hin, a decision was made to establish the imaginatively named Railway Hotel. Over the years, the hotel, now managed by Centara, has witnessed additions and renovations but still preserving its architectural integrity and the grounds, with their botanical topiary, encourage guests to take a turn around the gardens. Elegant afternoon teas are served in The Museum, with Suan Bua offering modern Thai cuisine.
PALACE HERITAGE HOTEL, VIETNAM
The Palace Hotel opened under French guidance in 1922 and was extensively renovated in 1993. It reopened in 1995 to offer refined accommodation to discerning guests at the former French hill station in the cool mountains of Vietnam. In its early days, it set out to provide a healthy retreat to Saigon’s high society, and it continues these traditions with today’s global travellers. The art deco building overlooks a lake and is within walking distance of the alpine course that was a personal favourite of Bao Dai, Vietnam’s last Emperor. I especially enjoy the refined French nouvelle cuisine served in Le Rabelais Restaurant or more casually in The Palace Club. The former hotel wine cellars served refreshing beverages and pizza.
RAFFLES SINGAPORE
Raffles is the benchmark by which most grand heritage hotels are measured. While the Singapore property is an exclusive destination for well-heeled travellers, its food and beverage outlets like the Long Bar are venues for mere mortals who eagerly queue up for a Singapore Sling (updated in 2019), which sells by the bucket load. The select few stay within its hallowed suites, such as those lining the Palm Court, and immerse themselves in the residents-only precincts. Butlers deal with the mundane while their guests laze by the pool, are pampered in the spa, or join one of three resident historians on a hotel tour. The Writer’s Bar is accessible to all, and deep leather lounges await those seeking classic and creative cocktails prior to dining on innovative French dishes at La Dame de Pic. Raffles is a trip that needs to be taken at least once in your life.
RAFFLES GRAND D'ANGKOR, CAMBODIA
In 1860, French adventurer Henri Mahout revealed to the world the wondrous ancient Angkor ruins close to Siem Reap. Soon after, France dispatched archaeologists to unravel the mystery of Angkor’s ancient ruins, entwined by the roots of rainforest emergent. Curious, wealthy visitors trickled in, and the need for an elegant hotel befitting their station arose. Hotel Grand d’Angkor opened in 1932, and guests set off for the temples on elephants. Raffles stepped in in the 1990s to fully renovate this grand property, and now guests stay in elegant surroundings. There are many elements of this property that I love. The Conservatory is the ideal setting for afternoon tea, while the Elephant Bar is a venue where you want to pull up a deep leather lounge, order a signature Negroni, and enjoy the good life.
RAFFLES HOTEL LE ROYAL, PHNOM PENH
Part of the Raffles portfolio since the mid-1990s, the hotel began as Phnom Penh’s finest hotel catering to French administrators and the Khmer elite. During the colonial era, Phnom Penh was a refined, grand city with stately public buildings including Le Royal. Cambodia’s tumultuous civil disturbance and the Khmer Rouge enforced return to Year Zero, led to the hotel’s decline and became a refuge for foreigners escaping the Cambodian carnage as was immortalised in the movie, The Killing Fields (Hua Hin’s Railway Hotel was used for Le Royal when the movie was made). Now a grand property, the tree-shaded pool beckons as does the Elephant Bar, which is one of the region’s most refined outlets. High arched ceilings, potted palms and detailed motifs, create the perfect location for mixologists to craft their magic. Order a Femme Fatale cocktail, created for Jackie Kennedy when she was in residence, and reflect upon the other celebrities who have graced this grand space.
SOFITEL LEGEND METROPOLE, VIETNAM
Hanoi’s most sophisticated hotel opened as the Grand Hotel Metropole in 1901 to cater to the needs of French officials, entrepreneurs and adventurers who were lured to French Indochina. It was renamed the Reunification Hotel during Ho Chi Minh’s reign, and Graham Greene wrote The Quiet American while in residence. Now named the Sofitel Legend Metropole, the property has suites named after celebrity guests including Greene. Donald Trump stayed here while negotiating with Kim Jong-un, but there is no suite named after him. Some unique features include a hotel tour of the bomb shelter beneath the property and sipping a personality cocktail in Angelina Restaurant and Lounge.
SOFITEL LUANG PRABANG, LAOS
The hotel is located beside the Mekong River in one of the region’s most mysterious and mountainous destinations. The stylish Sofitel, in the former French Governor’s Residence, features 25 designer, all-suites accommodation that opens onto spacious gardens and ponds. Offering elements of local culture and French art de vivre, this property is elegant and sophisticated with old-world charm. The Governor’s Grill offers a memorable dining experience by being styled as a canvas-covered tent with open sides for admiring the gardens. Dining has a gracious colonial charm, with guests enjoying locally-sourced produce that has been meticulously prepared. In an age of sensory overload, the Sofitel Luang Prabang offers a peaceful retreat in a cultural site recognised by Unesco as a World Heritage Site.
