In Vietnam's capital, Hanoi, the country's first "Fairmont"-brand hotel has officially opened. This facility, marking the first entry into Vietnam by Fairmont, the global luxury hotel chain, houses eight distinctive restaurants, bars, and lounges. From Italian cuisine by a Michelin-starred chef to modern Vietnamese and even Japanese cuisine, it offers a food experience rich enough to transform Hanoi's dining scene.
What is Fairmont Hanoi—a prestigious luxury brand making its Vietnam debut
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is a Canadian-born luxury hotel brand known for setting up in historic, iconic locations around the world. It has a track record of running landmark hotels that represent their cities, such as The Plaza in New York, The Savoy in London, and Raffles in Singapore.
The first city Fairmont chose in Vietnam is Hanoi. Fairmont Hanoi sits in the heart of the city, boasting a location close to the historic Old Quarter and the center of politics and culture. Its opening carries the concept of "Hanoi's new social epicenter," aiming to be not only a place to stay but a hub of dining and entertainment where local residents and tourists gather.
Eight restaurants and bars—a diverse array of food experiences in one place
Fairmont Hanoi's biggest feature is its lineup of eight unique dining and drinking venues. Each is helmed by a different concept and chef, delivering some of Hanoi's finest food experiences.
Tran Dynasty (Tran Dynasty): A modern Vietnamese restaurant led by Chef Luke Nguyen. It reinterprets Vietnam's traditional food culture with contemporary techniques and presentation, showing new possibilities for Vietnamese cuisine. Drawing attention as the first modern Vietnamese dining experience of this class in Vietnam, it blends deep respect for local ingredients with an innovative approach.
Bacco (Bacco): An Italian restaurant by Michelin-starred French chef Nicolas Isnard. Isnard is a top chef with a record of earning stars in France, and he serves Italian cuisine that makes the most of Vietnamese ingredients. As one of the finest dining experiences even in Hanoi, expectations are already high among gourmands.
Hiryu (Hiryu): A Japanese restaurant set within Fairmont Hanoi. As the name "Hiryu" (flying dragon) suggests, it serves authentic Japanese cuisine in a dining space that honors Japanese tradition and refinement. It will be a valuable option for Japanese travelers and expatriates seeking Japanese food in Hanoi. The quality is expected to be one where travelers from Japan can dine with peace of mind.
Beyond these, the lineup includes a rooftop bar, a tea lounge, and casual all-day dining—a varied set of venues suited to different times and occasions, designed so that guests who aren't staying at the hotel can enjoy them too.
How Vietnamese people are reacting—expectation and pride intertwined
Reactions within Vietnam to Fairmont Hanoi's opening show strong interest and a palpable sense of pride. Many say "the fact that a global luxury brand chose Hanoi proves the maturity of Vietnam's tourism industry," and the praise for the dining in particular is high.
Chef Luke Nguyen, a chef of Vietnamese heritage, is well known domestically, and there are high hopes for him as "someone who will showcase Vietnamese cuisine at a world level." As for the Japanese restaurant "Hiryu," some say "the level of Japanese dining in Hanoi will jump all at once," and it is welcomed by local fans of Japanese food as well.
On the other hand, while some take the cool-headed view that the high price range makes it "a place far removed from ordinary citizens," overall the positive voices—"it's great that Hanoi's prestige and international appeal are rising"—are the more common.
The impact on Japanese tourists and advice
For Japanese travelers visiting Hanoi, the opening of Fairmont Hanoi brings benefits on several fronts.
A wider choice of luxury accommodation: Until now, luxury hotels in Hanoi meant the likes of Sofitel Legend Metropole and Lotte Hotel Hanoi, but Fairmont's arrival further enriches the top-tier options for where to stay. You can expect to use it for occasions where prestige matters, such as a special commemorative trip or entertaining on a business trip.
The Japanese restaurant "Hiryu" becomes a reassuring choice: Quite a few travelers feel "I could go for some Japanese food for a change" during a trip to Vietnam. Since the Japanese restaurant inside Fairmont can be expected to offer Hanoi's highest standard of quality, it's worth considering when you're tired or for a special dinner.
You can visit just to dine: Each restaurant at Fairmont Hanoi is open to guests who aren't staying at the hotel. Bacco, by a Michelin-starred chef, and Tran Dynasty, serving modern Vietnamese, are worth choosing for a special dinner while sightseeing in Hanoi. Booking ahead is strongly recommended.
As a new base for sightseeing in Hanoi: The hotel's lobby and lounges can also serve as rest stops between sightseeing.The Vietnam International Travel Mart VITM 2026and other international events held in Hanoi, its location makes it easy to work into a trip planned around them.
Hanoi isestablished Vietnam National Tourism Year 2026also positioned as a key hub, and the development of tourism infrastructure is accelerating. Fairmont's opening can be called a symbolic event in that.
Summary—Hanoi rises as a world-class dining city
The opening of Fairmont Hanoi is more than just the birth of a luxury hotel—it's an event that marks a turning point as Hanoi steps forward as an international gourmet city. A dining environment rare even in Asia has come together, with a Michelin-starred chef, a standard-bearer of modern Vietnamese cuisine, and authentic Japanese cuisine gathered in one place.
Japanese travelers considering Hanoi as their next destination should be sure to work this hotel's restaurants into their itinerary. Whether staying over or visiting just to dine, you'll be able to experience Hanoi's new appeal to the fullest.
Also, for trips departing from and returning to Hanoi,Vietnam Airlines' various routesmake travel from Hanoi to points across Vietnam smooth. Placing a night at Fairmont at the start or the finish of your trip is also a wonderful choice.
Reference:Out of Town Blog – Fairmont Hanoi at the heart of Vietnam’s new social epicentre
