A NEW GRANDE DAME

Virtuoso of design Bill Bensley’s done it again. This time, putting his vision to good use in the Vietnamese capital. Capella Hanoi – set in the city’s Old Quarter, near Hoàn Kiem Lake – straddles the corner of two tree-lined boulevards. Soft pink marble pillars and oversized chandeliers welcome guests in, with the interior branching out, in true Bensley style, from a greenery-laden inner courtyard. In keeping with his approach to storytelling, interiors form an ode to 1920s high society, with the stars from the nearby Opera House who frequented what was then a small auberge informing the aesthetic. Combining grandiose luxury with a nod to Hanoi’s French colonial heritage, costumes, murals, memorabilia, stage props and vintage art unite the 47 rooms. A grand spa, restaurant Backstage and Diva’s Lounge – resplendent with an original zinc bar – complete it. capellahotels.com

Clockwise, from top left: the grandiose Capella Hanoi; a taste of Louis XIV’s lifestyle at Le Grand Contrôle; art hotel Dimora Palanca