Thailand-based Minor Hotels has signed a deal to open its first-ever property in Hanoi, a 310-room Avani+ hotel scheduled to welcome guests in 2028. The hotel will sit inside Hinode City, a mixed-use development in the capital's Bach Mai Ward, and is being positioned as a base for both business travellers and holidaymakers.
Until now, Minor's footprint in Vietnam has been almost entirely resort-focused. The group operates four hotels in the country under its Anantara and Avani brands — think beach and riverside escapes — plus The Vietage, a luxury train service running between Da Nang and Quy Nhon. Adding a city hotel in Hanoi rounds that out with an urban anchor, which could be handy for travellers who want to combine a few days in the capital with a resort stay elsewhere in the country.
The signing is part of Minor's wider 'asset-light' push, meaning it grows through management contracts and franchising rather than owning buildings outright. The group is also expanding in the United States, with planned properties in New York and Miami, and is building out an experiences-focused hospitality business alongside its hotels.
So what does this mean if you're planning a Vietnam trip? Not much immediately — you'll be waiting until 2028 to check in. But it's a sign of where Hanoi is heading. The capital has long played second fiddle to Ho Chi Minh City for international hotel investment, and global groups committing to new builds here usually signals confidence in rising visitor numbers. Hinode City itself, as a mixed-use complex, suggests a new neighbourhood worth watching for dining, shopping and, eventually, accommodation.
In the meantime, Hanoi already has a strong hotel scene, from heritage conversions in the French Quarter to sleek international openings around Hoan Kiem Lake. And if you like Minor's style but want to visit sooner, its existing Anantara and Avani resorts in Vietnam — or a seat on The Vietage train — offer a taste of the brand well before the Hanoi doors open.