Cover Hildegard Anzenberger believes true luxury leadership begins with a deep respect for context, taking the time to understand Vietnam’s cultural confidence, its dynamic pace of development, and its aspirations. These elements guide how she brought Capella Hanoi to life
Hildegard Anzenberger believes true luxury leadership begins with a deep respect for context, taking the time to understand Vietnam’s cultural confidence, its dynamic pace of development, and its aspirations. These elements guide how she brought Capella Hanoi to life
1 / 1
Hildegard Anzenberger believes true luxury leadership begins with a deep respect for context, taking the time to understand Vietnam’s cultural confidence, its dynamic pace of development, and its aspirations. These elements guide how she brought Capella Hanoi to life
Coming to Vietnam just over a year ago to become the General Manager of Capella Hanoi, Hildegard Anzenberger, a hotelier with more than two decades of leadership experience across diverse cultures and markets, intends to become part of the country’s dynamic and compelling journey of development.
To realize this special purpose, Anzenberger and Capella Hanoi focus on nurturing local talent, honoring craftsmanship, and creating experiences that resonate with the present while remaining deeply rooted in Hanoi’s heritage and culture.
Read now: Legacy 80: 5 Hanoi hotels that transform the September 2nd holiday into a work of art.
Can you share the most valuable lesson you have learned in building teams that are both high-performing and inspired? How are you applying this philosophy at Capella Hanoi?
The most enduring lesson I have learned is that high performance grows from respect. When people feel heard, valued, and trusted to bring their whole selves to work, excellence becomes sustainable rather than imposed.
Above General Manager at Capella Hanoi, Ms. Hildegard Anzenberger
General Manager at Capella Hanoi, Ms. Hildegard Anzenberger
1 / 1
I therefore practice a philosophy of mentorship over management, focusing on nurturing local talent, encouraging curiosity, and building a culture where learning, pride, and accountability exist side by side, enabling teams to understand not only what they do, but also why their work matters within Hanoi’s broader cultural narrative.
Leading Capella Hanoi, how do you balance global operational excellence with cultural sensitivity and local understanding?
We apply Capella’s global operational excellence as a foundation for consistency and charity, while letting Hanoi’s history, rhythms, and traditions define how those principles are experienced day to day. Cultural sensitivity is achieved through listening, by giving Vietnamese leaders, artisans, and storytellers within the hotel a meaningful voice in shaping decisions, rituals, and guest experiences, so authenticity is naturally expressed rather than imposed.
Read now: Legacy 50: How has Vietnam's tourism industry transformed after 50 years?
While operating within a global luxury ecosystem, we consciously choose to act as interpreters rather than imitators, positioning Capella Hanoi as a living platform for cultural exchange shaped by Vietnam’s own voice and artistry. Our team curates intimate experiences such as private introductions to local artisans, behind-the-scenes access to cultural landmarks, or menus inspired by regional flavours and family recipes, allowing guests to connect with Vietnam in a genuine and meaningful way.
1 / 2
To preserve the authenticity while navigating the pressures of globalisation in luxury hospitality, we clearly define what can never be compromised, namely local culture, craftsmanship, and storytelling, ensuring that global trends may inform our thinking without ever diluting the essence of Hanoi.
In your view, what fundamentally distinguishes a luxury hotel from a true cultural destination - one that leaves a lasting emotional and intellectual imprint on its guests?
At Capella Hanoi, distinction begins with meaning, moving beyond physical luxury to immerse guests in the city’s artistic, historical, and intellectual spirit. Through design, music, cuisine, and service, local narratives are thoughtfully woven into every touchpoint, allowing each stay to connect with Hanoi’s cultural heartbeat and leave a lasting emotional and intellectual impression that feels personal rather than performative. More than a place to stay, Capella Hanoi serves as a cultural gateway, shaping how guests understand and remember Hanoi long after departure and transforming the hotel from a luxury address into a true cultural destination.
Capella Hanoi serves as a cultural gateway, shaping how guests understand and remember Hanoi long after departure and transforming the hotel from a luxury address into a true cultural destination.
Capella Hanoi welcomes a global community of culturally astute and aesthetically discerning guests. How do you see the hotel functioning as a space for dialogue - where Eastern and Western values intersect with subtlety and mutual respect?
At Capella Hanoi, dialogue begins with the setting itself, through salon-style lounges, intimate bars, and dining spaces designed to invite conversation and create natural moments for guests from different cultures to connect through shared sensory experiences.
1 / 1
We further nurture this exchange by hosting cultural dinners, artist residencies, and musical evenings where Vietnamese creatives collaborate with international chefs, performers, and designers, allowing Eastern and Western aesthetics to meet organically as a conversation rather than a contrast.
Our team is trained to act as cultural interpreters, thoughtfully offering context, stories, and rituals so guests can engage with Vietnamese culture with confidence and respect, enabling mutual curiosity and understanding to unfold naturally.
As Hanoi continues to assert itself on the regional luxury travel map, how do you see Capella Hanoi contributing to and shaping a new narrative for high-end hospitality in Vietnam and Asia?
Capella Hanoi contributes by positioning Vietnam as a destination of depth and sophistication in its own right, moving the narrative beyond “emerging” toward one that is culturally confident, refined, and globally relevant. Rather than leading with facilities or formality, the hotel shapes a new perspective through intimate and intellectually engaging experiences, from private cultural encounters to creative collaborations and moments of quiet discovery that reframe what high-end hospitality in Vietnam can represent.
Beyond accolades, Capella Hanoi seeks to influence the wider ecosystem by nurturing local talent, inspiring meaningful creative partnerships, and championing a more culturally driven approach to luxury that will help shape Vietnam’s hospitality narrative for years to come.
1 / 1
I also hope my tenure at Capella Hanoi can show how luxury hospitality in Asia can evolve from curation to creation, with hotels actively participating in cultural dialogue by commissioning ideas, nurturing talent, and contributing original perspectives rather than merely presenting heritage. This journey reflects my belief that the most progressive form of luxury is both intellectually and emotionally aware, shaped with sensitivity to history, society, and human connection, and expressed through restraint and nuance rather than spectacle.
Thank you for your time and sharing!
1 / 1
Best of Asia 2026 marks the first time Tatler Vietnam brings together thirteen General Managers of Vietnam’s leading hotels and resorts on the January cover. This moment reflects a powerful shift within the hospitality industry as Asia enters a period of profound redefinition. Today, the leaders behind global brands are no longer merely operating systems; they are collectively shaping new benchmarks for luxury hospitality in Vietnam.
This January cover captures Tatler’s vision of industry leadership: transcending competition to assume a shared responsibility for preserving experience, standards, and the enduring stature of the art of hospitality, positioning Vietnam as a leading destination in Asia.
Tatler is proud to present thirteen features - thirteen touchpoints between thought and emotion, guiding readers from iconic destinations to East–West culinary dialogues, from international standards to local spirit, from sustainability philosophies to an aesthetic distilled in every detail of service.
Originally published in the January 2026 issue of Tatler Vietnam
CREDITS:
Editor-in-Chief: Nikita Chu
Art Director: Andy Tran
Head of Dining & Travel: Hong Dang
Photographers: Le Lai, Tran Khoa
Producers: Giang Thảo, Joanne Dao
Videographers: Hai Pham, Nguyen Duc Kha, Tu Le, Pham Gia Khanh
Editors: Xuan Phuc, Priscilla N., Tra My
Designer: Chau Duong
Marketing & Social: Joanne Dao, Pham Gia Khanh, Tat An Thuan
Stylists: Tran Cong Linh, Long Ngoc
Makeup: Nguyen Huynh Nhi, Mai Mai, Vuong Cam Thien, Ngan Kim
Production Assistants: Huynh Hai Dang, Tuan Sang, Brian Nguyen
Photo Assistants: Nhân Tomato, Võ Hoàng Huy
Video Assistant: Hung Van
Gaffer: Bao Hoang Nguyen, Long
Stylist Assistant: Quoc Nam
Fashion: Canali
READ NOW
Kenneth Atkinson: “Never say No” to Vietnam
