When anyone mentions Vietnam, the very first thing it’s possible you’ll consider most likely isn’t going to be beer. Nonetheless, if you happen to’ve ever visited Vietnam, you’ll realize it’s a paradise for beer lovers!
From crisp rice lagers to craft-brewed pale ales utilizing native elements, similar to lychees and durian fruit, the Vietnamese like their beer and a variety of it, too. Beer is certainly a favourite drink of Vietnam and always makes the checklist of the highest 10 beer-consuming nations on this planet!
Photograph by LIM ENG on Unsplash
Beer is a social factor in Vietnam, and simply as essential as their unimaginable meals tradition. With a steadiness of many robust worldwide manufacturers and their home-grown inspiration, the wide selection of beers supplied by Vietnam make a colourful and interesting expertise for any visiting beer-lover. Plus, Vietnam additionally affords up what is understood by many to be the most affordable beer on this planet!
Vietnam’s Beer Historical past
Beer was launched to Vietnam within the late nineteenth century, introduced in by the French below their colonial rule. Initially, brewing was a sluggish handbook course of however it produced some nice outcomes. Two main breweries developed presently – the Habeco beer firm (Hanoi beer) and Sabeco (Saigon Beer).
There weren’t too many adjustments within the beer tradition till after Vietnam gained its independence. After the Vietnam battle, there was a shift in Authorities coverage, which led to a rise in tourism.
Because the drive for tourism led to many overseas vacationers, so got here alongside the main overseas beer manufacturers and, in flip, the manufacturing of extra sorts of beer in Vietnam.
The event of the Vietnamese beer brewing course of additionally created jobs in different sectors similar to engineering, agriculture, and packaging. Beer brewing strategies have been quickly upgraded with new instruments and tools.
For instance, Heineken – one of many main gamers within the Vietnamese beer business – employs over 3,500 individuals in Vietnam and contributes to 0.9% of the nation’s GDP.
Beer In Vietnam At the moment
Beer consuming could be very a lot a lifestyle for the common particular person residing in Vietnam. On sizzling summer season days, you’ll discover the pavements of main cities, like Hanoi within the North or Saigon (Ho Chi Min Metropolis) within the South, affected by avid beer drinkers sitting on plastic stools and tables round make-shift sidewalk cafes and bars.
Because of the tropical climate, the Vietnamese choose to drink their beer in mugs with ice cubes. Draft beer, referred to as Bia Hoi, is a well-liked beer at a really low-cost value, typically below 1 USD a mug. Bia Hoi is usually discovered on many avenue corners in Hanoi, however it now has a rising foothold in Saigon, too.
In case you don’t like the thought of ice in your beer, refrigerated beers are additionally out there, extra generally in a can than a beer bottle. Many worldwide beers can be found, some imported and a few brewed below license.
You’ll additionally discover a number of beers brewed particularly for the Vietnamese market and a wholesome craft beer scene too, particularly within the massive metropolis of Saigon.
Photograph by Anh Vy on Unsplash
After all, this being South East Asia, consuming beer is almost at all times an accompaniment to meals.
Scrumptious meals served at avenue vendor stalls, similar to snails (grilled, steamed, or stir-fried), the notorious fertilized duck embryos referred to as balut, salted fish, fried rice, and fermented raws sausage are sometimes discovered subsequent to the Bia Hoi stalls.
The meals and snacks fluctuate in several areas of Vietnam. Snacks like peanuts, beef jerky, and grilled dried squid are extra well-liked accompaniments to the beer within the North, whereas summer season spring rolls (in rice paper), Vietnamese rice crackers, French fries, and cheese sticks are extra well-liked within the South.
What’s Bia Hoi?
{Photograph} from Private Assortment of David Healey
Bia Hoi is a lighter beer, a freshly made and frothy lager. Beer connoisseurs typically complain it’s too mild with not sufficient physique, however that’s a part of the appeal. Bia Hoi is a good accompaniment to meals, and with its mild alcohol content material, a few glasses isn’t going to damage your day.
At about 3% ABV, it’s low in value, as essentially the most you might be more likely to ever pay is about 20,000 VND (Vietnamese dong) per glass or roughly 1 US greenback, however it may be present in Hanoi for lower than 5,000 VND per glass.
Actually translated as contemporary beer, Bia Hoi doesn’t use any preservatives within the brewing course of and is usually unpasteurized. It’s principally good for serving solely the day it’s tapped by the seller, and you’ll typically see kegs being delivered each morning to the road nook distributors on the again of a moped.
Though it received’t win any awards for greatest beer on this planet, it’s essentially the most consumed beer in Vietnam and if you happen to ought to ever go to, it will be a disgrace to overlook out on this age-old custom
That mentioned, it’s related in shade and style to most of the lighter beers brewed by the main beer corporations within the U.S. Nonetheless, it’s rather less carbonated as a result of avenue vendor simply tapping the keg with a reusable faucet and no exterior CO2 provide.
The High Beer Manufacturers in Vietnam
If sitting on a avenue nook on a small plastic stool, consuming ultra-fresh, un-aged beer out of a cup created from recycled glass doesn’t excite you, there are a lot of different choices for beer in Vietnam.
Hey, we’re not all backpackers anymore and worldwide manufacturers can be found at comparatively cheap costs all through Vietnam.
Canned beers are typically cheaper at about 20,000 VND (roughly 80 c) to your common beer, however bottled beers will nonetheless solely set you again about 30,000 VND. The rising craft beer scene in Saigon tends to have the most costly beers, however you can be having fun with premium beer.
Heineken In Vietnam
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It could appear unusual to begin a listing of prime Vietnamese beers with some of the well-known beer manufacturers on this planet, however Heineken has completed more and more properly because it began brewing in Vietnam in 1991.
Though conventional Heineken is well-known for its crisp style and as a top quality beer worldwide, Heineken truly brews some lagers particularly for the Vietnamese market, particularly Bia Viêt.
Marketed as “Born in Vietnam for Vietnam,” Bia Viêt is a chilly brew lager with an alcohol content material of 4.3% ABV. The chilly fermentation course of preserves the hop essence for a longer-lasting, extra hoppier taste than conventional Heineken.
The place Heineken excels and has made its method into the hearts of shoppers is the advertising and plenty of occasions it sponsors. One of the iconic buildings in Ho Chi Minh Metropolis is house to The World of Heineken venue and since 2003, Heineken has introduced the modern New 12 months Social gathering countdown idea to Vietnam.
Heineken additionally sponsors many festive music occasions and home sporting occasions to construct its model within the area.
Tiger Beer
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The second hottest worldwide lager throughout Vietnam once more isn’t a homegrown lager, however the iconic Tiger Beer, which hails from Singapore. Though identified all through most of Asia because the Premium beer, in Vietnam it is among the most cheap beers you should purchase.
Standard with foreigners and Vietnamese shoppers it now falls below the Heineken Vietnam umbrella.
Nonetheless brewed in Singapore, each Tiger beer goes by a strict brewing course of that makes use of solely the best elements, similar to barley grown in Australia and Europe and hops from Germany.
About 15 years in the past, Heineken Vietnam launched Tiger Crystal in a clear glass bottle to the market, which makes use of a “chilly suspension” brewing method that helps filter the beer at a -1ºc temperature to create a extra refreshing drink and easy-to-drink mild beer.
In 2021 Tiger Platinum Wheat Lager was launched as a co-brewed enterprise, voted for by the youthful era of Vietnamese. A wheat beer with a golden shade, Tiger Platinum has a contemporary taste with hints of orange peel.
Tiger Beer, much like its dad or mum model, additionally sponsors most of the epic music occasions in Vietnam.
Biere Larue
Named after Victor Larue, the founding father of Brasseries et Placieres de L’Indochine Brewery, this beer options an attention-grabbing design of a tiger on all its packaging and was even known as “Tiger beer” by US troopers within the Vietnam Struggle period.
However don’t get it confused with the stylish Tiger Beer from Singapore, Asia’s Worldwide Premium Beer. Though the model is now additionally distributed by Heineken (complicated!), Biere Larue sits within the mid-range section of the market with an affordable value and has a extra conventional attribute style of French beer.
Utilizing high quality pure elements from European suppliers, the beer has a darkish yellow shade and a delicate style, which makes it an unforgettable beer for many individuals.
Saigon Beer
With over 140 years of growing Saigon Beer, Sabeco is among the main Vietnamese beer producers and types.
Saigon Beer is a pilsner-type lager brewed in Saigon and comes with both a pink label or a inexperienced label. Saigon Inexperienced is the marginally lighter of the 2 beers, with an ABV of 4.3% in comparison with the 4.9% of Saigon Pink.
In contrast to most of the different bottle and draft beers of Vietnam, Saigon beers are extra consistent with worldwide requirements. Extra hops and malts and are concerned within the brewing course of to provide a extra complicated taste, much like German beers with a refreshing aroma.
Beer manufacturers in Vietnam might be localized with Huda Beer, extra more likely to be present in Central Vietnam, and Bia Hanoi within the North. Saigon, nonetheless, is discovered throughout Vietnam and even exported worldwide now.
333
Initially produced in 1893, this beer was first referred to as Beer 33 earlier than one other 3 was added to the labeling within the seventies. Produced by the Sabeco Brewing Firm, makers of the well-known Saigon Beers, Beer 333 is a traditional rice beer much like many discovered all through Asia.
Mostly out there within the Southern areas of Vietnam, Beer 333 is a well-liked alternative for each locals and guests. With an ABV of 5.3, it’s much like many American beers, however many Asian brewers typically add rice for that harsh bitterness.
Bottles of Beer 333 are fairly generally noticed in different Asian markets like Thailand, Korea, and even the Philippines, and are additionally exported around the globe.
Huda Beer
The identify Huda derives from Hue Metropolis (Hu) in Central Vietnam, the place this beer is produced, and Denmark (Da) from the Carlsberg brewery, which is the dad or mum firm of the brewery.
Combining European imported elements with trendy Danish brewing strategies has created a beer with a attribute taste that has picked up many awards over the past 30 years.
The individuals of Hue Metropolis take nice delight of their Huda Beer, because it was the primary Vietnamese model to obtain a World Beer Award. It’s not often discovered outdoors the central plains of Vietnam, so if you happen to ought to journey to Hue Metropolis don’t overlook to style this excellent beer.
Halida Beer
One of the well-known beers in North Vietnam, Halida Beer is a three way partnership between Habeco and Carlsberg of Denmark. Manufactured utilizing Danish know-how, all of the elements are fastidiously chosen, together with a sprouted beer barley imported from Europe.
Because of the wonderful care taken by the brewers and the 170-year-old conventional brewing know-how of Carlsberg, Halida retains steady over an extended time period. It has a delicate style to drink, a attribute refreshing aroma, and a candy aftertaste.
Another excuse for the wonderful high quality of Halida is a particular yeast, which is used and researched by the Carlsberg laboratories in Denmark known as Saccharomyces Carlsbergenis. This helps with the creation of beer that may be a balanced and wealthy, however not too bitter, drink.
Hanoi Beer
Also called Habeco, after the brewery which produces them, Hanoi Beer manufacturers dominate North Vietnam. Their major merchandise embrace Hanoi Draft Beer, Hanoi Pink or Blue label beer bottle 450ml, Hanoi Beer Premium, and Truc Bach Beer.
Though Hanoi Beer is typical of an American adjunct lager type beer, the opposite beer they produce, Tru Bach, is of specific curiosity and value looking for out. Named after Truc Bach lake, this premium beer is produced from the perfect imported elements, together with Saaz hops from the Czech Republic and spring season barley from France and the Czech Republic.
With a naturally lengthy fermentation between 2-3 occasions longer than typical beers, the beer has solely a barely bitter style, which supplies method to the candy style of the premium malts.
A few of the major import markets for Hanoi Beers at the moment are the USA, UK, Australia, France, and Germany.
In a really crowded beer market, two different beers which stand out in Vietnam are:
- Sapporo Premium from the Sapporo brewery in Japan.
- Zorok Lager Beer – brewed within the Bin Duong Province, every bottle has 16 % fewer energy than your common beer and is designed as a beer for females.
Craft Beer in Vietnam
{Photograph} from Private Assortment of David Healey
Vietnam, particularly Saigon, has seen an enormous enlargement within the craft beer tradition, with new craft beer bars bobbing up each week.
Many ex-pats from everywhere in the globe have relocated to the busy metropolis that’s Saigon and began to experiment with native flavors like lemongrass, passionfruit, dragon fruit, and even the dreaded durian fruit.
Whereas among the new microbreweries brew beers much like these you discover at house, others are like nothing you’ll have ever tasted earlier than.
And the excellent news is that a few of these breweries at the moment are exporting their craft beer manufacturers and it’s possible you’ll even monitor a number of down at your native beer import specialists!
Let’s take a fast tour of 5 of the most effective craft beer consuming spots in Saigon.
Pasteur Road Brewing – Saigon
{Photograph} from Private Assortment of David Healey
One in all my favourite spots every time I’m in Saigon is the Pasteur Road Brewing Firm faucet room, which is positioned curiously sufficient on a avenue named after the well-known Luis Pasteur, who’s chargeable for a lot of the event of brewing yeasts.
Utilizing a mix of extra fascinating native elements like jasmine, pomelo, or dragon fruit and varied varieties of brews from IPAs to Porters, at Pasteur Road you’ll expertise some distinctive Asian flavors you might be unlikely to seek out again house in craft beers.
A taster tray lets you check out six of their extra fascinating brews, though be warned these high quality craft ales are usually not low-cost. My favourite is the Passionfruit Wheat Ale, which thankfully is now one of many beers they export and is accessible in my native 7-Eleven retailer.
There may be additionally a Hanoi Pasteur Road Brewing Firm if you happen to ought to stray to North Vietnam.
Winking Seal Beer Co.
The Winking Seal Beer Co. is a relative newcomer to the craft beer scene of Saigon however already produces a number of top-quality craft ales.
Of specific word is the Mekong Mashup Summer season Ale, which has a pleasant easy taste infused with flavors of the Mekong Delta.
A Dragon Fruit Pale Ale can also be value making an attempt and the Bohemian Bastard IPA by no means fails to please lovers of these massive hoppy ales typically discovered again house.
Belgo The Belgian Brewer
Followers of Belgian beers received’t be upset by this massive industrial-style brewhouse with loads of seating areas each indoors and open air to accommodate the crowds.
All Belgo’s Craft beers are brewed in a traditional Belgian type, with beers together with an Amber Ale, a Darkish Ale, a Saison, a Witbier, and some different specialties, all with an Asian twist.
Small samples might be given out by the obliging bar workers or you possibly can even purchase a pattern tray of 4 completely different ales. And naturally, there’s a fusion-style menu with Belgian traditional beer accompaniments on condition that Vietnamese taste, too.
BiaCraft
{Photograph} from Private Assortment of David Healey
Greater than a microbrewery, this massive energetic outlet additionally shares most of the native craft beers from different breweries similar to Pasteur Road, Phat Rooster, and East West Brewing Co.
There are ales right here to fulfill even essentially the most discerning of beer connoisseurs, however ensure you strive a few of their extensive number of IPAs – each single one in every of them was hoppy and scrumptious!
Lion Brewery Saigon
{Photograph} from Private Assortment of David Healey
Essentially the most central of all of the microbreweries in Saigon and undoubtedly the best to seek out, this massive German hall-style restaurant and brewery is positioned simply off Lam Son Sq. within the coronary heart of the town.
In addition to an impressive buffet served in the course of the weekends and evenings, you possibly can get pleasure from a few German-style beers in these massive stein glasses, both blonde or darkish beer.
Lighter in physique than the opposite main German beers in Vietnam, similar to Scorching Vien or Goldmalt, each beers are extra dry with a fruity aftertaste and an affordable alcoholic energy anticipated of German beers.
Honorable mentions additionally exit to the craft beer breweries of Coronary heart of Darkness (a wonderful Mexican lager), East West Brewing Firm (Saigon Rose – an easy-to-drink low ABV of three% beer), Tê Tê Taphouse (Tê Tê White Ale Belgian type beer) and Rooster Beers (IPAs broadly out there everywhere in the metropolis).
New breweries appear to seem on a regular basis, however the native artful beer-loving fanatics are at all times desperate to share any information of modern brews with you.
Beer In Vietnam – What A Shock!
If you ought to be fortunate sufficient to be heading to Vietnam, whether or not you’re a beer lover or an IPA fan, you might be in for a deal with – it’s a beer lover’s paradise!
Lager lovers, particularly those that like them a bit of extra bitter, will recognize most of the native brews, however worldwide manufacturers are additionally out there for the much less adventurous. The beauty of lagers in Vietnam is that they fee as among the most reasonably priced beers on this planet, particularly Bia Hoi.
When you have by no means skilled beer so contemporary it could have simply been brewed that day, you don’t know what you’re lacking. Bia Hoi could by no means win any awards for the best-tasting beer, however it’s a nice introduction to the beer tradition of Vietnam.
Craft beer lovers can expertise the flavour combos of native Asian produce in traditional ale types, which you’ll have by no means even thought of potential earlier than. Usually, they work, however I might keep away from the durian fruit. There’s a cause durian fruit is banned in most inns – they stink!
Now that the majority of those unique elements can be found within the US, why not strive including to your subsequent home-brew mission? I used to be impressed to not too long ago make a Lemongrass Kolsch.
And if not, then hold your eyes open for among the Vietnamese craft beers and lagers which at the moment are imported into the US for a style of Vietnam’s thrilling beer scene.
