The most popular beer in Vietnam is know as Bia Hoi, this is
more of a type of beer like the traditional draft beer but Bia
Hoi is not sold like anywhere else in the world.
Bia Hoi means
fresh beer and it is made by many of 300 odd breweries, large and small,
around the country. Bia Hoi is like a micro brew there are no
preservatives added and it is generally consumed on the day it was made.
Bia Hoi can be found all around the country in bars cafes and even
street side vendors. It is collected from the brewery in 100 liter
barrels and then either used in a large bar or on sold to smaller
establishments in smaller plastic containers. Customers can expect to
pay around 25 US cents a glass (often served with ice). It is estimated
that 3 to 4 hundred thousand liters of Bia Hoi are sold in Hanoi each
day.
Canned beer is starting to increase in popularity despite its higher
price tag, most of the major Asian brewed labels are available while the
two of the most popular local brews would be 333 and Hue Beer.
333
A bitter tasting rice flavored beer made by
the Saigon beer Co who also make Saigon Lager and Saigon Export.
333 dates back to 1893 where it was developed in France, it was
originally named 33 and changed to 333 in 1975.
Hue Beer
A 5.0% pilsner made by the hue brewery who is
owned by Carlsburg it has a golden color with a fast
disappearing head. Rice aroma and a dry watery dry taste. Hue
brewery also makes a Huda and Festival beer for the Vietnamese
market.
Saigon Lager
Also made by the Saigon beer Co this 4.7%
beer has the distinctive Asian rice flavor it
pours a clear gold color with a thin soapy white head.
