Vietnamese Beers: A Quick Trip

Posted Saturday, May 24, 2008, 5:29 PM by Lonely Planet

OK, I have to admit it: I'm hardly a beer connoisseur. I know what I like and what goes down well on a hot tropical afternoon, but I'm certainly far from as critical as the folks on Ratebeer.com.

That said, I found Vietnamese beers to be an incredibly pleasant surprise. Apart from bia hoi (fresh draught beer), which you can get on almost any street corner for a few cents, there are several national breweries that produce a fine drop. Here's my take, in order of preference:

1. Huda - Native to Hue, the old imperial capital, Huda is cheap, clean, thoroughly refreshing, and complex enough to sip slowly (if you have the self-control). A huge thumbs-up.

2. Bia Hue - Very similar to Huda, and brewed by the same company, this is a pale lager that sucks up your thirst magnificently. Harder to find than Huda.

3. Bia Ha Noi - North beats South in the battle of Vietnam's 'two capitals'. Hanoi's brew is golden, fizzy and eminently drinkable. It lacks the richness of its Hué counterparts, but it has no bitter aftertaste and sports a pleasant, malty flavour.

4. Bia Sai Gon - Ho Chi Minh City's answer to Bia Ha Noi, Bia Sai Gon is darker, more honeyed and less carbonated. It's better for a cool, breezy evening than after a hot day spent dodging scooters.

5. Halida - Produced in North Vietnam under the supervision of Carlsberg, Halida is an OK drop. Cheaper than chips and almost as uncarbonated, Halida can leave a full feeling in your stomach and a slightly bitter aftertaste. It's a fine accompaniment to spring rolls or bun, though.

6. Bia Festival - Easily the worst of the three big Hué beers, Festival is overpriced and slightly sour. Go for Huda instead.

7. Bia 333 - Pronounced 'ba ba ba' (don't ask me about tones!), 333 might not be quite as poor as Festival, but the weight of expectation sends it to the bottom of the list. It's supposedly an 'export-quality' beer, but it's horribly disappointing. If you want full flavour, go for Sai Gon; if you want a great balance, go for Huda.

Again, these are just the opinions of a complete dilettante. Anyone been to Vietnam who can recommend better/other beers, or improve this list?

-- Vivek Wagle

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