Vietnamese people love occasions to drink—after-work gatherings, weekend banquets with family and relatives, and more. Under Vietnamese law, alcohol is legal from age 18, so they can start earlier than in Japan. As a result, many Vietnamese people basically love alcohol. Here we introduce four recommended beers that Vietnamese people enjoy.

Recommended Vietnamese Beer 1: Saigon Beer

In Vietnam, preferred beers differ between the south and the north, and Saigon Beer is the major one in the south centered on Ho Chi Minh City.

Saigon Beer Is Often Available in Japan Too

Saigon Beer is one of the flagship products of Saigon Beer Alcohol Beverage Corporation (SABECO), a major beer maker. True to its name, Saigon, it is always stocked at restaurants and bars in Ho Chi Minh City. When ordering, simply saying “bia Saigon” will get you understood. In fact, it is also imported into Japan and can be found in the imported goods section of supermarkets and at Vietnamese restaurants.

Saigon Beer Has a Clean, Light Taste

Saigon Beer comes in two versions—the green-label “Lager” and the red-label “Export Beer”—both characterized by a clean, light taste. With an alcohol content of 5%, which is relatively low, even people who get drunk easily can enjoy it casually. In Vietnam, people drink it with plenty of ice, letting it melt as they go, so it is also recommended for those who are not fond of beer’s flavor.

Recommended Vietnamese Beer 2: Bia Hanoi

If Ho Chi Minh City is Saigon Beer, then Hanoi’s representative is Bia Hanoi. It is a national beer with many awards within Vietnam.

A Beer Loved in Northern Vietnam

This beer is sold by HAI VIET Corporation (HAVICO), a state-owned enterprise with over 100 years of history in Hanoi. It is highly popular in northern Vietnam and is especially often seen at restaurants and bars in the capital, Hanoi. It is also highly rated for taste and has won numerous awards at exhibitions in Vietnam. With an alcohol content of 4%, it has an even lighter mouthfeel than Saigon Beer.

Enjoy Bia Hanoi’s Distinctive Bitterness Too

Bia Hanoi’s characteristic is its light mouthfeel. Compared with Saigon Beer, you can sense more bitterness. In Japanese terms, the taste is closer to happoshu (low-malt beer) than to regular beer. Vietnamese people drink Bia Hanoi with plenty of ice, almost like juice. Although it has bitterness, its aroma is subtly refreshing. Because it is a taste that is unlikely to divide preferences, it is fine to start with Bia Hanoi.

Recommended Vietnamese Beer 3: 333 (Ba Ba Ba)

While Saigon Beer and Bia Hanoi have regional character, 333 is widely drunk across all of Vietnam.

333 Beer, Named for Good Luck

Street-side tea shops are everywhere in Vietnam, where you can drink tea, energy drinks, juice, and more. Alongside them sits the beer called 333. Its domestic market share is said to be nearly 70%. In Vietnam, 3 is considered an unlucky number, but adding them up gives 9. Nine is a lucky number, so it has become established as a lucky beer. It is also valued as an offering.

A Beer Brand Known Worldwide

Vietnamese beer has been gaining attention in Japan recently as well, and 333 is a brand with high global recognition. It is sold mainly in Southeast Asian countries as well as in Western countries such as the United States, Australia, and France. In Japan, you may also spot it in the imported goods section. Its alcohol content is around 5%, but the carbonation is strong and stimulating. As with other beers, people drink it with plenty of ice.

Recommended Vietnamese Beer 4: Bière Larue

A brand that evokes Vietnam’s history under French rule is Bière Larue. It is a beer developed by a Frenchman.

Bière Larue, Born Under French Rule

Bière Larue is a beer distinguished by its tiger label. The design recalls Tiger, which is also popular in Vietnam, but Larue was produced first. The “Larue” in Bière Larue comes from the name of a Frenchman, Victor Larue. It is especially loved in central Vietnam, such as Da Nang, where traces of French rule remain strong. In recent years it was acquired by the major beer company Heineken, but you can still enjoy a taste that stands apart from Heineken.

Bière Larue Reproduces the Taste of French Beer

Production of Bière Larue began in 1909. Victor Larue brewed this beer so that French beer could be enjoyed in Vietnam. As a result, you can fully enjoy the fruity aroma and subtle bitterness that characterize French beer. The alcohol content is a relatively low 4.2%. As with other Vietnamese beers, the taste is lighter than Japanese beer, so it is recommended to enjoy it with food.

Summary

Three features common to Vietnamese beers are relatively low alcohol content, a clean taste, and drinking them with plenty of ice. The style of drinking with ice in particular is addictive. For Vietnamese people, Japanese beer may taste strong the first time they try it, so it may be a good idea to serve ice alongside it at first.