Beer, Beer, Everywhere and Oh So Much to Drink!

So, you thought I was finished with my Vietnam posts, but there's still one last pressing matter, and it is oh so important: beer. Now, I am a huge fan of beer, but as many of you many know, I am an equal opportunity employer: I love my wine, I love my beer, and on occassion, I love my gin. Now, wine in Vietnam -- not the best idea. First of all, where does it come from? Second of all, how much does it cost? (If it doesn't cost a lot, then it's definitely not a good idea) Third of all, is it even possible for it to taste good? Of course not. Luxury wine in Vietnam is basically the equivalent of box wine.  It doesn't even meet our standard of 5 dollar juice wine (aka wine that tastes like juice) that comes in a jug (yes, that's for you, Cats).  Gin would be a good option, but, as I've stated in earlier posts, the strength of mixed drinks in Vietnam is not even worthy of describing them as mildly alcoholic. Nor are they tasty.  So, all that is left is my beloved beer.  It's cheap, for one: you can get most beers in a bottle for under a dollar (depending on where you are). And let me tell you, I was shocked at the many varieties available. And guess what? I tried them all. :)

Now, what is interesting about beer in Vietnam, is that it is not all available everywhere.  For example, in the US, you can get Coors anywhere, not just in Colorado and Bud Light is by no means limited to the greater St. Louis area.  Basically, you can get the big beers anywhere.  Not so in Vietnam.  Therefore, below, I will provide a detailed account of the quality and types of beers available by region, that I encountered in Vietnam.

HANOI

Tiger (Singapore beer):  I'm a big fan of this beer. It's got a clean, crisp taste, and it's not too bitter.  It's definitely got a little bit of a heavier flavor than lots of Asian beers, like Sapporo. (Image)

Biere LaRue: This is a Vietnamese beer that I first encountered in Hanoi.  I wasn't entirely taken by its flavor, but it comes in a significantly larger bottle than most beers, which is an enticing thought until you remember that it's merely a result of its lower alcohol percentage. Lol. (Image)

HUE

Huda: So, I never actually had a chance to taste this beer, but from what I gathered, it was more or less the equivalent to the standard Vietnamese beer.  It doesn't have any kind of overpowering flavor, but it's good enough to get the job done. (Image)

333 (BaBaBa in Vietnamese): Now, this beer is pretty gross.  I had it for the first (and only) time on the train from Hanoi to Hue.  It is specifically made in Vietnam for export, and the locals won't even touch it.  Needless to say, our group had no qualms with purchasing this seriously subpar beer.  Also, I think this beer only comes in a can. Lol. (Image)

HOI AN

Bia Hoi: Now, this beer I would easily compare to a solid Bud Light, except, it's not a light beer. But at 25 cents per glass, who could resist? On that one epic night in Hoi An, I think I managed 11 of my 17 strikes from Bia Hoi alone.  Furthermore, this is the only beer that I found in Vietnam that you can consistently get on tap.  Everything else I drank from a can or a bottle. (Image)

SAIGON

Saigon: This was probably my favorite beer of all of the beers we tried in Vietnam.  It had a sharper and crisper flavor than the others, and it was thicker too.  Now, Saigon beer is interesting because it comes in several varieties.  There's a green label, and a red label.  Then there's another kind called Saigon Export which is actually a little better tasting than the other two.  The main difference among the three is alcohol content.  Basically, the better tasting ones happen to be the more alcoholic ones. Go figure. (Image, Image)

Zorok: So, I only got to taste this beer out of a can, and I wasn't all too impressed, except that the can held about two cans worth of beer, which was pretty awesome.  Again, it tasted more or less like all of the other beers I had tasted in Vietnam.  (Image)

San Miguel (Phillippino Beer): I didn't actually get a chance to try this one either, but it used to be known as a luxury beer.  While it is widely available, I don't think it's all that popular. (Image)

Okay, well, now that I've convinced all of you that I paid a lot of attention to beer while in Vietnam.  I hope I have also been able to convince you through my prior posts that I paid attention to other things as well.  Needless to say, there really wasn't anything about Vietnam that wasn't interesting.

Over and Out.

-- Priya/Pri/P/Preesh/Pixi/LPJ/P-Money/Baibiya