Bia Hoi: Dirt Cheap and Fresh
If you know us, you know we are beer drinkers, through-and-through. To our delight, in Hanoi, you can find what is quite possibly the cheapest beer in the world. One Bia Hoi cup holds about half a litre of delicious, delicious lager and will only set you back 3,000-5,000 VND or, $0.20 to $0.50 cents!
Bia Hoi literally translates to ‘fresh beer’, where every morning, large steel barrels of unpasteurized beer is delivered to each roadside establishment. The unique processing of this beverage - brief aging , carbonation, kegging and delivery (usually balanced precariously on motorbikes) to numerous Bia Hoi bars around town, make this a beer good for only a day as it is completely unprocessed.
Bia Hoi originates from Hanoi when the French colonists first introduced beer to the country during the late 19th century. The first brewery, Hommel Brewery was established around the 1890’s, but was generally reserved for the elites as beer was considered a luxury. During the Indochinese War in 1945, glass and metal were in short supply, meaning that cans and glass bottles were out of the question. This introduced reusable steel kegs for storage and transportation. When Vietnam gained independence in 1954, they took over beer production and Hommel Brewery turned into Hanoi Brewery. The kegs in use for decades now, still continue to be used to deliver fresh beer on a daily basis.
Deep-fried Salted Garlic Chilli Frog - Perfect paired with Bia Hoi!
The easiest place to find a Bia Hoi spot is on Beer Corner or Bia Hoi Junction in the Old Quarter. You’ll recognize this busy spot, jam-packed with locals and tourists alike. Arrive around evening time and grab a little plastic stool and order yourself a glass of cold, refreshing brew. Although Bia Hoi is not particularly strong (~3-4%), drink enough and you’ll be feeling it after a few pops. Thus, most establishments will offer up a menu of snacks or boiled peanuts to soak up all that alcohol. If you stay long enough, you may just wind up doing a few Một, hai, ba, dô! (“cheers”) with the locals!
