Categories
Beer Guides Craft Beer in Vietnam

Craft Beer in Saigon (HCMC) Guide

Saigon is the focal point of Asia’s craft beer revolution with hundreds of craft beer bars and dozens of breweries of all shapes and sizes.

This guide to Saigon’s craft beer scene was last updated in August 2024.

Ho Chi Minh City, widely known as Saigon, is the focal point of Asia’s craft beer revolution.

With hundreds of craft beer bars and dozens of breweries of all shapes and sizes, Saigon is a beer lovers paradise.

This guide will explain where you can find the best craft beer in Saigon (HCMC).

To ensure our craft beer guide to Saigon is easy-to-use, the Beer Asia team has provided a level of detail that is unmatched in other guides: maps, addresses, and links to our preferred craft beer bars in Saigon.

Even better, we update our beer guides at least once a month to ensure they are up-to-date.

The History of Beer in Saigon: Context & Background

Saigon’s beer scene stretches back into the country’s colonial history. The southern Vietnamese metropolis has been home to a thriving beer culture for more than a century.

After modern Ho Chi Minh City was seized by invading French & Spanish troops in 1859, the beer-swilling colonial culture that they brought with them was quickly transferred to locals.

The first brewery, Brasseries et Placieres de L’Indochine (BGI), was established in 1875 by Victor Larue. BGI Brewery quickly became the most popular style of domestically produced beer in southern Vietnam, then known as Cochinchine Française.

Their beers, notably 33 Export, achieved a level of fame that was maintained for nearly a century until the unification of Vietnam in 1975.

The legacy of BGI lives on. The state-owned Saigon-based brewery SABECO produces 333, the modern take on BGI’s once-famous flagship. Named in Monsieur Larue’s honour, Biere Larue is also a popular choice in central and southern Vietnam today.

European Brewing Influence

There was also a separate but worthy beer scene inspired by Central European brewing traditions.

Prior to the collapse of the Soviet Union, Vietnam was an important player in the Eastern Bloc.

Many Vietnamese studied and worked in countries like Czechoslovakia, the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) and Poland.

This created a wave of interest and enthusiasm amongst returning Vietnamese to improve the quality of the local beer scene.

Hoa Vien Brauhaus (opened in 1995) is the best-known example of this central European brewing tradition in Saigon.

Doubling as Saigon’s Czech consulate, it continues to serve Czech-influenced brews and has a golf cart to ferry thirsty drinkers from the main road to their two brewpubs in Saigon.

Saigon’s Craft Beer Revolution

The emergence of the present craft beer boom in Saigon kickstarted 2014, with brewers like Platinum and Quan Ut Ut leading the way.

Since then, the handful of pioneering local craft beer breweries (and cider too!) has exploded. Moreover, there are more than 50 venues offering craft beer on draught in the city’s inner districts.

Better still, there are even multiple bars with extensive draft systems (with BiaCraft in District 3 offering 50!) and an ever-growing home delivery service available just a click away – canned or poured in growlers fresh upon order confirmation!

Saigon Craft Beer Map

We have included a detailed Google Map craft beer guide to Saigon below. You can access it anytime from your computer or smartphone to find your way to exciting local craft beer bars in Saigon nearby.


Saigon Craft Beer Directory

Click on any venue listed below for more information, or scroll through the rest of this page to review Beer Asia’s directory of craft beer venues in Saigon (in no particular order):

Top Craft Beer Venues in Saigon

Rooster Beers

Founded on the all too often discarded principle of keeping it simple, Rooster Beers has taken the Vietnamese market by storm with a range of classic, drinkable brews.

Praised for its unpretentious nature and locally-oriented outlook, the microbrewery’s core range consists of a Blonde, a Dark, a Pale, and an IPA. Regional beers such as the Vung Tau Pilsner and Dak Lak Nitro Stout, as well as numerous seasonal brews and collaborations, have been released too. Furthermore, Rooster Beers produces a total of 8 contract beers.

What started with one bold visionary’s backyard brewing kit and the establishment of Phat Rooster in 2015, was eventually rebranded to Rooster Beers in 2018. Since then, a total of 6 taprooms have been opened – 5 in Saigon and 1 in Vung Tau. Now all you need to do is head on down to the nearest one and immerse yourself in what is essentially a celebration of Vietnam itself.

Bùi Viện

  • Address
    40 Đ. Bùi Viện, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh 70000
  • Open location on Google Maps
  • Visit Website
  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Instagram
  • Check-in on Untappd
  • Operating hours
    Sunday-Wednesday: 12PM-12AM
    Thursday-Saturday: 12PM-1AM

Đồng Nai (D10)

  • Address
    29 Đ. Đồng Nai, Cư xá Bắc Hải, Quận 10, Hồ Chí Minh
  • Open location on Google Maps
  • Operating hours
    Sunday-Wednesday: 4PM-12AM
    Thursday-Saturday: 4PM-1AM

Bình Tân

  • Address
    362 Tên Lửa, Bình Trị Đông B, Bình Tân, Hồ Chí Minh
  • Open location on Google Maps
  • Operating hours
    Sunday-Wednesday: 4PM-12AM
    Thursday-Saturday: 4PM-1AM

Phú Mỹ Hưng (D7)

  • Address
    53 Đường Số 17, Khu đô thị Phú Mỹ Hưng, Quận 7, Hồ Chí Minh
  • Open location on Google Maps
  • Operating hours
    Sunday-Wednesday: 4PM-12AM
    Thursday-Saturday: 4PM-1AM

Bình Thạnh

  • Address
    38 Phạm Viết Chánh, Phường 19, Bình Thạnh, Hồ Chí Minh
  • Open location on Google Maps
  • Operating hours
    4PM-11PM daily

Belgo Belgian Craft Beer Brewery

Inspired by the beer culture of Belgium and Vietnam, Belgo brought a brewery from Belgium all the way to Vietnam.

They reassembled it, replicated the water they have in Belgium, and invited a Belgian Brewmaster to captain their operations.

Today, with four taprooms and widespread distribution (including serving their beer in convenience stores around Saigon), Belgo remain Vietnam’s only dedicated Belgian craft beer brewery.

Da Kao

  • Address
    159A Đường Nguyễn Văn Thủ, Đa Kao, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
  • Open location on Google Maps
  • Call +84 28 3910 0485
  • Visit Website
  • Like on Facebook
  • Check-in on UnTappd
  • Operating hours
    Sunday-Wednesday: 11AM-11.30PM
    Thursday-Sunday: 11AM-12AM

Le Ngo Kat

  • Address
    2 Lê Ngô Cát, Võ Thị Sáu, Quận 3, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
  • Open location on Google Maps
  • Call +84 28 3620 5212
  • Like on Facebook
  • Operating hours
    11AM-12AM daily

Ton That Thiep

  • Address
    29 – 31 Tôn Thất Thiệp, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
  • Open location on Google Maps
  • Call +84 28 3622 9887
  • Operating hours
    11AM-12AM daily

Phan Xich Long

  • Address
    155 Phan Xích Long, Phường 2, Phú Nhuận, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
  • Open location on Google Maps
  • Call +84 28 3517 0983
  • Operating hours
    Sunday-Wednesday: 11AM-11.30PM
    Thursday-Saturday: 11AM-12AM

BiaCraft Artisan Ales

BiaCraft, one of the genuine pioneers of craft beer in Saigon, is arguably Saigon’s craft beer embassy, serving the most extensive collection of craft beers in Vietnam from a wide range of local breweries.

Their four locations serve a beautifully curated selection of locally brewed and imported beer. BiaCraft’s Le Ngo Cat (D3) location serves a glorious 50 (that’s right – fifty!) craft beers on draft.

Its sister company, Quan Ut Ut is a popular American BBQ restaurant in District 1 and District 2. Quan Ut Ut also serves craft beer on tap and bottles.

Lê Ngô Cát | D.3

  • Address
    1 Lê Ngô Cát, Võ Thị Sáu, Quận 3, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
  • Open location on Google Maps 
  • Call +84 28 3933 0903
  • Visit Website
  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Instagram
  • Check-in on Untappd
  • Operating hours
    11AM-11PM daily

Trường Sa | Phú Nhuận

  • Address
    300 Đ. Trường Sa, Phường 7, Phú Nhuận, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
  • Open location on Google Maps
  • Call +84 28 3517 3000
  • Operating hours
    11AM-11PM daily

Xuân Thuỷ | D.2

  • Address
    90 Xuân Thủy, Thảo Điền, Quận 2, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
  • Open location on Google Maps
  • Call +84 28 3744 2588
  • Operating hours
    11AM-11PM daily

Nguyễn Đức Cảnh | D.7

  • Address
    167 Nguyễn Đức Cảnh, Tân Phong, Quận 7, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
  • Open location on Google Maps
  • Call +84 28 3622 8145
  • Operating hours
    11AM-11PM daily

Heart of Darkness Brewery

With 20 taps on-site, 8 tried-and-true flagships and 12 rotating taps, there’s always something new to try at Heart of Darkness.

Heart of Darkness offers freshly brewed beer weekly on Fridays, and has an insanely varied range of both core range and seasonal beers from their tried-and-tested Dream Alone Pale Ale through to experimental kveik brews.

Deservedly rated as the best breweries in Vietnam by Ratebeer, Heart of Darkness Brewery has now expanded to Singapore.

  • Address
    31D Lý Tự Trọng, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
  • Open location on Google Maps
  • Call +84 903 017 596
  • Visit Website
  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Instagram
  • Check-in on Untappd
  • Operating hours
    11AM-12AM daily

East West Brewing Co.

One of Vietnam’s first wave of craft brewers, East West Brewing Co. has established a solid reputation over the years as both a bonafide craft brewer and for having one of the swankiest taprooms in Saigon.

Besides EWB’s excellent core range (Pacific Pilsner is one of our stand-outs) which are widely distributed around town, they also regularly do interesting seasonal releases at their gastropub/restaurant.

They previously (end-2019) had an excellent range of sours and currently have a range of barrel-aged beers on offer.

  • Address
    181 Lý Tự Trọng, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
  • Open location on Google Maps
  • Call +84 913 060 728
  • Visit Website
  • Like on Facebook
  • Operating hours
    Sunday-Wednesday: 11AM-12AM
    Thursday-Saturday: 11AM-1AM

Pasteur Street Brewing Company

Pasteur Street Brewing Company has been brewing craft beer using locally sourced, fresh Vietnamese ingredients since 2014.

The brewery’s first Tap Room – ‘The Original’ – was opened in January 2015 in Saigon at 144 Pasteur Street. A decade down the line, they’ve developed over 200 distinct beers, opened a total of 10 Taprooms in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, and their brews are available in over 300 outlets throughout the country.

MixTape Drinks

“The Soundtrack to the Craft Beer Movement.”

Brews, bites, and beats – that’s what this brewery is all about!

“The Hits” at the MixTape brewpub in District 1 include the Peaches and Cream NEIPA, California Sun Juicy Pale, and Molly Nitro Milk Stout, along with five other homebrews. “Guest Features” on draught are none other than Overmorrow, Turtle Lake, 7 Bridges, and East West, just to name a few.

As of June 20, 2024, three taps have been reserved for a trio of exclusive beers, most notably the MixTape Taro. This sour beer with tamarind and chilli was concocted in collaboration with Great State Aleworks from Pune, India. Another future classic or elevator music? It’s up to you to find out!

  • Address
    40 Đ. Đặng Thị Nhu, Phường Nguyễn Thái Bình, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh
  • Open location on Google Maps
  • Call +84 964 308 037
  • Visit Website
  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Instagram
  • Check-in on Untappd
  • Operating hours
    Monday-Thursday: 10AM-12AM
    Friday-Sunday: 10AM-1AM

Steersman Brewery – Taproom & Restaurant

Specialised in naturally flavoured hard sodas as well as craft beers, the Steersman range is complemented by an array of Vietnamese fusion food at its taproom in Da Kao. The building it is housed in – a three-storey, old international pre-school – has been equipped with some pretty cool design features. For more info on that, check out this article on the opening or simply go and see for yourselves!

  • Address
    18 Phan Kế Bính, Đa Kao, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
  • Open location on Google Maps
  • Call +84 767 601 869
  • Visit Website
  • Like on Facebook
  • Check-in on Untappd
  • Operating hours
    4PM-12AM daily

Khoai

Next up, a gastropub that has been embracing the ruin bar concept since 2015. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the term, a ruin bar or ruin pub is a watering hole operating out of a (formerly) abandoned building.

Both of Khoai’s venues in Saigon serve a long list of mainstream and craft beers, among them the likes of previous entries such as Rooster, Belgo, East West, Pasteur Street, MixTape, and Steersman.

Bình Thạnh

  • Address
    89 Phạm Viết Chánh, Phường 19, Bình Thạnh, Hồ Chí Minh 700000
  • Open location on Google Maps
  • Call +84 902 390 575
  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Instagram
  • Operating hours
    Sunday-Thursday: 5PM-1AM
    Friday-Saturday: 5PM-3AM

Thảo Điền

  • Address
    85 Đ. Quốc Hương, Thảo Điền, Quận 2, Hồ Chí Minh 70000
  • Open location on Google Maps
  • Call +84 902 390 575
  • Operating hours
    Sunday-Thursday: 5PM-1AM
    Friday-Saturday: 5PM-2AM

Saigon Cider

“100% juice, nothing else!”

The most awarded cidery in Asia, Saigon Cider’s range combines organic ingredients with the tastes of Vietnam. Its Original Apple, Apple & Chilli, and Apple & Ginger blends are available at over 300 locations in Asia and Europe.

  • Address
    466/4 Lê Quang Định, Phường 11, Bình Thạnh, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
  • Open location on Google Maps
  • Call +84 909 015 998
  • Visit Website
  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Instagram
  • Check-in on Untappd

NEO-

This venue in District 3 represents De Me Brewing’s broader shift from craft beer to a wider spectrum of community-oriented events. These events cover four main categories: Art and design, food and drink, music, and external marketing and network events. From rooftop music performances to indoor graffiti and street photography exhibitions, it’s all happening here. Needless to say, there is craft beer to be had as well.

  • Address
    393/7 Hai Bà Trưng, Phường 8, Quận 3, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
  • Open location on Google Maps
  • Call +84 935 494 601
  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Instagram
  • Operating hours
    9AM-11.30PM daily

Funk Factory

A collaboration between Origins Bia and Bazan Cider, the launch of the Funk Factory taproom in early 2024 was also covered by our friends at Asia Brewers Network. Considering both parties are out to celebrate locally-grown ingredients through their respective ranges, all the early signs point at a match made in heaven!

  • Address
    10 An Phú, Thủ Đức, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
  • Open location on Google Maps
  • Like on Facebook
  • Operating hours
    Tuesday-Sunday: 4PM-11PM
    Monday: Closed

Self-guided Saigon Craft Beer Tours

Star this map to open and view in Google Maps. You can access it anytime from your computer or smartphone to find your way to exciting local craft beer bars and restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City.


Great Craft Beer Bars In Sagion

Besides craft brewery taprooms, Ho Chi Minh City has a wonderful variety of bars through its many districts.

Some notable examples of bars in Saigon that offer a solid range of craft beer include..

Malt

  • Address
    46-48 Mạc Thị Bưởi, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh
  • Open location Google Maps
  • Call +84 077 786 3208
  • Visit Website
  • Like on Facebook

Here is a collection of more bar reviews and beer discoveries in Saigon for your reading pleasure. Enjoy!

Self-Guided Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) Craft Beer Tour‘, Carly Matthew (2019)

The Ultimate Guide to Drinking Beer in Saigon‘,
Saigon Scooter Tour (2019)

Craft beer, cocktails & speakeasy bars – where to drink in Saigon?‘, A Matter Of Taste (2019)

Photo of pouring craft beer

Thanks for reading Beer Asia’s Saigon Craft Beer Guide! Traveling to a different city and want to explore the local craft beer scene? Check out other cities’ local craft beer guides here.

By Su Ann Tan

Su Ann Tan is an experienced food writer, digital marketer and all-round foodie. Su Ann is Digital Project Manager at Beer Asia, leading digital strategy and content creation across a wide range of topics. Su Ann has been a critical contributor to Beer Asia's craft beer guides and managing our social media presence.

5 replies on “Craft Beer in Saigon (HCMC) Guide”

Thanks Carly! Glad you like our guide.

Lac is definitely worth a visit, if just to quickly sample their latest brews. It is exciting to see how far they’ve come with their District 1 taproom and their nice variety of food and beer available there.

Cheers,
Oliver

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *