Want to know where you can get probably the world’s cheapest beer? We found a place in Hanoi where we could get two beers for under $1!! It’s called bia hoi, and is probably also the world’s freshest and fastest brewed beer.
Bia hoi literally means fresh beer. It’s brewed every day and only lasts for 24 hours. The local vendors get it in steel kegs and sell it super cheap.
The alcohol content is low, so you can drink quite a few. It actually tastes good. That’s coming from someone who doesn’t really like beer. I think this lager goes down well with me because it’s so light. It’s also cold and refreshing on those warm Hanoi evenings.
The cheapest bia hoi we found was two beers for 5,000VND.
Some vendors sell it in plastic cups, and others sell it in glasses. A lot of the vendors set up little plastic tables and chairs outside on the road for you to sit.
Just beware that when the police come driving around, the vendors quickly grab your table and chairs and make you all squish tightly in so you’re not on the road.
It’s easy to find bia hoi around Hanoi – just look for the kegs with the signs, or listen out for people saying, “Hello beer,” as you walk past. Then just pick a spot that looks good to you, and enjoy the cheapest beers ever!
We preferred to get our bia hoi from the streets around Beer Street because there’s less people there than the drinking street. We actually only walked down Beer Street once, and that was enough. So, we don’t know if there’s bia hoi down there or not.
Also be aware of the curfew, which at the time of writing is 12AM on weekdays and 2AM on weekends. If you don’t finish your bia hoi by then, you’ll have three options: chug it down, leave it behind, or take it with you if it’s in a plastic cup.
