The Best Craft Beer in Hoi An: Bars and Breweries

(Updated August 1, 2023) Tired of Tiger, Larue, Huda and Saigon? Wish to drink a more sophisticated beer with a local twist? Then you need to try one of Vietnam’s local craft beers in Hoi An. Luckily for you, feather-light lagers aren’t the only game in town anymore. 

There’s so much more to beer culture in Hoi An now than sipping Bia Hoi in the Old Town (fresh beer with 3% alcohol) and endless bottles of mass-produced beer by the streetside. So follow our detailed guide and find your way to the best Craft Beer in Hoi An. We took on the arduous task of trying them all, and are happy to mention our absolute favourite local craft beers, breweries and brewpubs you simply need to try in Hoi An!

Hoi An’s Booming Craft Beer in Scene

The Vietnamese downed almost four billion litres of beer last year, making Vietnam the biggest market in Southeast Asia and one of the fastest-growing craft beer markets in the world! 

So when drinking with the Vietnamese raise your glass, wait for everyone to raise their own and all together cheer: 

Một, hai, ba, vô! (mote, hai, ba, yo) = 1,2,3 cheers

Then there’s Hai, ba, vô! (hai, ba, yo) = 2,3, cheers

Finally Hai, ba, uống! (hai, ba, uung!) = 2,3 drink! 

Remember don’t hold back, really go for it. You’ll be an instant hit with the group! 

Cheap cans of Tiger, Saigon, Larue, Huda and Hanoi Lager are the beer of choice. However, thanks to the country’s rapid urbanisation the craft beer industry have really taken off and there’s now much more to Vietnam than this image. Therefore more and more Vietnamese are making a shift from 30 cent drafts of Bia Hoi and full crates of warm 50 cent Larue to $5 craft beers, changing their tastes, preferences and culture on beer. A testament to the country’s changing beer-culture. In the last four years alone Vietnam welcomed more than a dozen microbreweries.

Therefore as Vietnam’s booming craft beer scene continues to mature, more and more bars and eateries enrich their menus with a selection of popular Saigon and Hanoi breweries including Heart of Darkness, Pasteur Street, and East West 

Craft Beer in Hoi An Bars and Breweries

The craft beer scene in Hoi An is growing. So many of Hoi An’s bars and restaurants have craft beer on draft and in bottles as an addition to their menu to keep up with the growing trend. 

But there are now many bars dedicated to craft beer and even a small handful of its very own breweries. Therefore it’s never been easier to enjoy craft beer in and around Hoi An’s Old Town. So here’s where to start!

7 Bridges Brewing Co

Website – Address (Tap House): 36 Tran Phu Street, Hoi An – Hours: 09:00 a.m. – 11 p.m. Daily

Central Vietnam’s first Craft Beer brewery, 7 Bridges Brewing Co. have been making beer in Danang for 6 years. With taprooms in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Hoi An, 7 Bridges are the only Vietnamese brewery with a truly national taproom presence. 

7 Bridges have established their Hoi An taproom in the picturesque UNESCO’s world heritage town of Hoi An. Housed in a 200 year old traditional wooden building, 7 Bridges Hoi An Taproom comes with a lot of history. Expect a touch of Hoi An’s charm with seats on the pedestrianised Tran Phu Street, as well as a spacious beer garden adorned with sails for shade.

Sustainability and craft beer in the heart of Hoi An

The taproom boasts 38 taps with 7 Bridges mainstay beers, an ever-changing selection of seasonal brews, and a curated assortment of the finest offerings from other breweries across Vietnam. Flight paddles of 4 or 7 house beers are the way to start your visit to this taproom, pick a few core range brews and then go crazy with the small batch seasonal brews. Mango Martian Milkshake IPA anyone?

You would expect them to take pride that they can satiate everyone in this thirsty country. But they see themselves as much more than a beer company. For them, it is not only what they brew, but also what they do. And they do a lot for the community. They organise beach, mountain and marathon race cleanups, help charities raise money and brew with a Zero Waste Mission. This mission involves reducing, reusing and recycling everything from the craft brewing process. Take home a bottle of Zero Waste Chili Sauce, made from local chilis and beer!

Hidden Hint: Try their pizza! Their dough is made from brewing spent grains. Super delicious and nutritious! 

Mia Coffee

Website – Address: 20 Phan Bội Châu – Hours: 6 a.m. – 11 p.m. Daily

Yes, coffee shop by name but now too with an impressive lineup of craft beers!

Mia Coffee is Hoi An’s newest entry into the craft beer market, serving small batch beers made by owner Le Quang Huy who has what you want in a beer host: a love and passion for the amber liquid. Under the brewing banner of Buff Brewer, Mia Coffee began serving craft beer on tap with a balanced selection of 4 beers. The most popular of that bunch, he says, is the creme ale, but with a very refreshing citrus flavour, Juicy IPA, and the Brown Ale, which is malty, and full-bodied with aromatic hops. They’re priced from 48,000 – 130,000 VND (2 – 5.5 USD).

 

A Unique Craft Beer at Mia Coffee

Mia Coffee will expand on many fronts in the near future, including happy hour specials. But until then, take a seat at this leafy street corner in the Old Town and savour the smells and flavours of everything it has to offer–beer, coffee, and cakes, among them. Try them downstairs to be amidst the buzz or on its spacious, upstairs outdoor terrace where the bougainvillea provides an ounce of privacy and peace from the busy street below. Read our list of the best coffee spots here

Wanderlust Hoi An

Website – Address: 21 Nguyen Phuc Chu – Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 1 a.m. Daily 

Situated along the Thu Bon River and just over the Lantern Bridge, this craft beer bar boasts great views paired with some of Vietnam’s finest brews. Thanks to its cosy outdoor seating and live music, Wanderlust is the perfect venue to watch the nightly excitement of the Thu Bon River unfold. 

Due to its prime location expect to pay a premium, even for a macro beer. But the views and friendly staff more than make up for the cost. With craft beers on draft from breweries including 7 Bridges Brewing co, Heart of Darkness and East West and a range of beers in bottles, there is something for even the pickiest of beer enthusiasts. The Beer House is a recent addition to the Hoi An craft beer scene but we can see this establishment being part of the riverfront landscape for a long time coming. 

Hidden Hint: Regular live music makes Wanderlust a popular late night spot on the Hoi An riverfront.

Beers here start at 45,000 VND (2 USD) for local brews like Larue. However if you are looking for a good craft beer, Hai Van Haze from 7 Bridges Brewing Co would surely hit the spot anytime of the day. It will set you back 105,000 VND (5 USD) for a draft glass. A citrus punch comes with this hazy New England IPA, a beer that is well worth the step up from local lager.

Tropical Home

Website – Address: 8_1, Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai – Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 11 p.m. Daily 

Squeeze into Tropical Home’s quirky house and garden. Craft beer, cocktails, food and more can be found at this cute spot that was converted from a Hoi An Old Town family home.

Happy hour runs from 3pm to 7pm with 50% off cocktails and wine, the cocktails are among the better offered in Hoi An’s ancient town. But you are here for the craft beer right! Tropical Home boasts a wide range of craft on tap, possibly the most taps outside of 7 Bridges taproom. At Tropical you can sample at least 4 draft beers from Heart of Darkness and 7 Bridges Brewing co. Bottles and cans of craft beer are also available, with the 750ml ARTEMIS Dark Side Stout the standout premium bottle of craft on offer. This limited edition bottle from 7 Bridges pays homage to the moon landing with a unique Augmented Reality label design

Hidden Hint: Tropical sits opposite the popular Nu Eatery, sip a couple of craft beers while waiting for your dinner reservation here!

Beers here start at 45,000 VND (2 USD) for local brews like Larue. Expect to start at 100,000 VND (4.20 USD) and work upwards for the craft beer options.

Burger Craft

Website – Address: 639 Hai Ba Trung– Hours: 11:30 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. Daily

Fancy a specially-selected craft beer to sip along with a juicy burger? Then this is the place for you. Along with a great selection of food, Burger Craft offers a full range of IPAs, pale ales, pilsners and more from some of Vietnam’s best breweries. 

The draft offering from Saigon’s, Heart of Darkness and Pasteur Street are all priced at 120,000 and 130,000 VND ($5 USD). Their selection also includes Belgian and German-style beers along with full-flavoured fruity beers – making it every craft lover’s dream. Go local with cans of 7 Bridges including the big, bold Imperial IPA. Can you handle the full 9% of this Double IPA?

Take away craft beer from Hoi An Bottle Stop

The team behind Burger Craft recently launched Hoi An’s first Bottle Shop. Pick up or order delivery of your favourite craft beer from the appropriately named Hoi An Bottle Shop.  Expect a massive selection of Vietnamese Craft beer, hard soda and more.

Hidden hint: Canadian co-owner Scott’s favourite craft beer is the Loose Rivet New England IPA from Heart of Darkness. At 7.5% ABV, sneakily undetectable behind its smooth and well-rounded flavour, it packs a real punch. 

Bungalow Beach Bar

Website – Address: 99 Nguyễn Phan Vinh – Hours: 10 a.m. – 12 a.m. Daily

This low-key spot offers a great selection of craft beer and one of the best pool tables around. However with loads of beers on tap and an extensive bottle list featuring a mixture of popular and harder to find Vietnamese brews, it might take you some time to decide which one(s) you’re having.

The extensive draft menu features a whole variety of beers from Heart Of Darkness, Pasteur Street and Fuzzy Logic. As well as the lesser-known Furbrew, Winking Seal Beer Co., LAC Brewing Co. and Tê Tê Craft Beer. Hoi An’s own Pomello IPA from Hoi An Artisan Brewery also features on the menu. 

Hidden Hint: Check their Facebook page for events. They usually host great solo performers twice a week.

Hunger pangs? The bungalow also serves great Mexican food. For a more sociable experience, sit by their bar and chat with other travellers and locals. Above all, this rustic bar has an unpretentious, friendly vibe and excellent service. It truly gets all of the important things right. 

Hidden’s Thoughts

In conclusion, beer in Vietnam is serious business. The country is experiencing incredible growth and the beer market is moving really fast. So one thing catches the next and the preferences of Vietnamese consumers change and evolve to more sophisticated tastes.

Today, local breweries like Heart of Darkness, Pasteur, 7 Bridges and Platinum provide world class beers and a real alternative to the mass-produced brands like Tiger and Larue. Therefore in a country where four billion litres of beer are consumed every year, it would be a great omission to not taste their local products.

In Hoi An, craft beer is more accessible than ever. With its own local breweries, and craft beer being offered in dedicated pubs as well as other bars and eateries, it’s obvious to see the growth in the city’s craft beer scene.