With the exception of Laos, we at WoWasis feel that Vietnam has the best beer in Southeast Asia.  What you’ll find is that Viet beers are stronger than most beers at home, so plan your evening accordingly, understanding that you’ll be overcharged for everything if your seller, whether it be a food vendor, taxi driver, or bar girl, thinks you’re drunk. 

Vietnam is also the home of bia hoi, locally-brewed neighborhood beers that are made cheaply, and served in neighborhood restaurants from bulk containers.  To date, we’ve yet to run into a Westerner who actually liked beer hoi.  Most simply drink it because it’s damn cheap (as low as 1000 VND per glass).  Bia hoi beers have no brand, as there are as many varieties as Vietnam has home brewers. 

At many bars, you’ll see “beer girls”, waitresses dressed in logo clothes advertising various beers.  Their job is to convince you to buy their beer.  They’ll order it for you, serve it to you, and get a commission for each glass sold.  A nice custom, but insist in the beer you want, unless you’re in experimental mode. 

A quick list of Viet beers, available in stores and bars, with alcohol content: 

BGI (3.8%) is bottled by Fosters, and not a prime player, market-wise or in the taste department.
Bia Ha Noi has a nice, dark flavor, our favorite beer in Hanoi.  Bottled alcohol content is 3.8%, 4.2% in cans.
Bia Larue (4.5%) is devoid of anything resembling taste.
Halida is the preferred beer among many westerners, especially those living in Hanoi (5%).
Huda from Hué is a Danish beer (the name is a combination of Hué and Danish).
Saigon Export (with a red label) is a terrific beer at 4.9%, made by the same folks as 333.
Saigon Lager (4.3%) and Saigon Special (4.9%) both come in a green label, and are on the light side, comparable to American lagers.
333 Export (“Bia ba-ba-ba”) comes only in a can, and has a hearty flavor.  5.3% alcohol.