Bia Hoi Corner

Bia Hoi Corner in Hanoi is an iconic and lively spot where locals and tourists gather to enjoy Bia Hoi, a light and refreshing Vietnamese draft beer. This bustling corner in the Old Quarter of Hanoi is a popular hangout spot where small plastic stools spill out onto the sidewalks, creating a vibrant street-side drinking scene. The corner is surrounded by various food stalls and street vendors offering a variety of local snacks and dishes.

Bia Hoi is a signature of Vietnam today, although it came into existence after the French departed the country in 1954, leaving behind the Hommel brewery. The Vietnamese rechristened it as the Hanoi Brewery, watered down the brew, and began selling the fresh, chilled, straw-colored light beer that boasts only 4% alcohol. Reckoned to be dirt cheap at VND 5000 to VND 8000 per glass by backpackers and European tourists, the drink has epitomized the life and culture of the young and old across the country.

The beer-drinking population is seen spilling out into the street as the evening progresses, with the colorful plastic stools and recycled glass tumblers becoming more and more apparent. The tourists, expatriates, and locals enjoy the delightful draft beer that delivers a mild kick without intoxicating the consumer. The popularity of this inexpensive drink has to be seen to be believed. It is an apt location for carrying out animated conversations on just about everything under the sun with no fear of eavesdropping.

A visitor to Hanoi does not have to search in earnest for the ubiquitous Bia Hoi corner either. The neon-lit shops indicate the way to the corners, where there is a profusion of red, blue, and green plastic stools spilling out of the pavement into the streets. The occupants are seen holding their glasses aloft amidst boisterous cheering. The patrons think nothing of ordering a glass of Bia Hoi for newly met strangers either, given its price. The beer is gulped thirstily while nibbling on packets of rice crackers, roasted peanuts, and crispy pumpkin seeds that the waiters slip onto the temporary tables created by placing a couple of stools together.

The drinking hole or holes (there are 200 of such corners prevalent all over the city) happens to be a melting pot of cultures where the boundaries of wealth, societal status, and nationality disappear after a round or two of delicious Bia Hoi. It would indeed be a shame to miss this exciting trend while on a trip to Hanoi.

How to Reach Bia Hoi Corner

While there are many Bia Hoi Corners in Hanoi, the most prominent is the Bia Hoi Corner in Old Quarter. Taking a Xe Xom or a motorcycle taxi or a cyclo to the Old Quarter is fairly inexpensive and costs around VND 10,000 to VND 30,000 for a 2 Km ride.

No trip to Hanoi, the Capital of Vietnam, is deemed to be complete without a customary visit to the Bia Hoi Corner or Junction. The best makeshift pubs can be found in the corner where the Ta Hien and Luong Ngoc Quyen streets intersect each other. The sight of hundreds of people sitting on brightly coloured plastic stools, beer tankards in hand is just one of the indicators of the bustling nightlife of Vietnam.