History

Bia hoi emerged in the Doi Moi reform era from 1986 onwards, when private brewing took off in Hanoi. Daily-brewed beer with no preservatives or pasteurisation could not be exported or stored, so it became the city's pavement drink. The Ta Hien and Luong Ngoc Quyen corner cluster grew through the 1990s and is now the bia hoi crossroads.

Common allergens: Gluten

Make it at home

Yield Serves 4Hands-on 5 minTotal 5 minDifficulty Easy

Ingredients

  • 4 glasses of Bia Hanoi or Truc Bach draft (or any low-alcohol pilsner)
  • Ice (small cubes)
  • Dried squid, peanuts and chilli salt

Method

  1. Fill four small glasses with small ice cubes (Hanoi style for hot weather).
  2. Pour cold draft beer over the ice.
  3. Serve with dried squid, peanuts and chilli salt; eat with hands at street level.

Tip from the editors. Real bia hoi cannot be replicated outside Hanoi because it's brewed and drunk same-day. Bia Hanoi or Truc Bach draft is the closest export approximation.

Where to eat bia hơi

Bia Hơi in Hanoi

Bia Hơi Corner Ta Hien ★ 4.6

Vietnamese$old-quarterDaily 16:00-23:00Until 23:00Cash only

The Bia Hoi Corner on Ta Hien is Hanoi's loudest post-dark pavement bar, with fresh draft at 10,000 VND a glass and grilled snacks until 23:00.

Try: Fresh draft bia hoi with grilled snacks

Order: A bia hoi at the cheapest corner stall plus dried squid with chilli salt from passing vendors.

Tip: The cops clear the pavement at 23:00 sharp; the crowd then walks to bun dau or pho counters that stay open later.

Ta Hien at Luong Ngoc Quyen, Hang Buom, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi

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