Hanoi’s craft beer scene goes beyond Ho Chi Minh City–born Pasteur Street Brewing: more than ten local breweries that grew up in Hanoi cluster here, making it one of Southeast Asia’s leading beer cities. Behind it lies a distinctive history that fuses the traditional “bia hoi” culture with the foreign community around West Lake (Tay Ho). For those planning a trip to Hanoi next week, this article covers all the practical details: five Hanoi-original brands, recommended shops by area, how to enjoy them alongside bia hoi, and three one-day model courses. Note that Furbrew, long a flagship of Hanoi craft, has closed and has been rebranded as “The Box Bar.”
For the information you need to plan a Vietnam trip, seecomplete flight guide; for general Hanoi recommendations, seethe best season to visit Hanoi; and for street food, see12 spots for a food crawlis also worth referring to.
Why is local craft beer thriving in Hanoi?
People tend to think “craft beer equals Ho Chi Minh City,” but Hanoi is where breweries with a strong local flavor are concentrated. There are three historical and cultural reasons.
Bia hoi culture forms the foundation
Hanoi’s “bia hoi” is a fresh-draft beer culture: brewed in the morning and drunk up the same day, at about 10,000 VND (roughly 60 yen) a glass—among the cheapest in the world. Light at around 3% alcohol, it’s an everyday sight to sit on plastic stools and drink it all over town. This culture of “drinking beer casually every day” has become the soil that spread interest in craft beer to locals as well.
The presence of the foreign community at West Lake (Tay Ho)
The area around West Lake in northwestern Hanoi is an expat district centered on French and American residents, and brewers who brought Western craft-beer culture began gathering here from the late 2010s. Many Tay Ho–born brands have emerged, including Furbrew (later The Box Bar), Standing Bar, and Turtle Lake Brewing.
An experimental spirit that makes the most of Vietnamese ingredients
Experimental flavors combining distinctly Vietnamese ingredients have become each brand’s signature—such as the Pho Beer once made by Furbrew (using pho spices), 7 Bridges’ Bastard Series (using Vietnamese spices), and Pasteur Street’s Jasmine IPA (with jasmine-flower aroma). Pairing local ingredients is what makes Hanoi craft so interesting.
Five must-visit local brands unique to Hanoi
Here are five craft brands born in or uniquely developed in Hanoi, organized by their character, signature beer, and ease of access. You can’t hit them all in a day, so we recommend narrowing down to the style you’re interested in.
| Brand | Area | Signature beer | Price per pint | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Box Bar (formerly Furbrew) | Tay Ho (West Lake) | Low-priced house beers | 50,000〜100,000VND | Rebranded in 2024, focused on value |
| Standing Bar | Truc Bach | 15–19 taps, changing daily | 80,000〜140,000VND | A rooftop beer garden overlooking the lake |
| 7 Bridges | Tay Ho | Bastard Series | 100,000〜150,000VND | From Da Nang, using Vietnamese spices |
| Heart of Darkness | Near the Old Quarter | Belgian Tripel / Ginger Beer | 100,000〜160,000VND | Seasonal experimental beers |
| Bia Sành Điệu | Two locations in the city | House-brewed plus guest taps | 70,000〜120,000VND | Pairing with Vietnamese cuisine |
First-timers should start with Standing Bar’s tasting flight (four kinds × 100 ml = about 180,000 VND), which lets you sample craft beers from across Vietnam at once. Furbrew’s old Pho Beer stock can still be enjoyed in limited quantities at some taprooms, such as The 100 Garden.
The Box Bar (formerly Furbrew): the successor to a Hanoi local icon
デンマーク出身のブリュワー Thomas Bilgram氏が西湖エリアで立ち上げ、長年ハノイクラフトの顔だった「Furbrew」は閉業し、2023年に「The Box Bar」としてリブランディングされました。新店舗ではコスパ重視のハウスビールが中心で、1パイント50,000VND（約300円）からと従来のFurbrew時代より手頃な価格帯。フォー（ベトナム麺料理）の香辛料（八角・シナモン）を使ったPho Beerの旧在庫は、The 100 Gardenなど一部のタップルームで残数限定で味わえます。
- Address: 8B Ngõ 12 Đặng Thai Mai, Tây Hồ, Hà Nội
- Hours: 13:00–23:00 (daily)
- Open in Google Maps
Standing Bar: 19 taps on a rooftop with a stunning view
On a rooftop overlooking Truc Bach Lake, this bar serves 19 taps of craft beer from across Vietnam, rotating daily. Since you can try major brands—Pasteur Street, 7 Bridges, Furbrew, Heart of Darkness—all at once, it’s the ideal single stop to grasp the whole picture of Hanoi craft. It’s busiest at sunset (around 17:30–18:30).
- Address: 170 Trấn Vũ, Trúc Bạch, Ba Đình, Hà Nội
- Hours: Mon–Fri 15:00–24:00 / Sat–Sun 12:00–24:00
- Open in Google Maps
7 Bridges: the award-winning Bastard Series from Da Nang
Founded in Da Nang in 2017 and now with locations in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hoi An, this is a serious Vietnamese-born craft brand. Its Bastard Series, made with Vietnam-specific spices and fruits, has won awards at the Asia Beer Awards. The Hanoi branch is near the Sheraton in the Tay Ho district, with Pizza 4P’s also within walking distance, making it easy to combine with a meal.
- Address: 3 Đặng Dung, Quán Thánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội
- Hours: 11:00–23:45 (daily)
- Open in Google Maps
Heart of Darkness: king of experimental flavors
Though it originated in Ho Chi Minh City, this heavyweight also has a permanent shop in Hanoi. It’s known for daring flavors like an 8.5% Belgian Tripel, a fiery ginger beer, and seasonal tropical-fruit beers. Recommended for intermediate craft drinkers and up who feel “I’m tired of standard IPAs.”
- Address: near the Old Quarter, available at multiple tap points
- Hours: vary by outlet
- Open in Google Maps
Bia Sành Điệu: specializing in pairings with Vietnamese cuisine
A local brand whose name means “Stylish Beer,” with two locations in the city. Alongside its house-brewed beers, it offers guest taps from Pasteur Street, 7 Bridges, Heart of Darkness, and others, in a distinctive format that puts pairings with Vietnamese cuisine front and center. Staples like pho, banh mi, and fried spring rolls can be served to match the beer.
- Address: two locations in the city (Old Quarter / Ba Dinh)
- Hours: 10:00–23:30 (varies by location)
- Open in Google Maps
Four more Hanoi craft favorites worth knowing
Beyond the five main brands, there are hidden gems in the know. Here are extra candidates for those who want to dig deeper.
| Shop name | Area | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Turtle Lake Brewing Co. | Tay Ho | 20 taps, mostly house-brewed; a favorite of core beer fans |
| B’ross Craft Beer | Old Quarter | Its signature is a honey IPA made with Vietnamese forest honey |
| Taproom Cua Bac | Truc Bach（30 Cua Bac） | 16 taps, with plenty of seasonal IPAs |
| iBiero Craft Beer Station | In front of Hanoi Station | A handy spot to drop by before or after a train, open until late |
The Bottle Shop (two locations, West Lake and the Old Quarter) has one of Vietnam’s largest selections of bottled and canned craft beer. Recommended for takeaway fans and those who want to drink at their hotel.
Bia hoi versus craft beer: the difference and how to enjoy them together
Hanoi’s beer culture is a two-tier structure of “bia hoi (traditional)” and “craft (modern).” Experiencing both is the stylish way to enjoy it.
| Item | Bia Hoi | Craft beer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | 10,000 VND (about 60 yen) per glass | 70,000–150,000 VND (about 420–900 yen) per pint |
| Alcohol content | Around 3% | 5〜10% |
| Location | Plastic stools on the street | Stylish taprooms and rooftops |
| Clientele | Mostly local middle-aged and older | Foreigners plus younger crowds |
| Serving hours | Midday to night (ends once sold out) | Evening to late night |
The classic bia hoi junction: “Ta Hien Street”
The intersection of Ta Hien Street and Luong Ngoc Quyen Street in the Old Quarter is Hanoi’s largest fresh-draft-beer cluster, known as “Bia Hoi Corner.” From around 5 p.m., chairs line the whole alley and it fills with tourists and locals. The classic course is to fill up on 60-yen bia hoi and then bar-hop to a craft beer venue.
- Address: intersection of Ta Hien and Luong Ngoc Quyen (Old Quarter)
- Hours: from around 17:00 until late (varies by outlet)
- Open in Google Maps
Tour it in a day! Three Hanoi craft beer courses
Here are three patterns you can choose based on your length of stay and stamina. Getting around by Grab (ride-hailing app) or taxi is the practical choice.Guide to using ride-hailing appsIt’s reassuring to check this in advance.
Course A: the classic half-day (Old Quarter + Truc Bach)
- 16:00 Experience bia hoi at the Old Quarter’s Bia Hoi Corner (30 minutes)
- 17:00 Take a taxi to Standing Bar (Truc Bach), aiming for sunset
- 18:30 Move to 7 Bridges (Tay Ho) for a dinner pairing
- 21:00 A nightcap at The Box Bar (formerly Furbrew)
Course B: the full-day core experience (morning to late night)
- 11:00 A light lunch beer (Jasmine IPA) at Pasteur Street’s Hanoi branch
- 13:00 Sightseeing and walking in the Old Quarter
- 15:00 Try a saison at a Heart of Darkness outlet
- 17:00 Sunset at Standing Bar (a 19-tap tasting)
- 19:00 A pairing with Vietnamese cuisine at Bia Sành Điệu
- 21:30 Buy bottled beer at The Bottle Shop for a nightcap at your hotel
Course C: a two-part morning-and-night plan (short and focused)
- Morning: a glass right after Bia Sành Điệu opens (10:00–11:00)
- Midday: focus on sightseeing
- Night: bar-hop two spots, Standing Bar → The Box Bar (19:00–23:00)
Tips for souvenirs and takeaway
気に入ったクラフトビールは日本にも持ち帰り可能。瓶・缶ビールはThe Bottle Shopで多数揃います。アルコールは760ml相当のボトル換算で3本（合計約2.28L）まで日本の関税対象外、機内持込は100ml超のため受託手荷物に入れる必要があります。詳しい手荷物ルールはcomplete guide to flights from Japan to Vietnam. To prevent breakage, the golden rule is to wrap them in clothing and place them in the center of your suitcase.
Summary: enjoy Hanoi in two stages, “bia hoi plus craft”
Hanoi’s craft beer scene, built on the mass culture of bia hoi, developed uniquely across three areas—Tay Ho, Truc Bach, and the Old Quarter—into one of Southeast Asia’s leading scenes. Beyond Pasteur Street, if you cover the five lineages of The Box Bar (formerly Furbrew), Standing Bar, 7 Bridges, Heart of Darkness, and Bia Sành Điệu, the full picture of Hanoi craft comes into view. With a two-stage plan—local experience at Bia Hoi Corner, then a craft-shop tour—you can cover Hanoi’s beer culture in a single day.
For more Hanoi highlights, seethe Hanoi souvenir guideand8 great pho spots in Hanoias well. If you’d like to enjoy coffee culture,15 best Vietnamese coffee cafesis also a helpful reference.
