5 Days in Vietnam for Wine and Craft Beer Travelers

Vietnam (베트남 / 越南 / ベトナム)'s craft beer and natural wine scene has grown quietly over the past five years. This itinerary hits the best breweries and wine bars in the north and south, with realistic transport, food, and cost estimates for travelers who want more than beer halls and tourist-branded bottles.

Day 1 — Arrive Hanoi, Scout the Beer Scene

Land at Noi Bai around midday (or afternoon). Airport transfer to the Old Quarter costs 200,000-300,000 VND by metered taxi or 150,000 via Grab. Check into a mid-range hotel in Hoan Kiem ward (two nights: 1,200,000-1,800,000 VND total for a decent room).

Rest until late afternoon, then head to Nhat Tan Brewery (off Xuan Dieu Street, west Hanoi, near the Red River). A 15-minute Grab ride from the Old Quarter (80,000 VND). Their flagship Nhat Tan Pale Ale is crisp and well-balanced; a flight of four pours costs 180,000 VND. The brewery sits in a converted French garage with a small terrace. Dinner here or nearby: grilled fish and greens at a street stall across the road, around 60,000-80,000 VND.

Return to the Old Quarter by 9 p.m. Grab a late drink at [Bia Hoi](/posts/bia-hoi-hanoi (하노이 / 河内 / ハノイ)-street-beer) Hang Manh, a standing-room beer hall on a narrow lane off Hang Manh Street. This is not a tourist trap—locals drink "bia hoi" (fresh, unpasteurized draft beer at 5,000-10,000 VND per glass) here nightly. Order a glass, stand at the plastic table, eat boiled peanuts. Dinner cost: 50,000 VND total.

Day 1 total: ~550,000 VND (excluding accommodation).

Day 2 — Hanoi's Wine and Coffee Culture

Breakfast is "ca phe sua da" (iced coffee with sweetened condensed milk) at a street stall: 15,000 VND. Sit on a plastic stool, watch the motorbikes.

Morning: visit Bat Trang, the pottery village 20 km southeast of Hanoi. Take a Grab bike ride (120,000 VND) or join a group tour (400,000-600,000 VND including lunch). Pottery here dates back to the 15th century. You'll see local artisans throwing clay and glazing ceramics. Lunch at a family-run restaurant: "banh cuon" (steamed rice rolls) with shrimp and pork, plus soup, 80,000 VND.

Return to Hanoi by 3 p.m. Afternoon: visit L'Espace Restaurant & Wine Bar (French-Vietnamese fusion, east of Hoan Kiem). Their wine list leans toward organic and natural producers—French Jura, Italian orange wine, minimal-intervention Vietnamese bottles. A glass costs 120,000-180,000 VND. A charcuterie board pairs well (380,000 VND).

Evening: dinner at Y Hoa (Nguyen Trai Street, Hai Ba Trung district). Modern Vietnamese cuisine with wine pairings. "[Com tam](/posts/com-tam-saigon (사이공 / 西贡 / サイゴン)-broken-rice)" (broken-rice plates) are their entry point; a pork chop version runs 150,000 VND. A wine pairing menu for four glasses and three courses is 680,000 VND per person.

Day 2 total: ~1,300,000 VND.

Photo by Flo Dahm on Pexels

Day 3 — Day Trip to Ha Long Bay (Optional Detour) or Stay for Craft Beer Deep Dive

Option A: Ha Long Bay (하롱베이 / 下龙湾 / ハロン湾) side trip (if you have time) Train or bus to Ha Long (2.5 hours, 150,000-300,000 VND one-way). Spend one night on a mid-range junk, return the next morning. Craft beer doesn't exist on the boats, but seafood—grilled squid, crab, local grouper—pairs with cold "bia hoi (비아호이 / 鲜啤 / ビアホイ)" from the ship's cooler. Overnight junk: 800,000-1,200,000 VND per person.

Option B: Hanoi brewery marathon (recommended for serious beer enthusiasts) Morning: visit Truc Bach Brewery, a newer brewer in the Truc Bach lake area. Their session IPAs and sours are experimental. Flight: 200,000 VND. Food pairing: grilled river snails ("oc luoc") at a nearby street stall, 60,000 VND.

Afternoon: visit Hanoi Brewing Company (Ba Dinh district, near Tran Quoc Pagoda). Their taproom is modern and airy. Try the "Lotus Tea Ale," an experimental brew infused with local lotus. Flight: 220,000 VND.

Evening: dinner and wine at Vivu's Table (Hang Than Street). Farm-to-table Vietnamese with a small, rotating wine list. A three-course dinner with wine pairings is 650,000 VND per person.

Day 3 total: 800,000-1,200,000 VND (without Ha Long) or 1,600,000+ (with Ha Long overnight).

Day 4 — Flight to Saigon, South's Craft Beer Hub

Flight Hanoi to Saigon: 90 minutes, 300,000-600,000 VND one-way on budget airlines (Jetstar, Vietjet). Arrive midday.

Grab to a hotel in District 1 (central Saigon): 150,000-200,000 VND. Check into a two-night mid-range room (1,400,000-2,000,000 VND total).

Afternoon: rest and explore Ben Thanh Market (tourist-heavy but historic) or the neighboring district 3 cafes.

Evening: head to Pasteur Street Brewing Company, the flagship craft brewery in Saigon (District 1, 144 Pasteur Street). This is the centerpiece of Saigon's craft beer movement. Their taproom is spacious, the staff knows beer, and the sour program is serious. A flight of four 5-oz pours: 200,000 VND. Food: "banh mi (반미 / 越式法包 / バインミー)" from a street vendor (25,000-40,000 VND) eaten standing outside, or a charcuterie board at the brewery (320,000 VND).

Late night: walk to Alchemy Bar (District 1, near Dong Khoi Street) for natural wine. Small glasses: 120,000-160,000 VND. Crowd is young, local, and familiar with the list.

Day 4 total: ~900,000 VND (excluding accommodation and flight).

Photo by Vietnam Hidden Light on Pexels

Day 5 — Saigon's Emerging Wine and Beer Scene, Depart

Breakfast: "banh chung (반쯩 / 粽子 / バインチュン)" (sticky rice cake with pork and mung bean, eaten at Tet but available year-round at markets): 30,000 VND.

Morning: visit Heart of Darkness Brewery (Binh Thanh district, 12 km north of District 1). A 30-minute Grab ride (150,000 VND). Their roastery is adjacent to the taproom; coffee and beer share the menu. A breakfast pastry and espresso: 80,000 VND. A morning beer (IPAs, stouts): 120,000-150,000 VND per pour.

Lunch: return to District 1, eat "banh xeo (반세오 / 越南煎饼 / バインセオ)" (crispy turmeric pancakes) at Banh Xeo 46A on Dinh Cong Trang Street. A plate with pork, shrimp, and herbs: 50,000-70,000 VND. Wrap in lettuce, dip in fish sauce.

Afternoon: final brewery visit to Saigon Craft Brewery (District 2, 40 Ly Chinh Thang Street). Quieter than Pasteur Street, good for a solo afternoon. Their "Saigon Amber" is approachable. A glass: 120,000 VND. Snack: "goi cuon" (fresh spring rolls): 40,000-60,000 VND.

Evening: transfer to Tan Son Nhat Airport (District 1 to airport: 150,000-250,000 VND by Grab, 1-1.5 hours depending on traffic). Depart.

Day 5 total: ~750,000 VND (excluding accommodation and flight home).

Practical Notes

Total estimated cost (5 days, excluding long-haul flights):

• Hanoi accommodation: 1,200,000 VND
• Saigon accommodation: 1,400,000 VND
• Domestic flight: 300,000-600,000 VND
• Food, drinks, breweries, transport: 4,300,000 VND
• Grand total: ~7,200,000-7,500,000 VND (~$285-300 USD)

Best months: October to April. May to September is hot, humid, and many breweries reduce hours or serve from coolers only. Book flights and hotels a week or two ahead if traveling peak season (December-January). Tap water is not safe to drink; buy bottled water (10,000-15,000 VND per liter). Most breweries accept card and cash; carry 500,000-1,000,000 VND on hand daily. Few breweries have English menus, but staff at the places listed here speak basics or use translation apps. Download Grab app before arrival for reliable rides.