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Hoan Kiem District
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About Bia Hoi
History
Hanoians have drank bia hoi since 1961, when Ha Noi Brewery began producing draught beer. Bia hoi was usually served at small stands on footpaths or in beer gardens at the edges of the city's lakes.The amber fluid was too expensive for most ordinary workers, three hao a glass (there were 10 hao to the dong).
Today
At the end of the working day, everyone from labourers to government workers heads straight for the bia hoi where a group of friends will be waiting. These establishments represent a decompression chamber from the rigours of long, stuffy working hours, as well as a breathing space between the chores of work and family.
But it is selection of your bia hoi that requires some thought. Firstly it will depend on where you work, but supping suds in the neighbourhood where you grew up, where your oldest chums are, can be just as important.
By and large, most of the seating at any given bia hoi will be outdoors, which is by far the most comfortable in temperature terms. The outside arrangement gives fresh air and relatively moderate climate year round. This said, sitting outdoors in the height of summer or the depth of winter can be less than appealing.
Popular bia-munchies include peanuts, fermented salami rolled up in banana leaves, dried squid, calf meat and anything that tastes good dipped in a special salt and pepper lemon dip. Menus are extensive, inexpensive and generally delicious.
Breweries
Three major breweries in town make bia hoi: Hanoi Brewery, Viet Ha Brewery and South East Asia Brewery. At around 6 every morning, these three major factories open their doors to bia hoi outlet representatives. Traveling mostly via cyclos or bicycle/wheelbarrows, these reps go to the factories and purchase fresh beer in large 100 liter barrels. As a sign of the times, these days some of the really big buyers get the beer delivered daily by truck.
From there the beer is sold directly to thirsty comrades or is further redistributed in the bia hoi network of Hanoi. The "Big Boys"--those bia hoi outlets that can sell as much as 10 to 15 of the 100 liter barrels in a day--will resell smaller amounts to street-side restaurants catering to the lunch-time crowd.
Unlike canned or bottled beer, bia hoi has no additives or preservatives and is essentially made to be consumed on the day that it leaves the factory. As a result, there is no stocking of bia hoi, and outlets must forecast accordingly. They must purchase just enough to last one full day. Locals will tell you that bia hoi, which typically has an alcohol content of somewhere between 4 and 4 1/2 percent, is best when served early in the day--as close to when it has been made as possible.
There are hundreds of major bia hois around Hanoi and thousands of other locations that sell it.
