Craft Beer Pub Crawl Saigon

I thought this would be a relevant article as I had several buddies visit Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) wanting to do a craft beer pub crawl. So, I’ve been on several self-guided craft beer tours and pub crawls in Saigon and decided to compile some insights. The great thing about District 1 in Saigon is that a majority of the best craft beer bars, pubs, and breweries are all concentrated within walking distance of one another, making for a great pub crawl atmosphere and route. 

The below craft beer bars can be “crawled” in any order, however, I’m structuring this guide to well…help give you some structure, as it might be lacking after several of Saigon’s best beers. Plus, Vietnam’s craft beer scene is absolutely huge and growing, so it can be overwhelming to navigate Yelp, TripAdvisor, and other review platforms. 

Oh, and Vietnam’s coffee scene isn’t too bad either (it’s incredible).

Consider this your ultimate Saigon craft beer tour guide! Let’s get started. Keep in mind that the following craft beer bars, breweries, and haunts are located within District 1. And, I’ve omitted several great breweries and bars in District 1 due to the fact that they don’t exactly jive with a short, concentrated route. 

Suggestion: The first time I did this self-guided craft beer tour of Saigon, I made a rule to always order a flight of beers at any bar or pub that offered them. Ordering a flight of beers (4, 6, or 10) is a great way to get a feel for the different types of beers offered by a bar without getting stuck with a full pint of something you detest. 

Bar 1: Pasteur Street Brewing (Original Taproom)

Credit to Pasteur Street Brewing’s Facebook page.

As I’ve noted in my guide to five of the best breweries to check out in Ho Chi Minh, Pasteur Street Brewing makes my favorite beer in all of Vietnam – the Jasmine IPA. Pasteur Street also serves as a great launching point for the start of this Saigon pub crawl, as it’s within walking distance of Bitexco Tower and Nguyễn Huệ Walking Street. It’s right in the hustle and bustle of things. 

It’s also a great spot to get some food in your stomach before a heavy night of drinking (highly recommend their meatballs and sweet potato fries). 

Craft beers to try: 

• Jasmine IPA
• Passion Fruit Wheat Ale
• Imperial Pandan Chocolate Stout (this one comes in at over 10% alcohol)

A flight of 6 beers will run you VND $285,000 (USD $12) at Pasteur Street Brewing. We also recommend checking out their other locations, which you can read about in my guide to best breweries in Saigon!

Website: https://pasteurstreet.com/.

Address: 

• Original & Hem Tap Rooms: 144 Pasteur Street, District 1, HCMC.

You can find their complete list of tap rooms here: https://pasteurstreet.com/tap-rooms/.  

Additional Notes: It can be a bit tough locating the Original and Hem Tap Rooms on Pasteur, since it’s in an alley. Just look for the NAMO Tuscan Grill and a Family Mart – it will be in between those two. The original tap room is down the alley and up the stairs to your left, while the Hem tap room is down the alley and up the stairs to your right.

Bar 2: BiaCraft Artisan Ales

Credit to BiaCraft Artisan Ale’s Facebook page.

Sporting the Vietnamese word for ‘beer’ in their name (‘Bia’), BiaCraft Artisan Ales is a staple in the Vietnamese craft beer community due to the fact that they are literally everywhere. There’s definitely better BiaCraft locations to hang out at, but their District 1 location is right in the heart of things and a perfect second stop on your Saigon bar crawl. 

BiaCraft bills themselves as the “most extensive collection of craft beers in Vietnam,” and they aren’t wrong. You can find every brewer on this beer tour, and nearly every major beer in Vietnam. Taps on taps on taps.  

Craft beers to try: 

• Tê Tê Electric IPA (I personally think this might be the most underrated IPA in all of Vietnam)
• Fuzzy Logic Pale Ale
• Kurtz Insane IPA by Heart of Darkness

BiaCraft is also a spot to grab appetizers along the way. I highly recommend trying their fried beer bites, spam fries, and mango habanero wings – all great bar snacks for the drunk and delirious.

Website: https://biacraft.com/

Address: 110 Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh

Pale Ale Travel: If you are making a trip to the city and want to ensure everything is ‘Gucci’ with drinking there, make sure to check out my post explaining the legal drinking age in Vietnam and several other important alcohol laws to be mindful of.

Bar 3: East West Brewing Company

Credit to East West Brewing’s Facebook Page.

East West Brewing is a tricky stop to navigate on this Saigon beer tour, as I could literally stay here all night and be content. Plus, it’s the first brewery I ever went to in Ho Chi Minh, so I know their beer quite well and there will always be a soft-spot for it in my heart. You can also read up further about East West Brewing in my guide to breweries in Saigon. 

East West is the definition of a communal-style beer hall, boasting an open area with views of various beer vats, large wooden tables (which can be shared), and two bars. And, it’s a happening place nearly every night of the week. The atmosphere here is electric, so I often find it tough to come and just have one beer here – I usually post up for the night and make a dinner of it as well. 

Craft beers to try: 

• Far East IPA (you probably could have guessed I’d recommend an IPA)
• Saigon Rosé
• Any sour beer they have on tap

Appetizer-wise, I’d probably hold off, as I wouldn’t rate too many of the appetizers too highly. However, if you want the best bang for your buck steak in Ho Chi Minh, I’d urge you to come back at a later time. 

Website: http://eastwestbrewing.vn/east-west-brewing/.  

Address: 181-185 Lý Tự Trọng, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh.

Bar 4: LAC Brewing (Permanently Closed)

Credit to LAC Brewing’s Facebook page.

7/31/2020: I’m sad to announce that LAC Brewing has closed up shop. If you’re looking for other breweries and craft beer bars, make sure to check out my complete guide to craft beer in Saigon.

LAC Brewing recently opened up a taproom right across from East West Brewing, making it the next logical stop on your tour. It’s also the last stop on the tour before things can get somewhat chaotic, as the rest of the bars and pubs are either on the infamous Bui Vien Walking Street, or will require you to walk through it. 

LAC Brewing has a great rooftop terrace to hang out on while drinking and preparing for a soon-to-be rowdy night out. I’ve never had any of the food, however, it looked great (from what I saw), and was a mix of Asian-style snack foods (Japanese, Vietnamese). For me, LAC was a breath of fresh air after having become too comfortable at all my usual drinking haunts. 

Craft beers to try: 

• Mango IPA
• Lava Red Ale
• Devil’s Lake IPA

Alright! Now it’s time to get ready for things to turn up a notch, as Bui Vien Street and its surrounding area are your next few stops.

Website: https://www.lacbrewing.com/.   

Address: 172 Lý Tự Trọng, Phường Bến Thành, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh.

Bar 5: The Chicken Coop/Hen House Craft Beer Bar

Credit to the Chicken Coop’s Facebook page.

Maybe it’s because I enjoy beer more than your average bear that I always opt to hit both of these spots when pub-crawling Saigon. However, it’s completely understandable to only head to one. After all, there’s still two more stops to go! 

Both are a stone’s throw away from Bui Vien Walking Street, so don’t worry, you’re not right in the action just yet. The Chicken Coop and Hen House are the least fancy of all stops, but do brew their own beer and boast some great drunk food (all Vietnamese staples), so I can’t recommend it enough.

I would classify their beers as “craft beer-lite,” in the way that their beers are kind of generic versions of your favorite craft beers. It’s nothing fancy, just good, drinkable, cheap beer. There is outdoor seating at The Chicken Coop as well – for those looking to feed off the palpable energy right around the corner. 

Craft beers to try: 

• Wit
• Pilsner
• IPA

Hen House also boasts the best bang-for-your-buck flight deal of the listed stops along the way, due to it being right around the corner from Bui Vien – a popular budget backpacker’s party destination and paradise. 

Website: https://www.facebook.com/ChickenCoopVN/ – https://www.facebook.com/henhousevn/

Address: 

• The Chicken Coop: 28/2 Đỗ Quang Đẩu, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh
• Hen House: 285 Phạm Ngũ Lão, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh

Bar 6: Ong Cao Craft Beer

Credit to Ong Cao’s Facebook page.

Okay! Take a deep breath. It’s time for Bui Vien. Situated at the West end and entrance of Bui Vien, Ong Cao Craft Beer is a breath of fresh air from the typical light beer towers and mix-your-own alcoholic drinks. Ong Cao does not brew their own beer, but they do have all of the aforementioned Vietnamese craft beer favorites on draught. 

Do note that Ong Cao Craft Beer is cash only, something I found out the hard way (so you don’t have to!). Beers will run you anywhere from VND $40,000 (USD $1.70) to $90,000 ($3.90), depending on what you pick. They have everything from Rooster Beers, to Pasteur Street, to Fuzzy Logic and Heart of Darkness. You can’t go wrong at Ong Cao. 

There’s also a great spot to hang out upstairs to look down on the action and lechery below!

Plus, their ‘Animal Fries’ are just what you’ll be needing around this hour. 

Craft beers to try: 

• Heart of Darkness Kurtz Insane IPA (You can read up about Heart of Darkness in my guide to the best breweries in Saigon)
• Dong Son Golden Ale
• Tê Tê White Wheat Ale

Let’s now tackle our last stop for the night, which will require you to navigate the length of Bui Vien in one piece. Keep your wallet close, plug your ears, and stay the course!

Website: https://www.facebook.com/ongcaosaigon/

Address: 240 Bùi Viện, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh

Just a stone’s throw away is Ben Thanh Market, which includes one of my favorite burgers in all of Saigon – Soul Burger. Check out my post breaking down my quest for the best burger in Saigon!

Bar 7: Winking Seal Beer Co. 

Credit to Winking Seal’s Facebook page.

Winking Seal Beer Co. is a great spot for a recap after a long, drunken, sloppy bar crawl. It’s cozy, laid back, and sports the coolest logo and glasses of all Saigon breweries. If you’re looking for a place to reorganize, recalculate, and plan out the rest of your night, this is your place. Plus, their beer is absolutely great. 

One of my favorite things about Winking Seal is that they seem to always be pushing the envelope beer-wise, meaning you can find some truly unique beers here – such as their Nitro Stout, Dragon Fruit Pale Ale, and Lemongrass Blonde Ale. 

Make sure to pick up one of their glasses with a seal logo on it to bring back as a souvenir. I did, and receive comments about it every time I have friends over. 

Craft beers to try:

• One Eye Imperial IPA
• Dragon Fruit Pale Ale
• Lemongrass Blonde Ale

The great news about Winking Seal is you can easily double back to Bui Vien to continue the night well into the early morning. 

Website: https://winkingseal.com/

Address: 50 Đặng Thị Nhu, Phường Nguyễn Thái Bình, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh

Final Thoughts: Your Self-Guided Bar Crawl in Saigon

And there you have it! Your 7-stop guide for the ultimate bar crawl in Saigon. I would love to hear some of your favorite places to go out in Ho Chi Minh, and whether you think I missed anywhere! Craft beer in Saigon truly is booming, so make sure to take advantage of the great breweries and craft beer bars there.

If you have any questions about the route or other breweries and drinking spots to check out, don’t hesitate to send me a message or leave a comment! Finally, make sure to check out my other articles on Ho Chi Minh City.

Looking for a less exhausting night out and with a view? I’ve compiled a list of 9 of the best rooftop bars in Saigon.

-Big Body