OUR ICONS: 333 Beer

No other beer can represent the beautiful country of Vietnam in the beer drinking world other than the legendary 333 Beer. The iconic brand has managed to survive more than a century of regional conflict and wars having been first produced in 1893.

What makes 333 different over the rest is it is a rice lager beer. The taste could be a bit bitter for some but it’s definitely tastier than other SE Asian beers which have a chemi-after-taste. 333 is 5.3% alcohol.

When in Vietnam, you don’t order a “Three-three-three” beer, but a “Ba-ba-ba” (That's how it is properly called). The Vietnamese like their beer over ice – so don’t expect cans and bottles chilled. And if you are drinking with Vietnamese people it is considered polite to top up their glass before refilling your own.

Before the turn of the century, the beer was known as Beer 33 – it is said that when communists took over in the 70’s, they added another 3 to make it as it’s name today. Nobody knows the real reason for the name change but it is said that is was to shake off the colonial history of the brand.

333 made its Oktoberfest debut (the world’s largest beer festival ) in August 2006. It is exported to Europe, Australia, Singapore, Japan and the Americas.

The iconic 333 Beer is distinctly Vietnamese and there is no doubt about it. Its refreshing taste is as rich as its history witnessed Vietnam's modern transformation like no other.


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*Photos by Herve

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