The History of Drinking Culture in Vietnam
In the 1980s, prior to đổi mới, the Vietnamese government in the northern part of the country had a monopoly on liquor production. During that time, it was illegal to produce alcohol. But they had rượu đế is sometimes referred to as rượu lậu, which literally means ”contraband liquor.” But since the start of the French colonial period, Vietnamese began mixing with liquors outside of the tradition.
Drinking is a deeply ingrained part of our culture and history in Vietnam. Whether it’s beer, wine, rice wine, or gin, it’s a crucial component to our meals and celebrations like weddings and birthdays. Especially on hot summer days, it’s pretty common for Vietnamese people to quench their thirst with a can or two of beer over lunch and a stock of bottles at home.
Local traditions
Vietnamese people drink on both special and regular occasions. Drinking is a way of bonding with colleagues, friends, and family members. Analogously to our coffee culture, there’s a fundamental social element that enriches the experience. Here are some unique local traditions.
Ice on beer
If you order a beer at most restaurants in Vietnam, expect the waiter to serve it with a bucket of ice or dip ice tongs into your cup to get the melted stone to replace it. Since it’s often quite hot in Vietnam, this is a great way to cool down.
Everyone drinks together for every drink
When you’re at a table with Vietnamese people, it’s considered rude to drink on your own. Before drinking, everyone at the table raises their cups and then sips in unison.
“Một, Hai, Ba, Dzô!”
The term translates to “1, 2, 3, Cheers!” in English. Before taking a sip of their drinks, Vietnamese people say it as loud as possible to express their happiness and enthusiasm for celebrating life with loved ones.
Going global
Though beer is the most popular alcoholic beverage in Vietnam, spirits are becoming more prominent. In fact, Vietnamese gin is making a name for itself on a global scale.
Gin has been one of the fastest-growing categories in the global spirits industry over the last few years. Enthusiasts are using the spirit for inventive cocktails, pairing it with a dynamic range of ingredients.
As Vietnam's first artisanal gin distillery, Sông Cái is redefining the country's premium spirits market. Handcrafted in small batches in a direct-fired copper, our gin highlights a bold, complex flavor. Our botanicals are rare — and our work is environmentally, socially, and culturally sustainable and enriching.
At Sông Cái, we want share the relationship our communities have to the land. Our name means Mother River — a unifying concept for Việt Nam, stemming from the H’mong in the highlands of Hà Giang to the Kinh in the deltaic flood plains of Cà Mau to the diaspora carrying Việt Nam’s culture across the world. Sông Cái represents Việt Nam’s shared history, community, spirituality, and terroir.
We take pride in the most important flavor — the spirit Việt Nam.