"People become creatures of habit, or they're influenced by what others will say, and they'll choose that." - Seamus Gough

In this special episode of the Vietnam podcast, host Niall takes listeners on an epic craft beer crawl through Ho Chi Minh City. Joined by a rotating cast of friends and beer industry insiders, Niall visits his seven favorite craft beer bars in Saigon over the course of 8 hours. The crawl begins at Two Guys Belgian Fries in Thanh My Loi and winds its way through popular spots like Mixtape, Brick and Barrel, Pasteur Street Craft Beer, Heart of Darkness, Seven Bridges, before ending at Malt.

Along the way, Niall and his companions sample a wide variety of local craft beers while discussing the evolution of Vietnam's craft beer scene. They dive into topics like the challenges facing breweries post-COVID, efforts to win over more local customers, and debates over pricing and free water policies. The episode offers an inside look at Saigon's thriving craft beer culture through conversations with brewery owners, beer experts, and enthusiastic drinkers.

Key Takeaways:

• Vietnam has a strong beer drinking culture, but the craft beer industry is still working to convert more locals from mass-market lagers
• Many craft breweries are recovering post-COVID, though some have closed and the market was likely oversaturated before the pandemic
• Pricing remains a challenge, with craft beers significantly more expensive than local lagers, though still cheaper than in countries like Australia
• Having a diverse tap list with guest beers from other local breweries is seen as important by some bar owners
• The craft beer scene has evolved rapidly in Saigon over the past 5-8 years, with many new breweries and bars opening

"I don't look at us anymore as a craft beer business. I look at us as an F&B business." - Seamus from Seven Bridges

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