The company behind Bia Saigon, 333 and Lạc Việt has just picked up the biggest nod in its history: Brewer of the Year – Asia at the International Beer Challenge 2026, plus seven medals across its range. The London-based competition drew entries from around 40 countries across more than 80 categories this year, so the win puts Vietnam's largest brewer firmly on the global beer map.
It is not a one-off. SABECO says it has collected 25 medals at four international contests recently, and since 2019 its beers have stacked up more than 80 international awards. Highlights along the way include World's Best Light Lager for Bia Lạc Việt at the World Beer Awards 2024 in England, and gold medals for 333 Pilsner and Saigon Chill at the Brussels Beer Challenge 2025. The brand now exports to 40 markets worldwide.
What is interesting for visitors is the story behind the trophies. SABECO credits Vietnamese-trained brewmasters — rather than imported recipes — for the flavour profiles of its flagship brands, backed by a new research and development centre at its Nguyễn Chí Thanh brewery in Ho Chi Minh City. That facility works as a test kitchen for new recipes before they scale up across the company's 26 breweries, which supply a network of more than 200,000 outlets across Vietnam.
Practically speaking, this matters because these are exactly the beers you will be handed at any bia hơi corner stall, rooftop bar or beach club from Hanoi to Phu Quoc. Saigon Chill is the easy-drinking lager you order ice-cold with grilled squid; 333 is the old-school classic with serious heritage; Lạc Việt is the newer craft-leaning label that is now winning blind tastings abroad. Travellers who enjoy sampling local brews can treat Vietnam's beer scene as more than just cheap refreshment — an internationally judged one, at that. The company has signalled it wants to push Vietnamese flavour identity further, so expect more variety on shelves and taps in the coming years.
For beer-curious visitors, the R&D centre's home city is a natural base: Ho Chi Minh City pairs brewery heritage with a booming craft beer bar scene in District 1 and Thao Dien, while Hanoi's bia hơi culture offers a completely different, ultra-fresh draft experience.
