Beer stops in Hanoi beat most maps. This small-group craft beer tour lines up four breweries and lets you try up to 12 beers with snacks, so you’re not stuck figuring it out street by street.

I love that it comes with hotel pickup (for selected hotels) and an air-conditioned minibus that handles Hanoi traffic for you. I also like the pairing idea: craft beers plus Vietnamese and Western snacks, with bottled water included.

One thing to consider: this is a tasting-focused schedule in about 5 hours, so you’ll want to be ready for multiple pours, not a slow food-and-sightseeing stroll.

Key highlights worth knowing before you go

• Up to 12 craft beer tastings across four different brewery stops, with finger foods at each
• Small group size (max 12) for a more personal vibe and time to ask questions
• Air-conditioned minibus + hotel pickup (selected hotels) so you stay comfortable between tastings
• English-speaking guide who explains Hanoi’s growing craft scene
• Vegetarian option available if you request it when booking

A 5-Hour Hanoi Beer Plan That Doesn’t Waste Your Time

The Original Craft Beer Tour of Hanoi is built for one goal: drinking good craft beer in the right places, without the stress. You get a structured half-day route, with the guide keeping things moving and making sure you’re not wandering between neighborhoods that don’t feel connected on foot.

The format also helps you learn while you drink. Instead of treating this like a pub crawl, you’re tasting multiple styles and hearing the context behind Hanoi’s newer breweries and the people behind them. And because the group is kept small, you’re more likely to get real conversation than just standing around.

If you like craft beer culture—trying different makers, comparing flavors, and asking why a beer is brewed a certain way—this kind of tour makes the city feel smaller and friendlier fast.

Price and Value: What Your $120 Covers (And What It Doesn’t)

At $120 per person, this isn’t the cheapest way to spend an afternoon in Hanoi. But when you look at what’s included, the price starts to make sense.

You’re paying for:

• Hotel pickup and drop-off (for selected hotels)
• Air-conditioned minibus transport between stops
• Driver/guide
• Beverages + bottled water
• Snacks at each venue, paired with what you’re tasting
• Tastings across four breweries, with up to 12 craft beers total

What’s not included is also important:

• Alcoholic drinks are not included beyond the tastings. You can usually buy alcohol if you want, but that’s on you.

For value, the big win is that your transport and food are bundled. In Hanoi, getting from place to place can turn into real time and money fast—especially when you’re trying to hit multiple venues. Here, the tour takes that friction away, and you can focus on the tasting.

What the Tour Route Looks Like (From Old Quarter to Four Breweries)

You’ll start in the Old Quarter area. The listed start point is at 19 P. Hai Bà Trưng, Hàng Bài, Hoàn Kiếm, and the tour begins at 4:00 pm. If your hotel is in the pickup zone, the guide will collect you there first. Then everyone regroups before heading out by minibus.

The tour runs for about 5 hours, which is a sweet spot for a craft beer experience: long enough to sample different brewers, short enough that you won’t feel trapped for the whole evening.

The route is designed to take you beyond the most obvious tourist lanes. You’ll head roughly 10 km south of the Old Quarter for the first brewery stop, then keep moving between additional venues. The exact lineup of all four breweries isn’t spelled out in your provided details, but you can count on a consistent rhythm: travel, tasting, short venue time, snacks, repeat.

Stop 1: The Old Quarter Gathering and the First Southbound Brewery

This tour starts with the practical part done right. You’ll be picked up (when available), the group is gathered together, and then you’re on the road.

First tasting stop: you’ll travel about 10 km south of the Old Town, where you can see one of the early local breweries in Hanoi. You’ll spend about 45 minutes there—long enough to get into the tasting and have a real chat.

At this stop, you’ll try:

• 3 craft beers
• Finger foods

Why this first stop matters: it’s your baseline. If you’re new to Vietnamese craft beers, the first brewery gives you a starting point for what you like. You’ll quickly learn whether you prefer lighter, crisp styles or darker or maltier ones.

A small consideration: if you’re the type who likes to slow down and read about every place, the tour timing means you’re in and out quickly. Still, with 45 minutes, you’re not rushed like an airport pit stop.

Stop 2: Hearing the Story Behind a New Local Brewery

After the first venue, you jump back into the minibus. The tour continues with a second brewery stop where the guide shares the history of this newer local brewery. That context turns your tasting from random sips into something you can remember later.

At stop 2, you’ll again get:

• 3 craft beers
• Finger foods

This second stop is where you start comparing. If the first brewery was your introduction, the second one is where you can feel the differences between brewers—ingredients, brewing choices, and overall style direction.

One thing to keep in mind: venue access and brewery touring can depend on brewing schedules. Your tour details specifically note that touring the breweries depends upon brewmasters brewing schedule. So don’t expect a polished, behind-the-scenes walkthrough every time. You’ll still get tastings and snack pairings, and that’s the main event.

Stops 3 and 4: More Tastings, More Snack Pairing, Less Guesswork

The itinerary keeps its structure for the remaining stops. After the second brewery, you’ll travel to the next venues for more tastings and food.

Because your details confirm four different breweries total and up to 12 beers, you can expect the same pattern at each remaining stop:

• short travel time by minibus
• a tasting session with multiple beers
• snacks—paired as part of the experience

The snacks are worth paying attention to. The tour includes snacks where the pairing is a mix of Vietnamese foods and Western foods. That matters because beer styles can pair very differently with food. Even if you don’t go deep into flavor theory, you’ll still notice how salt, spice, or crunch changes what you taste in the glass.

If you’re hungry, this is also smart. You’re not relying on finding food on your own between breweries while everyone else is drinking. Snacks are part of the plan.

The Beers and Snacks: How to Make the Most of Up to 12 Pours

You’ll try up to 12 craft beers across the tour, and each tasting is paired with snacks. That’s a lot of sampling for one afternoon, so you’ll want to adopt a simple strategy.

Here’s how I’d approach it:

• Pace yourself and compare styles, not just favorite-to-favorite.
• Use the snacks to reset your palate. The tour intentionally pairs foods with each venue.
• If you’re ordering extra alcohol on your own, remember the tastings plus extra drinks can stack up quickly.

The tour includes beverages and bottled water, which is a lifesaver for comfort and recovery—especially with Hanoi’s afternoon heat.

Also, there’s a clear boundary on age: minimum drinking age is 18. The tasting portion is alcohol-focused, so plan accordingly.

Comfort and Transport: Air-Conditioned Minibus Means You Can Stay in the Moment

Hanoi traffic can be intense. This tour saves you from figuring out routes and navigating crossings between neighborhoods.

You’ll ride in an air-conditioned vehicle, guided by an English-speaking guide, and handled by a driver/guide setup. The result: you get to stay relaxed between tastings, and you can actually listen when your guide is talking.

Group size matters here. With a maximum of 12 people, you’re not packed like a bus-tour cattle call. That usually means smoother movement during check-ins and more chances to ask questions as the guide talks through the breweries and beer scene.

Guide and Conversation: What People Seem to Love Most

One name that pops up strongly is Julien. People praise his professional guidance and how much he explains about Hanoi’s craft beer scene.

Even if you don’t care about the technical side of brewing, a good guide changes the whole feeling of a tour. Instead of just drinking and moving on, you learn what to notice. You’ll hear why certain breweries matter in Hanoi right now, and you get a better sense of how craft beer is evolving beyond the usual tourist strip.

That kind of context makes the tastings more memorable, and it can help you know what to order later if you find yourself in another bar with a Hanoi craft selection.

Vegetarian Option: How to Handle Food Requirements

Your tour info includes a vegetarian option. The key detail is that you should advise the team at booking if you need it.

This matters because your snack pairings are part of the experience. If you show up without that note, you could end up with less ideal substitutions. But with advance notice, you’re more likely to get a real matching set of bites for the tasting stops.

Who This Tour Fits Best (And Who Might Skip It)

This tour is especially a good fit if:

• you want to try multiple Hanoi craft breweries in one afternoon
• you like the idea of learning while tasting
• you’d rather let minibus transport do the work than self-navigate
• you enjoy social settings with small groups (up to 12)

You might consider skipping if:

• you’re not interested in craft beer beyond one or two tastings
• you prefer long sightseeing breaks over a tasting schedule
• you hate structured itineraries with multiple stops close together

Also, since this runs at 4:00 pm and lasts about 5 hours, think about what you want afterward. This tour works well before dinner plans, when you’re ready to eat and decompress, not when you need an early morning.

Before You Go: Small Tips That Make It Smoother

Bring:

• a light layer if you get cold inside the minibus
• comfy shoes for walking between venue entrances

In the tasting mindset:

• plan to sip, compare, and use the snack pairings rather than chugging
• if you plan to buy extra alcohol, do it consciously so the end of the tour stays fun, not foggy

And one more practical point: because the tour includes a lot of tasting, you’ll get more value if you go in curious. Even basic questions like what style you’re tasting or what makes one brewery different can turn the whole afternoon into a mini learning session.

Should You Book This Craft Beer Tour in Hanoi?

If you want an easy, organized way to try up to 12 craft beers across four breweries, with hotel pickup, snacks, bottled water, and an English-speaking guide, this tour is a strong bet. The price is reasonable when you count transport and food included, and the small-group size helps keep it personal.

I’d book it if you’re the kind of traveler who enjoys comparing drinks and wants Hanoi beyond the obvious streets. The biggest advantage is that you don’t have to engineer your own route through beer stops while also trying to figure out what’s good.

I’d skip it if craft beer isn’t your main goal or if you prefer open-ended roaming with lots of time to wander.

FAQ

How many craft beers will I taste?

You’ll taste up to 12 craft beers during the tour, across four brewery stops.

How long is the tour?

The tour runs for about 5 hours.

Do I get hotel pickup?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included for selected hotels.

What’s the group size?

This is a small-group experience with a maximum of 12 travelers.

Is there a vegetarian option?

Yes. A vegetarian option is available, but you need to advise the team at the time of booking.

What time does the tour start?

The start time is 4:00 pm.

Are alcoholic drinks included?

Alcoholic drinks are not included, though they may be available to purchase.

Where does the tour start and end?

The start point is listed at 19 P. Hai Bà Trưng, Hàng Bài, Hoàn Kiếm. The end point is listed at 40 P. Nhà Chung, Hàng Trống, Hoàn Kiếm, near St Joseph Cathedral.

What’s the cancellation policy?

Free cancellation is available. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience start time for a full refund.

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