Hoa Vien Brauhaus Restaurant

If you're after a German, Czech Biergarten this is your place. Beer was fresh, but limited (light and dark). Lots of Vietnamese drinkers, which was cool, was expecting much more westerners. Great Biergarten feel. Extensive menu.

 

For me, in the top 5 beer pub atmosphere in Saigon.
In-house Blonde (yellow) beer - I'm neutral on this beer
In-house Dark (black) beer - I will not drink this beer unless there are no other choices.

Overall: Occasional visit is suggested

Looking for an "odd ball" place in a city of street cafes, great Pho joints, hotel restaurants, this looked like a good bet. It turned out that it was. Our visit, too, was limited to the Pils and the dark beer, but both were worthwhile trying in a country that loves beer, but does not excel in making it well. There were certainly worse places we could have chosen, and the contrast of the lithe Vietnamese girls in Brauhaus "get up" sure is a contrast to what you would get in Bavaria itself.

Generally empty before the dinner hour, it fills up with a young crowd and can get rather busy at times. The Hoa Vien Brauhaus is decorated in traditional beer garden style featuring long rows of tables in a large beamed hall. To the right of the main entrance, a low raised area features the glassed-in brewing room and bar area. The week I visited, only two beers were available: a pilsner and a dark. Both were good but unremarkable. Not a bad stop if you're missing the euro feel while traveling the orient.

This place is huge and noisy, but in a good way. I expected it to be full of expats but found I was nearly the only Westerner. Full of Vietnamese yuppies enjoying good beer and food in the coutries first Czech-style brewpub.
The owner had to get permission to brew the Hoavener beer. He imports malt from the Czech province of Bohemia and hops from the city of Zatec.
There are three kinds of beer, a golden pilsner, and amber and a decent dark. I tried my share of Vietnamese beer and only came across one other dark. I was a pleasure to drink the draft at Hoa Vien.
The food looked and smelled good but was a little out of my backpacker budget. Beer always seemed to fit in, but I could eat out on the street for much cheaper.