The Best Corner in Vietnam

Located in the heart of the Old Quarter of Hanoi, lies an intersection of 4 small streets, called Bia Hoi Corner. Bia Hoi,, or "Fresh Beer" is a local beer brewed every night and delivered to small restaurants across the city every morning and sold until the keg runs dry for 5,000 dong (24 cents). 

The corners are littered with tiny plastic chairs and stools were Foreigners and Vietnamese alike start setting up around 6pm to drink away the long hot day in the city!

Bia Hoi Corner

Apparently his was too expensive

We found our way there with some new friends our first evening in Hanoi after a long day of market shopping.

You never know what kind of characters you will run into at Bia Hoi Corner. Not pictured here, unfortunately, is who I refer to as "Pink Lady". Named after her bright pink, not so discreet ensemble. The only thing more entertaining than her clothing was her "life story"...She is Vietnamese...but she lives in Holland with her boyfriend...while they wait for her husband in England to die...so she can get all of his money...and they can travel the world. Bia Hoi Corner is her favorite corner in Vietnam. She sometimes comes in the morning; sometimes in the afternoon; sometimes at night; and sometimes all three! Fantastic lady! Then there's "Rainbow". We are pretty sure she is the daughter of the lady that fights with the other lady next door about whose plastic chair is whose. We are not sure what her name is but I like to call her "Sassafrass." She has an attitude like no other, her favorite word is a particular cuss word that starts with F, and wears a short bob wig that she likes to fluff every 20 seconds. Lucky for us, she took a liking to us, so we got an even bigger dose of attitude!

We had to make one last appearance at the corner after our return from Halong Bay to visit our old friends. Unfortunately, Pink Lady wasn't there, but Rainbow was manning her corner in all of her glory! I sure will miss the circus of Bia Hoi corner...it holds a special place in our hearts!