First published July 2024 | Words and photos by Luke Digweed
Luke Digweed is a staff writer for Vietnam Coracle. He has been living in Vietnam since 2011, mostly in Huế but also in Đà Nẵng & Sài Gòn. While living in Huế, he ran the Huế Grit Tour & co-organized events & small concerts between 2017-2020. His most recent ongoing project is Festivals of Vietnam which documents ceremonies, rituals & processions around the country….read more about Luke
If you’re visiting Hội An, you will need a drink. Whether you’ve been cycling through the rice fields, strolling the ancient streets, boating on the river or lounging at the beach, each day of sightseeing in Hội An is best concluded with a refreshing cocktail, local craft beer or glass of wine. Surprisingly, finding a good bar isn’t as easy as one might expect in this popular tourist and expat enclave. Bars come and go due to fierce competition and high rental fees, and some owners focus more on making a quick buck rather than investing time and effort into creating a unique, long-lasting drinking establishment worth visiting. This guide to bars in Hội An is aimed at helping travellers find the best, most interesting and atmospheric drinking holes in this ever-popular destination on Vietnam’s central coast.
HOI AN BAR GUIDE
15 of the Best Places to Drink in Hội An
In and around Hội An’s famous old quarter and along its nearby beaches, you’ll find everything from cocktail bars to pubs to craft beer taprooms to beach clubs. I begin this guide with two bars that connect to their community, as this is a determining factor for me when choosing a drinking establishment. I then move on to some of the higher-end wine bars and cocktail lounges hidden down alleyways and up staircases in Hội An’s increasingly international and affluent old town. Finally, I pick out some of the best seaside drinking spots on An Bàng and Cửa Đại beaches, just a few kilometres north of Hội An town. At the end of this guide, I list some other bars of note that I enjoyed. All places mentioned in this guide are marked on my bar map. Click an item from the contents below to read more.
CONTENTS:
Bars with a Community Connection
Cocktails & Craft Beer in Hội An
Bars & Pubs by the Beach
Barefoot Beach Club & Salt Pub
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BAR MAP:
Hội An | Bars & Drinking
Chăm Chỉ Club:
Address: 47 Cửa Đại [MAP] | Open: 24/7
Recommended to me as the best sunset view in Hội An, Chăm Chỉ Club is not a dance or disco club, rather it is a multifunctional community space: art, music, events, drinking, social activities and the like.
On arrival, it’s not entirely clear what you are walking into: a brick wall lines the property’s perimeter and conceals what is inside. You have a choice of two entrances, neither of which are clearly labelled: Take one entrance and you’ll find yourself amongst creatives working on their art, a drum kit surrounded by instruments, and a gym with yoga mats and punch bags; take the other entrance and you’ll descend some stairs to find yourself between a bar area, a DJ desk and a sweeping view of the Thu Bồn River.
Chăm Chỉ Club is all about encouraging connection and interaction between customers. The building’s original walls have been knocked through or demolished, not only to invite the river breezes to ventilate the premises, but also to facilitate the interaction of guests. The large open space that looks out towards the Thu Bồn river makes for a great meeting point with friends or a relaxing spot to sit alone.
Chăm Chỉ Club emerged from a forgotten riverside property that the founder, Thiện, discovered when searching for new opportunities in post-pandemic Hội An. Initially, Thiện intended to open a recycling coffee shop, but it swiftly evolved into a community hub, with enthusiastic customers expressing their own ideas about what they thought Chăm Chỉ Club could be, and then given the opportunity to implement their suggestions. Besides its art spaces and exercise areas, Chăm Chỉ Club also hosts various events, workshops and parties.
Thiện, whose background is in IT, is proud to emphasise how Chăm Chỉ Club prioritises its role within the local community: neighbours are employed to run and maintain the property; drinks and food are purchased from local vendors rather than wholesalers; visitors to the bar may come from near and far but Chăm Chỉ Club tries to circulate its revenue through the local economy.
Chăm Chỉ Club has no opening or closing times. As we were talking, Thiện recounted several times when the club served as a refuge for the homeless or psychologically vulnerable. Some of the Christian-inspired graffiti on the walls at Chăm Chỉ Club are the work of one such visitor. According to Thiện, no matter the time of day or time of year, there is always someone on the premises.
Images of Chăm Chỉ Club
Distillerie d’Indochine:
Address: Thôn Duy Hà [MAP] | Open: 9:00-17:00
Distillerie d’Indochine (Indochine Distillery) is a relatively new business opened by three French friends to create their own brand of rum, called Sampan. The distillery is located near the 15th parallel north, which is nicknamed the ‘rum belt’, meaning the distillery benefits from similar conditions to the Caribbean, where rum has been produced for centuries. Since opening in 2018, the distillery has won several regional and international awards.
The Indochine Distillery is situated around 15km south of Hội An, past the enormous Hoiana Resort. Signposts for the distillery lead off the highway and down several other roads to the corner of Bình Dương village where the distillery is located. You’ll likely be able to hear the sound of machinery and the smell of sugarcane before you reach the distillery’s colonial-style premises.
From the entrance, the distillery is on the right, the Mai Tai Villas on the left, and the bar is at the centre. At the bar, staff offer an introduction to the distillery and tastings of their rums. When I visited, there were three varieties of Sampan white rums, ranging from 43%-65% proof, bottles of which were are available to buy.
Staff are keen to explain the history and process of creating rum. For an additional fee, they can provide a guided tour of the premises for a deeper understanding of the distillery. Master distiller Antoine Poircuitte comes from a long line of distillers in France. A combination of travel and life experiences brought him to Vietnam where he was able to realise his dream of opening a distillery. From the bar, you may see Antoine running around the distillery, conducting checks and moving batches of rum onto the next stage of distillation.
February-August is probably the best time to visit since this is sugarcane harvesting season, when the distillery is at its busiest. During this period, approximately 8 tonnes of sugarcane are pressed and processed through the fermentors. After 5 days of fermentation and 4 days for distillation, the rum goes through a process of dilution for 6-9 months before finally being bottled. In 2023, the distillery produced 60,000 litres of rum. What makes this distillery especially impressive is how the entire process is done by hand, from feeding the sugarcane into the presser to the bottling of the rum itself.
The Indochine Distillery works with the local community and is committed to environmentally-friendly initiatives. Neighbours are employed from the village for various tasks around the distillery; all sugarcane is bought from local farmers, ensuring a consistent yield and limiting the distance between the press at the distillery; bagasse (the excess sugarcane that remains after the press) is given to farmers to feed livestock to reduce waste; and no chemicals are used during the entire process.
Images of Distillerie d’Indochine
Mezcal Coctelería:
Address: 38 Phan Chu Trinh [MAP] | Open: 18:00-23:45
A popular night spot for Hôi An residents, Mezcal Coctelería is a hidden tequila-themed bar claiming to be the first Mexican cocktail bar in Vietnam. Up the creaky staircase of a classic old Hội An townhouse, patrons will find themselves in a low-lit, speakeasy-style bar specialising in imported liquors, especially from Mexico and the Americas.
The drinks list is incredibly long with a lot of unfamiliar cocktail names, so it might be best ask the staff for recommendations. “Most of these cocktails we invent ourselves”, the bartender proudly claimed when I visited. My friend and I spent a long time deciphering the menu. Eventually, I decided upon the El Viajero cocktail while my companion chose the Senorita Espinoza. Encouraging creativity among bartenders increases staff enthusiasm for their work and results in a more engaging drinking experience for customers. This is a great bar.
Images of Mezcal Coctelería
Mộng Nguyệt Cocktail Bar:
Address: 9 Nguyễn Thái Học2 [MAP] | Open: 18:00-22:00
I arrived a little early at Mộng Nguyệt and was told to come back at 6pm. Once I did return, the limes were sliced and the waistcoats were buttoned up. Mộng Nguyệt is another speakeasy-style hidden bar, situated behind a courtyard and above a coffee shop. At the centre of the room is a large oval-shaped bar with a variety of furniture dotted around it. Doors to balconies provide intimate areas with views to the night sky and surrounding rooftops. Although Mộng Nguyệt’s interior design is pleasant, it appears to be trying to harmonise Hội An’s antiquated charm with a higher-end aesthetic that has resulted in characterless furnishings that don’t really match the bar or the building.
Mộng Nguyệt’s cocktail menu is split into 4 sections: Ngũ Hành cocktails, featuring one cocktail for each of the five elements (metal, wood, water, fire, earth); Signature cocktails, made from domestic spirits and local ingredients; Personalised cocktails, made by the bartender based on a customer’s replies to several questions; and Classic cocktails, as well as mocktails and a few beers.
The staff are attentive and happy to chat with customers. The bartender serving me was very opinionated about Vietnamese liquors and distilleries. His knowledge would be valuable for any guests interested in domestic spirits. The balcony over the courtyard and the oval-shaped bar provide the two best areas to sit and drink at Mộng Nguyệt. Prices seem a little expensive, even compared to Vietnam’s big city bars. Nevertheless, for the novelty of a personalised cocktail, Mộng Nguyệt is worth a stop.
Images of Mộng Nguyệt Cocktail Bar
Market Bar (Market Terrace):
Address: 2 Hoàng Diệu [MAP] | Open: 16:00-23:00
Situated on a terrace above Hội An’s most popular market (Chợ Hội An) with views over the bridge to Cẩm Nam and the bustling street below, Market Bar (also known as Terrace Bar) has been around for a long time. Its location, in the centre of the old town, remains unbeatable. Lacking walls or a ceiling, the river breeze runs straight through the bar, and the outside sounds of Hội An market intermingle with the bar’s music. Market Bar best suits those sultry summer evenings after a long day’s sightseeing on foot in Hội An’s old quarter.
The drinks menu includes a range of cocktails, both signature and classic. The bar primarily focuses on gin, offering both domestic and imported varieties, and a range of ingredients to mix it with, such as lemon and black pepper, basil and blue pea flower, and cucumber and mint, to name but a few. I chose the ‘Hội An Chilli’ cocktail from the signature menu, which echoes the famously spicy cuisine of Central Vietnam. Besides the gin options, there are also martinis and a range of wines to choose from. Domestic craft beers are also available.
Images of Market Bar (Market Terrace)
7 Bridges Craft Beer Taproom:
Address: 36 Trần Phú [MAP] | Open: 10:00-23:00
7 Bridges Craft Beer Taproom is centrally located, just off the northwestern corner of Hội An market (Chợ Hội An). Walk inside and you’ll see a large wooden fishing boat converted into a bar table. Behind the front of the house is a more spacious main barroom and a well-kept pub garden. The property is beautifully decorated with old pots and rustic furniture. Each area is suited to any occasion, any time of day and any size of group.
The taproom belongs to the brewing company 7 Bridges, who originally started in Đà Nẵng but are now based in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). The impressively long list of brews includes specialty offerings such as Silk Trade (Mulberry Raspberry Milkshake), Mango Martian Pop (Milkshake IPA), and Lì Xì (Cherry Kriek). Besides these fruity beers, some more recognisable brews such as ales, stouts, IPAs, pilsners, lagers and ciders are also available. I counted more than twenty 7 Bridges craft beers alongside around fifteen guest beers, ciders and wines. Unfortunately, all beers are brewed in Saigon and there are none which are exclusive to Hội An, meaning the menu is identical to 7 Bridges branches in Hanoi and Saigon – it would be nice if there was at least one Hội An-themed brew. If you’re not tempted by craft beer, spirits like gin, rum, tequila and liquors are available as well as classic and tiki cocktails. Alcohol-free drinks are also available and a unique collection of wine is served on tap. The food menu supplements a good session of beer drinking with several pages dedicated to brunch dishes, snacks, salads, pizza, chicken wings, burgers, fish and chips and desserts.
Images of 7 Bridges Craft Beer Taproom
Mosaic Gastropub & Wine Bar:
Address: 131 Phan Chu Trinh [MAP] | Open: not available
Spacious and cosy, Mosaic Gastropub sits around 300 metres northwest of the famous Chùa Cầu (Pagoda Bridge) and provides a great rest stop for anyone looking for a comfortable bar away from the crowds. David, the bar’s owner, admits he loves to talk to his customers and bring people together from different parts of the world. No matter who you arrive with at Mosaic, you’ll undoubtedly meet someone new during your visit.
Featuring a well-rounded selection of 10 everchanging taps from craft beer brewers in Hanoi and Saigon, the drinks menu is supplemented by a variety of cocktails, liquors and soft drinks. The food menu complements the drinks with some modern interpretations of American comfort food including fusion tacos, cheese boards, burgers and unique side dishes. The quality is very good.
David and his wife relocated from New York to Hội An with the intention of setting up some small businesses in 2019. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, they’ve managed to open and operate a bagel shop, a yoga studio and Mosaic Gastropub. You can find David on any given night at Mosaic, entertaining guests and possibly overindulging on his own stock. “It’s a lifestyle bar,” he chuckles before shuffling to the next table of guests.
*Important note: Unfortunately, on the eve of this article’s publication, David contacted me to say that Mosaic is temporarily closed, but he hopes the bar will reopen in some new guise in the near future. Check Mosaic’s Facebook page for any updates.
Images of Mosaic Gastropub & Wine Bar
Barefoot Beach Club & Salt Pub:
Address: 30-32 Nguyễn Phan Vinh [MAP] | Open: 07:30-22:00
Both Barefoot Beach Club and Salt Pub sit next to each other overlooking the sands of An Bàng, a beachfront that’s become increasingly popular with locals, tourists and expats over the past decade. Only 10-15 minutes by road from Hội An’s old town, An Bàng provides travellers with a beachside location and a line of good bars and restaurants.
Barefoot and Salt Pub offer cocktails, beers, coffees, juices and smoothies. At Barefoot, the menu is more Western-centric, including foods such as burgers, tacos, salads, sandwiches, desserts and wraps. By comparison, Salt Pub’s menu is more focused on Southeast Asian cuisine as well a a few recognisable Western staples. Prices at Barefoot and Salt Pub are fairly high but, in the context of this popular beachfront location, they are normal.
Besides the beachside appeal of both bars, they also regularly hold events suitable for independent travellers and families alike – including live music, fun runs, yoga classes and pop-up markets. In addition, Barefoot has table football, pool tables and a volleyball court.
In truth, there isn’t much difference between Barefoot and Salt Pub: they both attract young travellers and have a bit of a banana pancake trail party vibe about them. At Salt Pub, DJs plays soft house music while travellers sunbathe on loungers. Of the two, Salt Pub is newer and better designed and maybe more suited to older clientele, whereas Barefoot is aimed more towards youth. Both bars share the same stretch of beach which they furnish with beanbags and sun loungers.
Images of Barefoot Beach Club & Salt Pub
Soul Kitchen:
Address: An Bàng beach [MAP] | Open: 07:00-23:00
The early years of Soul Kitchen coincided with the time I moved to Central Vietnam. Originally a small shack bar, this beachside drinking and dining establishment has grown over the years to include a variety of seating and lounge areas, but the vibe is the same as ever.
I enjoy the wide open spaces and mellow atmosphere of Soul Kitchen. Latin jazz plays in the background and comfortable bamboo furniture provides seating for small or large groups. Beers, spirits and soft drinks are all available as well as classic and signature cocktails. The food menu consists of both Vietnamese and international dishes, covering breakfast, lunch and dinner. Despite increased competition on An Bàng Beach in recent years, Soul Kitchen continues to be a popular and appealing place for seaside drink and food.
Images of Soul Kitchen
Other Bars:
In addition to all the bars mentioned above, I loved the intimate setting of KoFi [map], a well-hidden, hole-in-the-wall cocktail bar not far from Hội An market. Out of town, Tok [map] is a fashionable place to drink and dine, due in part to its picturesque location on the edge of a sea of rice paddies. For people looking for a more formal setting by the beach, The DeckHouse [map] will suffice. Conversely, an informal squat bar is Roots [map] which includes a live music area and a large open green space. Lastly, Bungalow Beach Bar [map] is a lively spot with musical performances and a swimming pool aimed at a younger, backpacker crowd.
Images of KoFi, Tok, The DeckHouse, Roots Bar & Bungalow Beach Bar
*Disclosure: Vietnam Coracle content is always free and independent. Luke has written this guide because he wants to: he likes Hội An’s bars and he wants readers to know about them. For more details, see the Disclosure & Disclaimer statements and my About Page
