A TikTok user has stumbled upon what he believes to be the “cheapest beer in the world” with a pint costing less than £1.
The social media sensation, @louiecarabott, shared his experience of getting “17 beers for the price of one” at a venue that offers pints for just 40p.
With UK pint prices skyrocketing above £5, Louie’s discovery in Vietnam seems like a bargain hunter’s dream.
In his trending TikTok clip, he shows off his drink and remarks: “I’ve got one here, it cost me 40p, so I thought why not buy two. Tastes pretty decent to be fair.”
He adds: “You could literally have ten of them and not spend over £5. It’s mad cheap. In London, you’d be paying £7 a beer, it’s crazy. Out here, it’s 40p. It’s worth just getting the flight for the beer.”
Louie also comments on the low cost of living in Southeast Asia, saying: “Cost of living out here in south east Asia is crazy. I’ve just had a bill it cost me £2, the room I’m staying in is costing me £10 a night, like, the motorbike I’m renting is £3 a day. I literally spend no money down here.”
He concludes by noting that enjoying such prices would cost “an arm and a leg” back in the UK.
Enthralled by the astonishingly low cost of beer in Vietnam, the traveller shared it’s the nation’s “traditional beer”. He exclaimed: “They sell it literally everywhere you go out here. Get yourself to Vietnam for the cheap beers.”
Users on TikTok were left gobsmacked by the rock-bottom prices, with one querying in disbelief: “Did you just say 40p for a beer?” While another urged: “Double up on them.”
Travellers who have indulged in these budget-friendly brews can’t seem to get enough as one declared: “It’s ridiculously cheap here and I never want to live back home again.”
So why is beer such an enticing bargain in Vietnam?
It boils down to local production – many beers enjoyed in Vietnam are made right on the doorstep, slashing import duties and transportation outlays significantly. Inexpensive local resources and labour add to the cut-rate production costs.
One particular variety, Bia Hoi, epitomises freshness and affordability; it’s a daily drafted beer meant for immediate consumption, typically served in the neighbourhood joints, sans packaging – all ensuring the price stays at rock bottom.
Moreover, Vietnam has traditionally levied modest alcohol taxes, making beer easier on the wallet. Despite this, whispers of tax increases on alcohol have begun to emerge from the Vietnamese government, as part of efforts to mitigate health issues.
