Vietnam’s Belgo has opened a taproom in Binh Duong province, the brewery’s first expansion outside Ho Chi Minh City.
The taproom is the Belgian-inspired brewery’s fifth since the opening of its most recent location last year in downtown Saigon.
Binh Duong, which benefits considerably from its location to the north of Ho Chi Minh City, is one of Vietnam’s most important regional economies with consistently high levels of foreign direct investment.
The province isn’t entirely alien to craft beer: the now-closed brewpub Broken Bridge once operated in the regional capital of Thủ Dầu Một, numerous craft beer bars are scattered throughout populated areas, and the Heart of Darkness production brewery is also located nearby.
However, what is significant about Belgo’s foray into Binh Duong is that it is the first major Vietnamese craft brewery to enter the area with a full-scale taproom.
“We’re very excited to open Belgo in Binh Duong, within the Hikari complex, and to expand further, offering our Belgian beer experience to more craft beer lovers,” shares Gauthier Lagasse, CEO & Co-Founder.
The venue is located in the Hikari Complex, a building the brewery chose to align with its environmental impact reduction goals through energy-efficient technologies and sustainable design, and seats 150 patrons.
Despite the relatively untested waters of expansion, a positive omen is that the complex hosts other successful F&B businesses, including an outlet of the successful 4Ps pizza restaurant chain.
From a design perspective, Belgo’s Hikari taproom combines traditional Belgian design (including their signature “Manneken Pis” fountain and Art-nouveau elements) with modern design, including an outdoor garden.
