The large Vietnam brewer opens a state-of-the-art facility for research and training
The Saigon Beer-Alcohol-Beverage Corporation (SABECO), Vietnam’s oldest brewer, recently inaugurated a state-of-the-art Beer Research and Development Centre in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
The new facility aims to enhance product quality and foster innovation among brewers and young engineers by providing an optimal environment for creating new beverages.
Located at the historic Nguyen Chi Thanh Brewery, the birthplace of the Bia Saigon brand in 1875, the fully automated miniature brewery is equipped with complete production capabilities.
It allows professionals to study and test new recipes and methods before implementing them across SABECO’s 26 breweries nationwide. Previously, testing new products required using operating breweries, leading to increased costs and logistical challenges. This also limited opportunities for young engineers lacking confidence to conduct experiments.
The new centre addresses these issues by offering a dedicated space for experimentation, reducing dependence on foreign technology and improving competitiveness.
SABECO’s technical and production team leveraged their extensive experience to design, construct, and operate the centre using modern technology. The investment cost is significantly lower than similar-scale centres, partly due to the utilisation of domestic supply chains.
The facility’s high level of automation also minimises human intervention, controls production errors, and ensures consistency during testing.
The company believes the new centre will further enhance its offerings by enabling the creation of new recipes with high efficiency, contributing to the development of Vietnam’s beverage industry to world-class levels.
The centre also serves as a training ground for young engineers to learn from experienced brewers, encouraging creativity and confidence.
Previously, SABECO sent technical staff to Germany for brewmaster training courses. The new facility allows for in-house development and mastery of beer production technologies, including specialised processes.
SABECO operates 26 breweries and 11 trading subsidiaries, supported by a distribution network of over 200,000 retailers nationwide. Its portfolio includes well-known brands such as Bia Lac Viet, Bia Saigon Chill, 333 Pilsner, and Bia Saigon Special. Over the past five years, SABECO has received more than 50 awards, including five for product quality.
