| Topic | Rule or benchmark | To remember |
|---|---|---|
| Legal age | 18, locals and visitors | ID rarely checked, more often in clubs |
| Drink-driving | zero tolerance for cars; very strict on motorbikes | do not drive at all after drinking |
| Fines | motorbike up to about 345 USD, car up to about 1,800 USD; licence suspension up to 2 years | sources differ on exact amounts |
| Bia hoi | light draught beer, a few thousand dong | street bars, drunk on stools |
| Selling hours | no national closing time | some bars close early |
Drink-driving: the rule not to forget
Since 2020, Vietnamese law has been very strict on drink-driving. The limit is 0 mg/dL for car drivers; a WHO page cites 50 mg/dL for motorcyclists, but media speak of de facto zero tolerance: the safe approach is not to drive at all. The fines quoted go up to about 345 USD for a scooter and 1,800 USD for a car, with up to two years' licence suspension; cyclists risk up to 25 USD. If you have been drinking, take a Grab or a taxi.
Bia hoi, bars and nights out
Bia hoi is fresh draught beer brewed the same day and served in street bars; a glass usually costs under a dollar per one guide. In the Old Quarter at weekends, the night market and pedestrian streets are lively; elsewhere in the city stay careful: see scams to avoid in Hanoi.
Practical tips
- Ask the price before ordering in tourist bars.
- Do not accept drinks offered by strangers.
- Carry ID or a photocopy of your passport in clubs.
- Eat at the same time: a street food tour combines well with a bia hoi.
- For the rest of your budget, see travel budget for Hanoi.
