Hommel Beer Factory
BIA HOI CULTURE'S ORIGIN: FROM A COLONICAL DRINKING TO A CULTURE OF URBAN DWELLERS
Introduction
Before the French colonization, Vietnam had a long history of rice alcohol production. The beer industry was created in 1892 by Alfred Hommel, founder of Hommel Brewery (Brasserie Hommel) in Hanoi. Along with the Larue Brewery (Brasserie Larue) in Saigon, the Hommel Brewery was one of the two biggest breweries in Indochina.
Beer was the drink that seemed most suitable in the Indochina climate. At first, beer was mainly consumed by the French, then it became more and more popular with local Vietnamese people.
Besides water, the ingredients used by the Hommel Brewery were malted barley and hops imported from Europe and a proportion of rice (preferably denitrogenated). The difficulty was not in the purchase of ingredients of first quality, but in purifying water used, acquiring expensive brewing equipment, and adapting it to the hot and humid climate of Hanoi. Another challenge for the production of bottled beer was transportation. The brewery came up with the idea of producing a draft beer called bia hoi sold in kegs instead of bottles. Over time, bia hoi became a staple of Vietnamese culture and it remains so to this day.
Name: Brasserie Hommel / Société de la Brasserie Hommel / Société des Brasseries et Glacières de l'Indochine / Hanoi Brewery / Hanoi Brewery Company / Hanoi Beer-Alcohol-Beverage Corporation (Habeco)
Location: 183 Hoang Hoa Tham, Ha Noi
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Chronological timeline
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Agents
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Investigations
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Architectural and Urban preliminary assessment
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Perspective / Thematic / Narrative point of view
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Bibliography
[Cao - Xà - Lá: The condensed ambitions of a new socialist nation]
Thang Long Tobacco Factory
The custom of smoking pipes in Vietnam was recorded from the 16th to 17th centuries. It was widely popular in society. Along with the custom of eating betel nut, smoking pipe was an indispensable component in the social activities of Vietnamese people before the 20th century. Vietnamese people had various ways of enjoying pipe tobacco, such as bowls, pipes or by chewing. Hang Dieu street in Hanoi specializes in selling pipe tobacco. Although there are several private tobacco manufacturers in North Vietnam, the government wants to build a state tobacco industry under their own watch. From their perspective, the private companies could easily manipulate the tobacco market, while their production fails to meet demands. Therefore, building an official national tobacco industry becomes an urgent mission.