World’s Highest Heineken Bar @ The World of Heineken, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
One of the touristy things to do when in Ho Chi Minh City is to have an unparallelled panoramic view of the city from a high view point, such as from Landmark 81 or Bitexco Financial Tower.
While Landmark 81 is the top choice of many by virtue of the fact that it is the tallest building in the country at 81 floors, Bitexco Financial Tower has an added advantage as it is home to The World of Heineken, only the second in the world besides the original Heineken museum at its headquarters in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Trivia: Vietnam is the fifth largest beer consumer in Asia. Not surprisingly, it is Heineken’s biggest market in the continent, hence its location for The World of Heineken.
Located on the 58th, 59th and 60th (top) floors of the 262-metre tall Bitexco Financial Tower that is ranked 5th in CNNGo’s World’s 20 Most Iconic Skyscrapers due to its tower design inspired by the shape of the lotus, Vietnam’s national flower, The World of Heineken is one tour that’s not to be dismissed by beer lovers, particularly fans of Heineken.
Ron was our ambassador for the tour. He explained how Gerard Adriaan Heineken founded the brand in 1873, following the purchase of a local brewery in Amsterdam in 1864, by his wealthy mother.
What makes Heineken outstanding among all the other lager brands is its unique yeast that was developed by a Dr Elion in 1873, whereby its recipe is still used today. Over four generations, the Heineken brand evolved from merely just another beer brand to a lifestyle brand, aided by the popularity of the song Quando, Quando, Quando (When? When? When?) by the King of Romance Engelbert Humperdinck in 1962.
During the guided interactive beer brewing tour, participants would learn that the four main ingredients to brew beer are water, malted barley, hops (beer flower) and of course, Heineken A-Yeast, the secret ingredient of the brand.
Over the course of the hour-long journey, visitors also learn from the DraughtMaster the five steps of serving the best Heineken beer:
1. Rinse – rinse glass to make it clean and cold
2. Pour – pour with the glass at 45-degree angle for a full satisfying head
3. Skim – skim off the foam at 45-degree angle to seal the head
4. Check – check that the head sits on the horizontal line of the star on Heineken glass
5. Serve – serve on a coaster with the logo facing customer, saying, “Enjoy your Heineken.”
Then it’s “Một hai ba dzô” (cheers / bottoms up in Vietnamese). Sip on your cool drink at the highest Heineken Bar in the world on the 60th floor of Bitexco Financial Tower, as you enjoy a mesmerising aerial night view of Ho Chi Minh City.
As part of the entry fee, each guest is offered two half pints (250ml) of Heineken extra-cold beer, excluding the training pour earlier, chips and water, and as souvenir to commemorate your visit, there is a customised bottle of Heineken Silver with your chosen name printed on it, to take home.
The VND 250,000 entry ticket to The World of Heineken comes with a free visit to Bitexco Financial Tower’s Saigon Skydeck at Level 49.
If you wish to visit Saigon Skydeck ONLY for the city’s 360-degree panoramic view, ticket is VND 200,000 per entrant.
Purchase your tickets at the counter of Bitexco Financial Tower (36 Ho Tung Mau St, Dist 1, HCMC) or book online in advance.
The World of Heineken is not suitable for those who are below 18 years old, expectant mothers or non-drinkers. I’m a teetotaller myself, but I did enjoy the experience.
PRO TIP: Cut your queue time by securing Saigon Skydeck x The World of Heineken in Bitexco Financial Tower combo tickets via Klook Malaysia. Just flash your e-ticket on your Klook mobile app. It is indeed a hassle-free experience.
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The World of Heineken
Business hours: 3pm until 10pm daily, with three tour sessions at 7pm, 8pm and 9pm (except on special occasions)
Phone: +84 8 9898 1873
Email: info@theworldofheineken.com.vn
Facebook: The World of Heineken
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