Southeast Asia’s largest beer festival returns to Vietnam’s major cities

By Minh Anh
Thu, August 22, 2024 | 1:27 pm GMT+7

GBA Oktoberfest, the largest beer festival in Southeast Asia, will return to three major Vietnamese cities in September and October, featuring German cuisine, craft beer, and vibrant traditions.

The festival will be celebrated in Hanoi, Danang and Ho Chi Minh City, helping to foster the Vietnam-Germany relationship in a joyful atmosphere.

 A GBA Oktoberfest night in 2023. Photo courtesy of the German Business Association.

A GBA Oktoberfest night in 2023. Photo courtesy of the German Business Association.

Last year’s Oktoberfest attracted over 10,500 attendees and served 20,000 liters of beer.

It is the biggest annual cultural festival held in Vietnam hosted by the German Businesses Association (GBA), in partnership with the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Vietnam (GBA Oktoberfest) and JW Marriott Hotel Hanoi, under the patronage of the German Embassy in Hanoi and German Consulate General in HCMC.

Over 30 years, GBA Oktoberfest has become an annual event to bring the unique German cultural and traditional experiences closer to the Vietnamese people. In addition, the festival has created a bridge for promoting the Vietnam-Germany strategic partnership.

This year, the festival will welcome all attendees through ticket sales. In Hanoi, the festival will take place at JW Marriott Hotel Hanoi from September 26 to 28. It will go on in Danang at Furama Resort Danang on October 4 and in HCMC at Hotel Nikko Saigon on October 10-12.

The festival will continue to deliver the lively carnival atmosphere of Bavaria with explosive moments from the famous band O'zapft from Germany and Austria.

In addition, traditional German dishes are prepared by the German chef, along with a wide selection of premium German craft beers and other non-alcoholic beverages.

Torben Minko, vice chairman of the German Business Association, speaks at a press meeting in Hanoi, August 21, 2024. Photo courtesy of the German Business Association.

Torben Minko, vice chairman of the German Business Association, speaks at a press meeting in Hanoi, August 21, 2024. Photo courtesy of the German Business Association.

Torben Minko, vice chairman of the German Business Association (GBA) stated: “2025 will mark 50 years of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Germany. The bilateral strategic partnership has been deepened in all fields, among which cultural, economic, trade, and investment cooperation are important pillars.

“Over the years, the festival has been not only a cultural event but also an opportunity for businesses and organizations from Germany and Vietnam to explore new potentials in various fields. We also have continuously worked on upgrading the authentic setting of our Oktoberfest and spreading a unique German culture across the country,” he added.

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