Review Author: Maria

Review Date: 11 May 2026

Review Body: I really enjoyed the tasting of different spirits and truly had my perspective changed on some of them. The cocktails were crafted well to showcase different tastes. The conversation was very interesting, so I had an overall great experience!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Nadja

Review Date: 06 Apr 2026

Review Body: Great experience - super frievdky, knowledgeable and all around great experience. Highly recommend

Review rating: 5

Review Author: DBC

Review Date: 23 May 2024

Review Body: I had an absolutely wonderful evening on this experience! When I first booked this tour, I thought it was going to be more of an “upscale bar crawl” vibe but was pleasantly surprised to see how much more involved it was! Not only did our host Tim take us to some amazing bars (and even a hidden speakeasy!) around Hoi An, but I found out this company also works with these bars to craft cocktails that are only available to the guests on the tour. My absolute favorite cocktail was a Pho-inspired Gin & Tonic that they actually taught me how to craft myself! As someone who often enjoys dressing up for a more “sophisticated” evening of drinks and conversation, I found this to be the perfect introduction to nightlife in Hoi An! Definitely one of the more unique activities I enjoyed during my travels in Vietnam! 10/10 recommend!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Jasmine B

Review Date: 23 May 2024

Review Body: WOW! I normally don’t write reviews but this tour… was just incredible all round. So curated and great quality, we had no idea what to expect and this cocktail experience did not disappoint! I don’t want to spoil it for you and explain the tour as the surprise and wonder just made it so much better! Tinh was an EXCELLENT guide, great knowledge, fantastic to chat to and just a great guy we got along with him so well. This was the best tour we have been on in our 6 week trip around Asia. Tinh let us know there is a tour in Ho Chi Min City, so we have already booked it for our time there! Just lastly, wanted to say thank you to Tinh and the owner. Your effort and thoughtfulness and obvious passion for cocktail experiences really shows, we are still just so amazed by how superb this tour and the cocktails were.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Yvonne L.

Review Date: 21 Apr 2025

Review Body: I loved how relaxed and personalised the experience was! My host, Kevin, was warm and friendly, extremely patient with my incessant questions (even those really amateur ones) despite him being of a professional level. Instructions were clear, broken down into easily digestible bite-sized nuggets of wisdom. I particularly loved the little nooks during our walks which I would not have noticed on my own otherwise. I have definitely learnt a lot about my camera and the basics of street photography, both on the technical side of things and how to view the whole photography experience as a meditative one, learning to slow down and observe. I would highly recommend this regardless of your experience level!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: D

Review Date: 15 Dec 2024

Review Body: The entire experience was wonderful and enriching. Our guide Tim was professional, humorous and knowledgeable. The choices of different cuisines varied from solid food to snacks to drinks. The ambience of each secret spot was also carefully curated with care to provide variety and the utmost comfort for us. Each place has its own story that weaves together to form a rich tapestry of Vietnam’s (in this case Hoi An’s) hidden food gems. If you are someone who likes to eat and wants to know more about the correlation between food and culture, this is for you! Notice that I did not give away much because they are secret for a reason so do come and experience the magical journey for yourselves!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Stephanie Carswell

Review Date: 26 Aug 2026

Review Body: Fred was so friendly and personable. We joined primarily for my daughter who is studying photography to support her learning and confidence and Fred delivered fantastically and exceeded our expectations. Great advice, support, tips. The choice of locations and routes was great as it let her focus on what interests her. We have both come away with not only fabulous photos capturing the essence of Vietnam that we would never have thought we could take, and knowing that our skill levels have shot up too. Don’t even contemplate doing this you absolutely will not regret it. Fred also gave us an insight into the history of buildings, districts, Vietnam, food and so much more

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Joshua S

Review Date: 02 May 2024

Review Body: Fred is a legit good photographer (look at his Instagram) which should give you confidence he knows what he's talking about. He is also a really good teacher who knows how to adiust his instructions depending on the skill and experience of the student. He picked up quickly on where I was at as a photographer and gave me a whole lot of practical tips to go the next step. I particularly appreciated his help with my camera's settings - it's now set up much better for the way I want to use it. He took us to some cool places with amazing light that I wouldn't have otherwise known about. He's also a friendly, open guy. Highly recommend.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Joshua S

Review Date: 02 May 2024

Review Body: We had so much fun with our guide Julie. All four bars were well chosen, very classy - these were places we would love to hang out if we were local residents (not touristy), and all cocktails were tasty. The tour operator obviously made arrangements with the bar so we were there relatively early (tour started 5pm) and before the peak hours so it was a bit quiet. We enjoyed the chilled vibe without the crowd when the bartenders were relaxed, attentive and had time for a bit of chat. The tour was so enjoyable, largely thanks to our wonderful guide Julie. She is warm and engaging, and made our evening memorable.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Tiffany L.

Review Date: 19 Nov 2024

Review Body: One of my favourite experiences in Ho Chi Minh! We were brought to secret bars that we wouldn't have found our own. Each bar was really unique in its own way too, and none were repetitive at all. We got to try really yummy and cool snacks, notably chilli ants! That was a fresh experience for me. The guide was great too - so warm, friendly and personable. She shared the stories behind each place really well, and definitely was key to making this experience amazing. We learnt quite a lot through this experience. If you're into secret bars, definitely try this!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Nicola W

Review Date: 02 May 2024

Review Body: An absolutely amazing tour! Fred is a brilliant teacher, really encouraging and offering so much knowledge and useful tips to help me learn how to use my camera and improve my street photography skills. The tour brings you to diverse locations so you can practice different photography styles, and I also really enjoyed chatting to Fred about the history of Saigon and life in general! Super personalised and fun tour, I'm really looking forward to putting all I've learned into use to make great photos on the rest of my travels POLISH

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Jackson B

Review Date: 02 May 2024

Review Body: My wife and I had such a fun, memorable night with Julie and Natalya! They took us to 4 bars which were located in a touristy area but well off the beaten path which we never would have discovered on our own. Each bar had a fantastic and unique ambiance and all the cocktails we enjoyed were delicious and full of local ingredients. Plus we had great snacks at each stop. We never felt like we were on a tour, we felt like we were having drinks with friends.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Steve T

Review Date: 23 May 2024

Review Body: This is the second time my wife and I have done the Secret Cocktail Experience. Que our host is amazing. Her knowledge of, not only the bars and drinks, but Hoi An and Vietnam in general is fantastic. The places you visit on the tour are amazing and have a great back story. The tour is a great night out and a great way to meet other tourists from around the world. This is a must do tour when visiting Hoi An.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: kat

Review Date: 28 May 2026

Review Body: As someone interested in culture, heritage, and community, I found this experience incredibly enjoyable. The host was knowledgeable, funny, and easy-going, which made the whole experience even more engaging and memorable :-) As a photographer, I also loved being able to snap photos while walking between the different cocktail bars, it added a really unique element to the experience. I enjoyed my time!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Annie Anh V

Review Date: 02 May 2024

Review Body: I'm a local saigonese, and the experience even surprised me 'cuz many places I didn't know before. It's selective, cozy & high quality places. The drinks are well prepared, pairing well with the snacks. We are actually full & satisfied & didn't have to get dinner after that When my friends/visitors visit saigon, I plan to book the experience for them as gift Highly recommended! :)

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Gera

Review Date: 24 May 2026

Review Body: This tour is full of pleasant surprises. From secret alleys, stories, snacks and cocktail flavours. The host and venues are accommodating and can prepare mocktails (still delicious). Our Host Long was genuinely friendly, easy going and even helped me fix my shoe which unexpectedly broke halfway through the tour. He made sure the tour flowed and we all had a memorable time

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Kari

Review Date: 26 Jan 2026

Review Body: We loved the cocktail experience tour. We were able to see 4 different places and try 4 different drinks and snacks, while getting some additional context on the spirits - some of them which were local and super unique. The visit to the tea house, which was exclusive was also special and our host, Loan, was so lovely and fun! One of our favorite things we did in Hoi An!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Yvonne

Review Date: 06 Jan 2026

Review Body: I did the cocktail experience in Hoi An. The host was Ky. He was excellent and made the group very comfortable. Communication was great and very punctual. The cocktails were amazing and the carefully chosen venues were very impressive. Highly recommend the tour. Thank you Ky for making this a memorable night.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Clare & Nicj

Review Date: 09 Jan 2025

Review Body: What a fabulous tour with Julie! She took us to 4 great little places, each with their own character, style and delicious cocktail. She shared very open stories of life, culture and social sides of Vietnam. We have travelled through Vietnam many times and this was great for any new or returning travellers

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Kristv C

Review Date: 02 May 2024

Review Body: The tour was truly eye-opening. Beyond just teaching us about photography, Fred offered fresh insights into familiar buildings and street corners that we've passed countless times. His perspective has reignited our love for the city. We're incredibly grateful for the wonderful experience. Thank you!

Review rating: 5

Itinerary Day 1

Itinerary Summary: Hanoi craft spirit tasting: Storytelling, spirit tasting & cocktail experience

Itinerary Description: Welcome to a one-of-a-kind tasting experience that delves into the heart of Vietnam’s craft spirit scene. For this exclusive experience, we partnered with Quan Nguyen, Co-Founder of craft alcohol distillery and the team of House or Barbaard, a majestic hidden bar in Hanoi known for its signature cocktail creations. Upon your arrival, you will be welcomed with a special drink and seated in a private Opium Den room where our expert will guide you through the story behind each spirit, local ingredients sourced for their production, and tasting notes. After tasting each of 4 craft spirits, House of Barbaard's top mixologists will prepare a cocktail based on them and our curator will share the story behind it. We specifically crafted the cocktail menu to allow our drinks to highlight the tasting notes of the liquors used in them. To make sure you don’t get tipsy too fast, we will serve a selection of snacks to nibble along with your drinks. OUR CURATOR: The curator of this experience Quan Nguyen is an F&B industry professional and a craft alcohol expert. Trained professionally as a poet, Quan spent five years in Wisconsin, USA studying the arts of crafting words and preventing frostbites in Irish pubs before returning home - Hanoi. After a decade of working in various fields, Quan ventured into food & beverage with a goal to bring Vietnamese premium agricultural products to the world. A return to go forward. In 2020 he co-founded Về Để Đi Distillery.