Kathy asked this question about Ba Muoi Ba beer …
Question: I remember being told that Ba Muoi Ba beer meant 33 in Vietnamese, and that number represented the percentage of formaldehyde in the beer.
Do you know if this is true?
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Kathy, the original Ba Muoi Ba beer’s actual name was “33 Export”. It came in a large brown glass bottle with a picture of a Tiger on it and the words “33 Export”. Hence, it was commonly referred to and ordered by asking for “Ba Muoi Ba” (33). I doubt anyone actually knows for sure why it was named “33 Export” (other then the manufacturer). Most accounts say the “33″ in the name referred to it’s alcohol content of 3.3%. It became popular in Vietnam because it was “cheap” and it was “everywhere”. It was a very low quality beer to put it mildly … LOL … it was just a ‘hair’ from being classified as ‘green’ beer. It was also known by many other ‘nic’ names, which I’ll not repeat here … in front of the ladies. LOL …
As to it having formaldehyde in it … no it didn’t. That is just one of the many, many, manyyyyyyyyy stories that were made up about it, because of it’s LOW quality. It varied greatly in flavor … from sweet to bitter to watery to sometimes having a taste like formaldehyde … among other strange tastes … lol.
The only reason anyone drank it, is because it was ALWAYS available, it was CHEAP, and you got a BIG bottle of it for a few cents USD$. Higher quality and name brand beers were very expensive and in very limited supply in Vietnam.
The original “33 Export” is no longer made. But, there is now a “333 Export” beer in Vietnam. Most accounts from those who have tried it, say it is about the same quality as the old Ba Muoi Ba. LOL … I guess if you order “333 Export” you say “Ba Ba Ba” … LOL … also, there is a “33 Export” beer made and sold outside of Vietnam … so, in Vietnam you get “333″ but outside of Vietnam you get “33″ … lol … these new ones are made by Hieneken (France). “333″ and “33″ are both the same beer. They are a pale lager now. They are not the same as the original “33 Export” made back in the 50′s, 60′s and 70′s in Vietnam. After trade was opened up again with Vietnam there was a big push by beer breweries to start making the popular Vietnam beers of the past and marketing them as International beers around the world. Hence, you now find “33 Export”, “Saigon” and “Tiger” beers sold around the world. But they are not the same as the original ones previously brewed in Vietnam.
The reason most of us Saigon Kids drank it is because it was easy to order in the bars and cheap. And, at 14 to 18 years old, we really didn’t know much about beer (other then how to drink it) … Plus, we didn’t know how to speak enough Vietnamese to ask for QUALITY brand beers … it was just easier to say “Ba Muoi Ba” … and the NON-English speaking bar girls knew what we meant and wanted … lol
But, if you drank enough of it, it would get you drunk! LOL … Trust me I speak from experience … LOL 
Anyone else have any knowledge about Ba Muoi Ba beer?
Bob
Interestingly enough, I still remember how to count in Vietnamese, if it doesn’t get beyond my fingers and toes…Ba is three, moi is ten and ba again, is three, hence ba moi ba or 33. damn I’m smart.
Wonder how many folks out there in blog land still remember words in Vietnamese.
Oh had Pho for dinner last night along with a “summer spring roll” (that’s what the German’s call it…..rice, shrimp, pork, green stuff and wrapped in an uncooked ricepaper. Oh and Noc mam (?) I know I spelled all wrong…Come on someone, correct me.
Kisses to all – ken
Ken … LOL
mot … ba muoi ba
hai … ba muoi ba
ba … ba muoi ba
bon … ba muoi ba
nam … ba muoi ba
sau … ba muoi ba
bay … ba muoi ba
tam … ba muoi ba
chin … ba muoi ba
muoi … ba muoi ba
When you get to “333″ … just say “ba ba ba … ba ba ba … ba ba ba …” LOL
33 = three 10′s + 3 = ba muoi ba
LOL
Bob
Can’t help you Bob. I know nothing about the Beers. I’m a soda guy myself.lol Ba Ba Ba…sounds like someone from Montana! lol
What was that really bad beer? …La Rue?
No formaldehyde huh? Then why were you and Larry always pickled …. and ….. sort of blury? lol Frank
LOL Frank … oh, I see… you chase the ba ba ba down with soda .. lol … actually, I was thinking ba ba ba was more of a New Zealand thing .. lol
The reallyyyyyy bad beer?! HMMMM???? … I never knew there was such a thing as BAD beer in Saigon … lol … La Rue … hmmmm … that sounds French … must’ve been something the French women drank then …
The reason Larry and I were always pickled is from sipping fine French wine with lovely French girls … who dazzled us with their charm causing us to get … as you put it … sort of blury …. ha ha ha
What’s behind the green door?
LOL
Bob
Frank I just Googled “La Rue Beer” … lol .. here is the ‘review’ that came up for it.
Bierre La Rue – Best beer in Vietnam
Bierre La Rue is for beer connoisseurs only, Singapore Tiger drinkers read no further. It is the best of the mass produced beers in Vietnam and has won prizes recently at international exhibitions. (How recent are Tiger’s medals)? There are also other excellent beers in the mini breweries of HCMC and Hanoi, most notably Bia Do, Hao Vien and Legends. Sorry, but Legends is not available in HCMC yet.
LOL … and you say you know nothing about beers … lol
Bob
A fun song is Barry Sadler’s “Bamiba”, taken from the “Ballads Of The Green Berets” album.
Well Kathy, did you get more than you bargained for? You must forgive Bob, even some forty years ago, he was leading me astray! Actually, hope you got something from it. Frank
Now Frank, how could I lead you astray? Everyone knows I was a ‘shining example of American youth representing the United States of America in a foreign country” … as I was constantly reminded by my parents and the State Dept. … LOL … ahhhh the joys of being a ‘DIP Kid’ … lol … when everything and anything you do is “a reflection on the United States of America” … in the eyes of the State Dept. anyway … lol … I was almost affraid to use the bathroom for fear I might embarass the United States of America in a foreign country … LOL … I won’t even go into the time Roy raided his dad’s liquor cabinet then ‘forced’ me to partake of the spoils with him … after which I had to walk into a State Dept Reception my parents were having at our house for some dignitaries … lol … boy, did I work that crowd fast with the meet and greets … as my proud parents introduced me around the room to all the foreign dignitaries as a fine upstanding example of American youth. LOL … little did they know the true state of my condition … LOL.
Of course if I’d gotten busted, I was going to blame it all on you Frank … for enticing Roy to raid the liquor cabinet in the first place … ha ha ha
Bob
Boy, do I have stories about you!! (Yea, blame Roy!) But I can not go into that now. Gotta go out and name my horse!! (maybe it is not a horse…I think at this point it is a mule…maybe I’ll call him Jack.
Actually, representing America stuff!! My worse time was when I got kicked out of the “Cerc” for three weeks. The letter informing my Dad of such… went through the French Embassy over to the American Embassy and down through USOM to his office. Gosh, I think that was the night that I stood-up a French girl for a date!! I do remember, that French-American relations were at an all time low.
Interesting how this Blog is bringing back memories!! Just recalled…
I snuck out of my house later that evening.. but did not get to the party until it was about over! I won’t mention who my date was…. but she would not talk to me. She was not happy!! A few weeks later, when I could legally leave my house…there was a teenage party at the top of the Metropole Hotel. She showed up with Pete C.. So much for me. Oh well! I got over it!
Yes, it is true about the French! They really get Pis__ed! A few years ago when I was in the Louve Museum and accidentally hit the “fire alarm” talk about pi__ed”..no sence of humor!! (I thought it was the button for the elavador!! Anyone could make the same mistake!)lol
Oh and by the way…My Father was raised as a strict Catholic. He did not know that someday it would be called “child abuse”. HA! Gosh, did he mean well!!
Frank said: “Gotta go out and name my horse!! (maybe it is not a horse…I think at this point it is a mule…maybe I’ll call him Jack.”
Frank, Walter named his ‘mule’ … Old Rivers … then wrote a song about his dead mule and made $$$millions$$$
LOL
Frank said: “I do remember, that French-American relations were at an all time low.”
Maybe yours were, but mine were not! My French-American relations were EXCELLENT! Oh la la … were they ever!! (right, Mimi? *wink*) … lol
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Geezz Frank … if you would’ve been looking at the ‘buttons’ instead of the foxy French gal walking by … you might have noticed the LARGE RED one was the FIRE ALARM … particularly since it had the international symbol for FIRE on it!! … ha ha ha …
Gee Frank all the French people I’ve ever known have been very kind, warm, loving, helpful, humorous, happy, compassionate people … but, then of course I never broke a lovely French girl’s heart by ‘standing her up’ for a date either; nor, did I run around Paris setting of fire alarms in the French museums!! Dang Frank, I didn’t even know it was possilbe to get ‘band’ from the Cercle Sportiff!!!
Does the “Ugly American” come to mind, Frank. LOL
Recommended reading for Frank: “How To Win French Friends and Influence French People” … ha ha ha
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ROFL
Yes, Frank I thought of you often up there in Washington in the Catholic ALL Boys Boarding School … while I was partying away down in Scottsdale, AZ. at a COED Private Boarding School … LOL … the Coors beer we smuggled in from Colorado was always a hit at the weekend parties in AZ … lol … I tried to get you address from my parents so I could invite you down to AZ for a visit (and a welcoming party .. lol), but my parents said you were a bad influence on me, and that it was best I didn’t associate with you … ha ha ha
Rock on … Mr. French Ambassador Frank!!!
Bob
Your parents were not the only ones! Ha!! And I’ll bet you did not try very hard! Yea, my Dad wanted me to get a good Catholic education and become successful! Fooled him!!
Yea! Ugly American! That is so funny!!! Gosh, did we start the war?///???
By the way Bob, for all your listerers (is that spelled right?) If they will send me their Name and Address, I’ll send them three CD’s that I made. For a lack of a better name..I call them ERA #1, #2, #3. (I keep updating them. Never satisfied!!!) I’m a history and old music nut!! I think you’ll find them interesting. Frank
yea, I’ll mail everyone who wants one…a set! You’ll not be sorry!!
BaMuoiBa@wildblue.net
I did a lot of beer drinking in Viet Nam. BA Moui BA being much of it, as well as “Beer La Rue”. Both being Vietnamese beers. Beer La Rue has an obvious French sounding name. (i’d only guess “street beer”) as beer means beer, and Rue means street in French. Many Gi’s called Bier La Rue “tiger piss” because of the tiger on the label. Maybe the tiger was a mascot, as Budwieser has the Clydesdale horses as theirs.
Beer La Rue was about a 20 ouncer, with the tiger (mentioned above) on the label. Ba moui ba was how one pronounces 33. 33 export obviously intended by the brewer to sell locally as well as exported. I know ba moui ba could be found in Cambodia in 1966. Therefore exported. The 33 bottle was actually 12 oz, clear glass, and “Beer La Rue” (with the tiger on the lable) in both clear and brown bottles.
Could it be that “33″ is related to 0.33, referring to the popular (in Europe) beer serving of 1/3 liter? That’s about 11.2 ounces (nearly 12 ounces).
33 Export (Ba Muoi Ba) beer history and name:
It was first brewered by Heineken France in 1893. It was given Label “33″ around the turn of the century (1900). It was first bottled as beer for French dominions (export beer) in special size 33 cl bottles. Hence the name – “33″ Export Blonde. Other bottles not for export were 65 cl, most of the time. As the first 33 cl bottle the name stuck in the dominions, then later in France. Production was moved to Viet-nam. Heineken joint ventured with other companies for brewing, bottling and distribution facilities in French dominions – such as Viet-nam. Alcohol Volume is 4.8%. The variance in taste in different localities is because of the water, source of hops, malt and other ingredients. During the early years “33″ Export made in Saigon was made with German hops and malt; and, German technology. The label was changed in 1975 to “333″. It was entered into the American market in 1994. About the same time equipment was upgraded to modern German manufacturing equipment to increase production, along with a change to Australian hops, and the addition of Australian malt to enchance the character and quality. 333 Premium Beer (as it is now called) is popular in Viet-nam and widely accepted in the USA, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and Australia.
Note: 1950s/60s (and prior years) “33″ Export (Ba Muoi Ba) and La Rue (tiger) beer bottles in good condition are selling in the ‘collector’ markets for about $80.00 USD and upward. These are the old brown glass bottles that had the label/printing painted directly on the bottles – before the ‘glued on’ paper labels.
So I guess Bob, we drank some pretty expensive beer in our day! lol
LOL – Frank … nah, I think we drank the ‘cheap’ beer in the – to become – expensive bottles. I told ya to save the dang bottles!! … ha ha ha … Geez, if we still had half the empties from the Ba Muoi Ba you drank – we’d both be multi-millionaires today!!! I suppose it just goes to show ya, if ya save your trash long enough it will eventually become very, very valuable – LOL –
This post got me to thinking, after a little searching I found a scrapbook with a set of “33″ Export beer lables. Now that isn’t something you see everyday.
Greg – depending on the year and condition of the labels, they may have considerable value in the collector market. Do some searching on Google (and other search engines), you may be pleasantly surprised.
Bob