If you’re the kind of person who travels for food and drink, then you owe it to yourself to try Corn Wine Sapa, or in Vietnamese, Rượu Ngô Sapa.
It’s bright green, tastes like something between overripe fruit and fermented soda, and packs a decent punch. It might not be Vietnam’s strongest rice wine, but it’s definitely one of the most memorable.
What is Corn Wine Sapa (Rượu Ngô Sapa)?
Despite the name, Rượu Ngô isn’t wine in the way you’d expect. It’s a strong distilled spirit made from corn, brewed in small batches in the surrounding villages of Sapa. The Hmong and Dao communities have been making this for generations – part tradition, part business, and part friendly challenge for whoever dares try it.
It’s usually homemade, stored in plastic bottles, and served at every family gathering, festival, or slightly awkward dinner with tourists. And much like other moonshine and paiawara (link) that I have tried in my travels it gets served to you in an old (used water) bottle. When it comes to legit moonshine you really cannot say better than that.
What Does Rượu Ngô Sapa Taste Like?
Honestly it looks really weird and it tastes even weirder, but honestly it was not all that bad and I have certainly had worse drinks in my travels.
It’s slightly sweet, a little sour, and definitely potent. The first sip might reminds you of overripe fruit or like some kind of cheap American type soda, but then the alcohol kicks in, and you realise you’re drinking something that is not quite meant for the kids.
The one that I had was bright green, almost nuclear slime color and this is the one you will mostly get as tourists in the city. When you go down into the boonies of Sapa that brews get a little more down and dirty.
The Vietnamese Moonshine scene.
Vietnam does homemade alcohol like nowhere else in Asia. Whether it’s rượu nếp (sticky rice wine), rượu cần (drunk from long bamboo straws), or that infamous bottle of rice hooch your that the drunk guy at the bar brought out, you’re never far from a cheeky glass, or three. Every region has its version – some sweet, some sour, some that taste like regret in a bottle.
Compared to the heavy hitters, Rượu Ngô Sapa – AKA the corn wine is actually pretty chill. It’s not as fiery as some central Vietnamese spirits that strip paint, and it’s way more drinkable than the more syrupy southern styles. What sets it apart is that green colour and the fact you’ll likely be drinking it in a wooden house in the clouds.
Homemade booze in Vietnam isn’t just about getting drunk – it’s about hospitality, sharing stories, and pretending you’re fine after that third shot. And on that front, Rượu Ngô Sapa delivers in style.
Click to read about Cambodian Moonshine.
Where to Try Corn Wine Sapa
- Sapa Night Market – The best place to try a sample or three. Vendors will usually give you a free shot, followed by a pitch to buy a bottle.
- Red Dao House Restaurant – Often has it on the menu, especially if you ask.
- Homestays and treks – If you’re staying overnight in a Hmong or Dao village, it’ll definitely be on the table and is often times way stronger that at the tourist places.
Final Thoughts
Corn Wine Sapa isn’t refined. It’s not aged in barrels or reviewed by sommeliers. But it is 100% local, slightly chaotic, and very much part of the Sapa experience.
Compared to other homebrews from around Vietnam, it’s actually on the milder end of the spectrum. Just remember: one shot is a cultural experience. Three shots is being friendly. A bottle? You are legend.
Click to read about my tours to Vietnam with Young Pioneer Tours