If you’ve spent even a few days in Vietnam, you’ve probably come across Revive, the ubiquitous blue-capped bottle that’s almost as common as a can of Coca-Cola. You’ll find it in every convenience store, supermarket, roadside stall, and even being sold by aunties with makeshift coolers along the city’s bustling streets.
It’s advertised as a rehydration solution, a sports drink designed to revive you after a hot day under the sweltering Vietnamese sun. But what’s the real story behind this sugary sensation?
History of Revive Drink
Revive is manufactured by Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam Beverage, a joint venture between PepsiCo Inc. and Suntory Holdings Limited, launched in 2013. Though PepsiCo itself has been in Vietnam for decades, Revive marked a strategic attempt to carve out a niche in the rapidly growing sports drink market. The drink is marketed as an electrolyte beverage, with claims that it replenishes lost minerals and provides an energy boost.
What’s interesting is that Revive is part of the Aquarius line of drinks, originally developed by Coca-Cola in Japan as early as 1983. PepsiCo, always keen on competition, rolled out Revive to capitalize on the increasing demand for isotonic drinks throughout Southeast Asia. It hit the Vietnamese market like a storm, particularly during the scorching summer months hen people get dehydration.
Why Do Vietnamese People Love Revive So Much?
It’s simple. Vietnam is hot—brutally so. Whether you’re battling the chaos of Ho Chi Minh City traffic or exploring Hanoi’s Old Quarter, the combination of heat and humidity will have you dripping sweat within minutes. Revive markets itself as the solution to this—offering not just hydration but revitalization.
It doesn’t hurt that the advertising for Revive is relentless. Billboards, TV ads, sponsorships at sporting events, and even product placement in popular Vietnamese dramas all work to reinforce the idea that Revive is the drink you need to replenish your body. Add to that the fact that it’s affordable, usually priced around 10,000 to 15,000 VND (about 50 to 70 cents), and you’ve got a hit. Therefore the fact that it is just sugary pop simply just gets ignored by the masses!
Is Revive Actually Healthy?
Here’s where things get a bit murky. Revive is marketed as an electrolyte drink designed to rehydrate you after physical exertion. And sure, it does contain minerals like sodium and potassium. But it’s also loaded with sugar—around 12 grams per 500 ml bottle.
Is it better than a can of Coke? Probably. Is it a miracle health drink? Not exactly. Revive is essentially a glorified soft drink masquerading as a health product – you know like Lucozade. Sure, it’ll quench your thirst and maybe help replace some lost electrolytes, but dude it is not water, nor will it make you thin, or help you with diabetes.
Where To Buy Revive In Vietnam
The good news is you won’t have to look far to find a bottle of Revive. It’s stocked pretty much everywhere. Every Circle K, Vinmart, and Mom-and-Pop shop will have bottles chilling in the fridge. It’s also frequently sold by street vendors with ice boxes, especially around bus stations, parks, and tourist hotspots.
The drink comes in a few flavors, though the lemon variant is by far the most popular. Other versions include berry and tropical fruit, but if you’re after the classic Vietnamese experience, you’ll probably be sipping on the lemon which has a salty twang to it.
Final Thoughts on Revive
Revive is not just one of my favorite soft-drinks in Vietnam, but pretty much the world with me personally making a beeline for it whenever I am in the country. Now this obviously begs the question how does Revive go with booze?
Revive and booze go together like a kebab with burger sauce – yep that good, with me first trying it with vodka on the train to Hanoi. I have since had with all minor of things, such as Soju and it works every time. Revive is though just a regular soft-drink. Now there is nothing wrong with that, but don’t have it and pretend you are being healthy either…..