My name is Niall Mackay, and I am the founder of Seven Million Bikes Podcasts as well, and provide podcasting services. I am also the host of A Vietnam Podcast, where my guests and I share stories, and insights relating to Vietnam.
My guest this time is Gia Nguyen, a Hanoi-born assistant brewer, former drag queen, and queer party organizer.
Gia shared his personal journey—reflecting on childhood experiences, family support, and the scene of LGBT in Vietnam From facing bullying for being flamboyant to helping shape queer nightlife, Gia’s story offers a unique insight into Vietnam’s quiet but steady shift toward acceptance.
Craft Beer Scene in Vietnam
When I sat down with Gia Nguyen for this episode, I was excited to talk about his fascinating journey—one that spans brewing craft beer, performing as a drag queen, and organizing queer events in Hanoi. But before diving into his life in the drag scene, I wanted to start with something we both have a passion for: beer.
Gia is an assistant brewer at Overmorrow, a well-known craft brewery in Hanoi. When I asked him about his favorite beer, he didn’t hesitate. “It’s called Sunset,” he explained. “It’s a farmhouse ale brewed with mountainous spices.” I had tried Sunset before, and it was absolutely delicious.
Vietnam’s craft beer scene has come a long way since I first arrived in 2015. Coming from Wellington, New Zealand—where craft beer is a huge deal—I was surprised that there weren’t many options when I first came to Vietnam. Platinum Beer was around, but I hadn’t come across it at the time. Then Pasteur Street Brewing Company opened, and it felt like the scene exploded overnight.
For a while, it seemed like new craft breweries were popping up everywhere. The market has leveled out a bit now, but there are still exciting developments. Seven Bridges, for example, originally from Da Nang, has expanded to Saigon and Hanoi. I genuinely love their beer!
Gia mentioned he’d be visiting Saigon in April, so I made sure to tell him we’d catch up when he was in town.
Listen More: Vietnam Cocktail Bars: Underrated, Overrated or Properly Rated
From Boredom to the Stage: Gia Nguyen’s Drag Queen Journey
After talking beer, I was eager to hear about another side of Gia’s life—his time as a drag queen. And trust me, that story was just as fascinating.
When I asked him about it, he admitted he wasn’t performing anymore, but his journey into the world of drag had been anything but planned.
“It started very abruptly,” he told me. “I was really, really bored back in 2018.” Like many people around the world, he had found himself deep in a RuPaul’s Drag Race binge. But for Gia, it wasn’t just entertainment – it was inspiration.
At the time, Hanoi had a small but passionate drag scene. There were RuPaul’s Drag Race viewing parties every weekend, and one night, Gia decided to check one out.
That was all it took for Gia to feel inspired. After just two weeks of attending these shows, he thought, Maybe this is something I could do. Just within a couple of weeks, he was getting ready for his first performance.
He had a custom-made dress created by a friend, put on a wig, and gathered everything he needed for a full production—makeup, photos, and stage presence.
Fascination of Drag Queen Performances
I had to admit, I didn’t know much about the world of drag beyond the few shows I had seen. Drag performances were always high-energy, fun, and full of personality, but I wanted to understand what drew people to it. “What’s the attraction of dressing up as another gender?” I asked.
For many, drag is more than just dressing up—it’s a powerful form of self-expression. Some performers might already embrace elements of drag in their daily lives, but stepping onto the stage allows them to amplify that expression, embracing glamour, artistry, and theatricality. Gia saw drag as exactly that—an art form rather than just a costume.
His involvement in the scene didn’t stop at performing. He became the organizer of Peach, a party that initially focused on drag shows but quickly grew into a broader queer space. It became a place where people, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation, could explore self-expression through performance, fashion, and art.
As someone with a background in stand-up comedy, I could relate to the idea of stepping into a persona on stage. Drag queens and kings are often larger than life—flamboyant, bold, and full of energy. But offstage, they might be completely different people.
Though he eventually stepped away from performing, Gia remained deeply connected to the drag scene. Through Peach, he continued to foster a space for creativity, community, and authenticity. What had started as a spontaneous decision—born out of boredom one weekend—had transformed into something far more meaningful, both for him and for the growing queer scene in Hanoi.
Drag, Family, and the Journey to Acceptance
Coming out as a drag queen—or even just being part of the LGBTQ+ community—can be a complicated experience, especially when it comes to family. For Gia, the process of telling his parents about his drag performances wasn’t as dramatic as some might expect. His parents, both from an older generation, had already navigated the process of understanding his identity years before.
Coming-out Process
Gia explained that he never really had a formal coming-out moment. Instead, someone had outed him when he was around 15 or 16, which meant his parents had already had time to adjust to the reality of having a queer son. By the time he got into drag, it wasn’t a huge shock—it was just another part of who he was.
At first, his parents didn’t fully grasp what drag was. He had been performing for a few months before they started noticing—mainly because he was coming home in full makeup and costume in the early hours of the morning. It wasn’t something he could hide. Instead of reacting negatively, they were simply curious. Gia took the opportunity to show them videos from RuPaul’s Drag Race and explain that drag was a form of artistic expression, not something that changed who he was as a person.
Social Acceptance and Barriers
Despite their support, there were limits. His parents, being older, never attended any of his shows. It wasn’t that they disapproved—it was just hard to imagine bringing a 70-year-old father into a nightclub filled with flamboyant performances, loud music, and outrageous costumes. Gia laughed at the thought, knowing that while his dad supported him, he was unlikely to ever step foot into a drag club.
This conversation made me reflect on my own journey of understanding and acceptance. I shared a personal story about how I had grown up with homophobic attitudes, influenced by the culture around me. It wasn’t until I worked at a summer camp in the U.S. and met an openly bisexual friend that I had a moment of realization—sexuality wasn’t something that should define how I treated others. From that point on, my perspective shifted, and I made a conscious effort to educate myself and change.
Gia acknowledged that while some people, like my grandfather, could change over time, others weren’t as lucky. Many people in Vietnam still struggle with family acceptance, just as they do in other parts of the world. Some parents never come around to understanding their children’s identities, making it difficult for many in the LGBTQ+ community to be their true selves.
Being queer isn’t a choice or a “lifestyle.” It’s simply who someone is. Growing up, he had always been flamboyant—something that had made him a target for bullying. His parents couldn’t shield him from that, but they had seen it for what it was: a natural part of who he was.
Identity, Expression, and the Path to Acceptance
What struck me most was Gia’s perspective on identity. He talked about his partner, who, from an outsider’s point of view, might not seem stereotypically “gay” at all. He loved sports and beer—two things often associated with straight masculinity. But, of course, those interests had nothing to do with his sexuality. Gia made it clear that who someone is attracted to doesn’t dictate their personality or interests.
Drag, in many ways, follows the same logic. It allows people to embrace different aspects of themselves, often stepping outside their usual comfort zones. For Gia, it was never just about the clothes or the makeup—it was about self-expression and creating a space where others could do the same.
While Vietnam is often seen as a conservative country, Gia’s story showed me that attitudes are evolving. The younger generation is more open-minded, and even older generations—like his parents—are learning to understand and accept. It’s not always easy, and not everyone is lucky enough to have a supportive family, but progress is happening.
LGBTQ+ Acceptance in Vietnam: A Culture of Quiet Tolerance
Unlike in some countries where LGBTQ+ rights are a political battleground, Vietnam takes a quieter approach. Discrimination exists, but outright hostility is rare. I asked Gia why Vietnam seemed so accepting.
He pointed to Hầu Đồng, a Vietnamese folk tradition where spirit mediums—often men dressed as female deities—perform sacred rituals. This historical gender fluidity may explain why Vietnamese people, even if unfamiliar with modern LGBTQ+ identities, don’t openly reject them.
Gia also noted that people here tend to keep to themselves. Someone might notice a drag queen walking through Hanoi’s Old Quarter and think, Oh, that’s different, but they wouldn’t confront them. Job discrimination isn’t common either—no one asks, Are you gay? in an interview. While biases exist, they’re more personal than systemic.
The Difference between North and South
Gia also noted that there’s a noticeable difference between the North and South. In Saigon, the LGBTQ+ community is more visible, and people are generally more laid-back and open. Hanoi, being more traditional, is still accepting but in a quieter, more reserved way. Despite these regional differences, he believes the entire country is moving in a positive direction, with younger generations becoming more open-minded.
Still, misconceptions about Vietnam persist. Foreigners who haven’t been here often assume the country is deeply conservative, even repressive. Gia found this amusing. Many people still imagine Vietnam as a “third-world country,” stuck in the past. But as we talked about luxury cars, high-rise apartments, and the booming economy, it was clear that Vietnam is anything but stuck.
Conclusion – The Scene of LGBT in Vietnam
Vietnam’s approach to LGBTQ+ acceptance is unique—quiet, steady, and deeply rooted in cultural traditions rather than political activism. As younger generations push for more open discussions and representation, Vietnam is proving that change doesn’t always have to be loud to be significant.
If you’re interested in these stories, follow A Vietnam Podcast for more!