Vietnamese-American Brand “Mot-Hai-Ba-YO!” Launches First Modern Flavored Vietnamese Rice Spirit

San Francisco, CA — May 1, 2026

Vietnamese-American alcohol brand Mot-Hai-Ba-YO! (MHBYO) officially launched its first full lineup of flavored Vietnamese rice spirits in the Bay Area, California, introducing a modern take on a culturally familiar spirit rarely represented in mainstream alcohol. The launch featured all five flavors: lychee, mango, pineapple, banana, and durian.

“Mot-Hai-Ba-YO!” — which translates to “1-2-3-bring it in!” in Vietnamese — was created as both a product and cultural experience. Founder and CEO Ky Truong, explains: “The first thing you learn at a Vietnamese get together is how to say “cheers” in Vietnamese. It’s something almost every Vietnamese person understands, so we wanted to build a product that feels familiar to our community while also inviting new people into the culture.”

The brand spent months refining flavors inspired by fruits commonly enjoyed throughout Vietnam. “We went through double-digit rounds of tasting,” says Co-Founder and COO Matthew Lee. “Our only rule was simple: if it wasn’t a 9 out of 10 or better, we weren’t making it.”  On his favorite flavor, “Durian for sure!  It’s actually quite amazing how we are able to create the full experience.”  When asked which flavor everyone should try, Lee replied “Banana!  We never expected to make a banana flavor but it was so good and nostalgic that we couldn’t say ‘no’.”

Unlike many flavored neutral spirits on the market, Mot-Hai-Ba-YO! is made from 100% distilled rice, contributing to a smoother drinking experience. “Some people love the alcohol burn,” says Lee. “But for this product, the goal was to create something easier to drink, more approachable, and still true to the category.”

Before the product was even manufactured, the company pre-sold 200 cases in just 14 days through its direct community. “At first, we had no idea if our audience would even support an alcohol brand,” says Truong. “But Vietnamese people love celebrating together in a communal fashion through food and drinks. The response showed us this was bigger than just launching another drink.”

Built with the Vietnamese diaspora in mind, the brand reflects a new generation of Vietnamese entrepreneurs creating products rooted in identity, nostalgia, and modern lifestyle. “Fifty years after our parents rebuilt their lives outside of Vietnam, our generation is now building brands, communities, and products we can actually call our own,” says Truong.

The launch party at Pho Nation brought together creators, restaurant owners, distributors, and friend of the brand @phodaculture for an evening of cocktails, karaoke, games, branded activations, and product tastings. Guests sampled all five flavors while creators documented the event across social media.

“Seeing a Vietnamese-owned brand take up space with cultural significance through bold flavors like durian felt like a celebration of how far we’ve come. It’s a brand that honors the history and flavors of the community while modernizing forward-facing representation that I hope scales across the country into new retail opportunities.” - Kimle M. (@kimle.wav)

“MHBYO embodies the spirit of Vietnamese culture! The team and community behind it were incredibly humble and welcoming! - Steve N (@stevewin__)

Mot-Hai-Ba-YO! is currently available in California, Washington, Texas, Massachusetts, and Hawaii with expansion plans underway for New York, Florida, Nevada, and Minnesota.

For media inquiries, partnerships, or distribution opportunities, contact: info@mhbyoinc.com

Learn more at www.mhbybrand.com and follow @mothaibayobrand

About Mot-Hai-Ba-YO!

Một, Hai, Ba, YO! was created to proudly represent Vietnamese culture through a product built for celebration, connection, and shared experiences. Our flavored Vietnamese Rice Spirit is crafted from premium distilled rice alcohol and infused with fruit flavors commonly loved throughout Vietnam. As the world’s first flavored Vietnamese distilled rice spirit brand, our mission is to introduce a new generation to a familiar cultural experience—while inviting everyone else to discover how Vietnamese people celebrate: loud, proud, and together. Một, Hai, Ba, YO!