In Ho Chi Minh City, thousands of young people queued outdoors through the night to buy the latest trending Love Boo, a rabbit-like creature with monster teeth.
Luvbu, an art toy designed by Hong Kong artist Ka-shing Long in 2015, is inspired by the sharp-toothed monsters of Norse mythology.
Recently, it has become a hot topic online and is selling out one after another.
At a shopping mall in Ho Chi Minh City's District 7, some of the LuvBu toys were put on sale again at their original prices on Thursday, with many people turning up early to buy them.
According to observations by Tuoi Tre (Young) newspaper reporter, nearly 500 people had lined up at the venue since dawn on Friday.
At 5am on Friday, Le Thi Ngoc Bich from District 7 took her daughter to a shopping mall just a few kilometres from her home to buy the much-talked-about Luvbu toy.
Upon arriving, Bitch was overwhelmed by the long line of people already waiting.
She explained that her daughter, a fifth-grader, was obsessed with a toy rabbit with monster teeth that had become a hot topic online.
Bitch was determined to buy it, so she spent the entire Friday trying to buy it.
Lovebu toys. Photo: POP MART
“On online platforms, the price of a luvbu ranged from VND700,000 (US$28) to more than VND1 million (US$40), but here it is only VND380,000 (US$15),” said Bich's daughter, Phuong Anh.
But while Bich pointed out that taxi fares for multiple trips to the mall would cost just as much as buying LuvVu elsewhere, she was happy to be able to make her daughter smile.
Bich and her daughter received a queue number from a security guard and waited until the store opened at 9 a.m. on Friday.
Each number will only allow you to purchase two random items.
Despite getting the number, Mr Bich feared he would miss out after many people arrived as early as 2 a.m. on Thursday without success.
In contrast, the first 20 people in line were able to purchase Labubu without any worries.
Nguyen Thi Tuyet Huong, 30, from Binh Tan District, felt lucky to be part of the group.
She and her nephew had been sleeping on a tarp at the mall since 6pm on Thursday.
“We were just in the top 20,” she said.
“A lot of people were queuing up from 3 or 4 p.m. the previous day.”
Young people camp out for Love Boo toys at a shopping mall in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, August 16, 2024. Photo: Nguyen Hoang Tuan/Thuoi Tre
Huong said the wait was exhausting.
She was fully prepared for her camping trip at the shopping mall, bringing food, fans, plastic sheeting and other items.
Whenever she needed to use the restroom, she would ask someone to keep an eye on her while she hurried to a nearby convenience store.
Unable to sleep because of the noise and discomfort, she walked around, stretched, chatted with fellow waiters and played cards.
Phuong explained that his sister is a big fan of LuvBu.
She herself thinks LoveBu is cute and wanted to join the trend.
“Once you get it, you'll want another one,” she said.
Meanwhile, Le Thi Yen Nhi, 26, from Hoc Mon district, and three of her relatives took turns looking for food and using the toilet in an attempt to buy five or six Love Boo toys to justify the trouble of queuing all night.
“There are a lot of fakes and prices are inflated, so I came here hoping to buy a lot of real toys,” she said.
The family of Nguyen Thi Tuyet Huong from Binh Tan district camps out for Lubbu toys at a shopping mall in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, on August 16, 2024. Photo: Nguyen Hoang Tuan / Tuoi Tre
Ni said that despite his fatigue, the atmosphere outside the mall was lively and that his younger brother, a fourth-grader, also joined the hunt as he loves Luv Bu.
Mai Duy Minh Can (29), from Dalat City, Lam Dong Province in the Central Highlands, and his wife arrived early but had trouble sleeping because of the noise of passing trucks.
“We were outside, but it's tolerable because buying here is much cheaper than buying from scalpers,” Kang said.
“I already have eight Labubu toys at home, and some still in the boxes.
“This time, we hope to find a second pastel-colored Lovebu and a chrysanthemum version of Lovebu.
“I'm willing to endure discomfort to satisfy my passion,” he said.
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