Apple’s latest smartphone had an eventful year in Vietnam, as the handset made many headlines just since its late September release.

Let us take a look back at how the iPhone 6 captured media attention in the country in 2014.

The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus officially became available at stores in several selected markets on September 19, and rolled out in Vietnam in mid-November.

#1 The US$3,000 iPhone     

Long before their official distribution in Vietnam, the much anticipated iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus were already a newsmaker as they were available at whopping prices in the Southeast Asian country as early as September 19.

These handsets were bought in Singapore or Hong Kong and taken back to the country as personal belongings by air, a common method of Vietnamese mobile phone traders whenever Apple releases a new iPhone. Such products are called hang xach tay in Vietnamese.

A Vietnamese man (L) holds an iPhone 6 Plus as he poses for a photograph at an Apple store in Singapore on September 19, 2014. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Traders were running ads on Facebook demanding VND33 million to VND42 million ($1,553-1,977) for a hang xach tay 16GB iPhone 6 Plus Gold, compared to the $750 contract-free price in the U.S.

The 16GB iPhone 6 cost VND25 million ($1,177) in Vietnam’s ‘black market,’ while the official price was $690 then.

The 64GB and 128GB versions of the iPhone 6 Plus were the most sought-after, despite their exorbitant prices of up to VND50 million ($2,353) for the 64GB, and even VND70 million ($3,295) for the 128GB, according to sellers.

Shockingly, the costly iPhones were selling like hot cakes as many wealthy consumers were not patient enough to wait for the officially distributed devices.

#2 The unlucky black-market seller

On September 28, the market watchdog in Hanoi confiscated 20 iPhone 6s, collectively worth VND500 million ($23,500), from Hoang Ba Thuc, a member of the ‘black market,’ where traders were selling the unofficially released devices at hefty prices.

Apple Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tim Cook speaks during an Apple event to announce the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus at the Flint Center in Cupertino, California, September 9, 2014. Photo: Reuters

Thuc told market surveillance officers that he had bought the iPhone 6s in Ho Chi Minh City and had the handsets delivered via express mail to sell in the capital city.

The iPhones were seized because Thuc “failed to present any papers and receipts that could prove their origin,” according to an officer.

#3 The iPhone-loving monk

Less than a week after the official release of the iPhone 6, a video clip went viral on Facebook showing a monk, in his Buddhist outfit, eagerly unpacking the box of a 64GB iPhone 6 at a mobile phone store in the northern province of Hai Duong.

The video clip was reportedly posted by Venerable Sir Thich Thanh Cuong on his own Facebook page on September 24 – the day he was filmed – before it spread at lightning speed.

The monk also showed off many photos displaying an opulent lifestyle on his Facebook page and was eventually penalized by the provincial Buddhist community for his inappropriate behavior.

Venerable Sir Cuong was asked to engage in self-criticism and write a report showing how he repented for his mistakes.

#4 The $$1.41 million iPhone swindler

Selling hang xach tay iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus is a lucrative business for some traders, and swindlers alike.

A man holds an iPhone 6 Plus at a store in Singapore on September 19, 2014. Photo: Tuoi Tre

In early November, members of advertisement websites 5giay.vn and nhattao.com were shocked after a trader, Nguyen Duy L., vanished into thin air upon pocketing money for each iPhone 6 booked by around 20 people.

L. asked for only VND15 million ($706)) for an iPhone 6, so he received many orders from the websites, according to the victims.

Those who fell prey to him said L. had swindled more than VND30 billion ($1.41 million) from them as each placed hundreds of orders for the handset.

#5 The cheated iPhone 6 buyer     

Also in early November, Vietnamese national Pham Van Thoai went to Singapore for a holiday with his girlfriend and decided to pay S$950 ($719.7) to buy an iPhone 6 as a birthday gift for his beloved one.

The purchase was equivalent to five months of Thoai’s salary as a factory worker.

While Thoai speaks no English, he was made by the retailer, Mobile Air Pte Ltd, to sign an invoice in the language, which duped him into contracting a S$1,500 one-year warranty for the device.

Thoai said he could not afford the extra charge so Mobile Air then 'generously' offered to refund S$600 ($454.55). But Thoai refused as he did not want to have two months of his salary stolen.

He then went down on his knees and begged the retailer to refund all of his money, only to be laughed at by the store attendants. He eventually left the shop S$550 poorer, and with no iPhone 6.

A Singaporean citizen, Gabriel Kang, later urged Singaporean people to donate money to help Thoai, and eventually raised more than S$13,000 ($10,000).

But Thoai told Chinese-language Singaporean newspaper Lianhe Zaobao on November 5 that he would only receive S$500, which is “the right amount I lost."

A screenshot of the page Gabriel Kang created to raise funds to buy a brand new iPhone 6 to send to Pham Van Thoai.

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