Many young people in Ho Chi Minh City queued outdoors overnight to buy the trending Labubu, a rabbit-like creature with monster’s teeth.

Labubu, an art toy designed by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung in 2015, draws inspiration from the sharp-toothed monsters of Norse mythology. 

Recently, it has been causing a stir online, leading to widespread sell-outs.

At a shopping mall in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, some Labubu toys became available again on Thursday at their original prices, prompting many to arrive early to purchase them.

According to observations by a Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper correspondent, nearly 500 people lined up at the venue from dawn on Friday.

At 5:00 am on Friday, Le Thi Ngoc Bich from District 7, took her daughter to the said shopping mall, which is just a few kilometers from their home, in hopes of purchasing the trending Labubu toy. 

Upon their arrival, Bich was overwhelmed by the long line of people already waiting.

She explained that her daughter, a fifth grader, was captivated by the monster-toothed rabbit toy that has been creating a buzz online. 

Determined to get one, Bich decided to spend the entire Friday making the purchase.

Labubu toys. Photo: POP MART

“On online platforms, I saw Labubu prices ranging from VND700,000 [US$28] to over VND1 million [$40], but here it’s only VND380,000 [$15],” said Phuong Anh, Bich’s daughter. 

However, Bich noted that the taxi fares for multiple trips to the shopping mall equaled the cost of buying Labubu elsewhere, but she was happy to make her daughter smile.

Bich and her daughter received a queuing number from security and waited until the store opened at 9:00 am on Friday. 

Each number allowed the purchase of only two random items.

Despite obtaining a number, Bich worried about missing out, as many had arrived as early as 2:00 am on Thursday without success.

In contrast, the first 20 people in the line were able to buy Labubu without concern. 

Nguyen Thi Tuyet Huong, 30, from Binh Tan District, felt fortunate to be among this group.

She and her nephew had set up a tarpaulin to sleep at the mall since 6:00 pm on Thursday. 

“We were just inside the top 20,” she said.

“Many people had been queuing since 3:00-4:00 pm the day before.”

Young people camp out for Labubu toys at a shopping mall in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, August 16, 2024. Photo: Nguyen Hoang Tuan / Tuoi Tre

According to Huong, the waiting time was exhausting. 

She had been well-prepared by bringing food, fans, and plastic tarps to camp out at the shopping mall. 

Whenever she needed to use the restroom, she asked someone to eye on her spot while she quickly visited nearby convenience stores. 

Unable to sleep due to the noise and discomfort, she walked around to stretch, chatted with fellow waiters, and played cards.

Huong explained that her younger sister is a huge fan of Labubu.

She herself found Labubu cute and wanted to join the trend. 

“Once you have one, you’ll want another,” she said.

Meanwhile, Le Thi Yen Nhi, 26, from Hoc Mon District, and three relatives took turns searching for food and using the restroom, hoping to buy five to six Labubu toys to justify the hassle of queuing overnight.

“With so many fakes and inflated prices, we came here hoping to buy a decent number of authentic toys,” she said. 

The family of Nguyen Thi Tuyet Huong, from Binh Tan District, camp out for Labubu toys at a shopping mall in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, August 16, 2024. Photo: Nguyen Hoang Tuan / Tuoi Tre

Nhi noted that despite the fatigue, the atmosphere outside the mall was lively, and her younger brother, a fourth grader, joined the hunt because of his love for Labubu.

Mai Duy Minh Khang, 29, from Da Lat City in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, and his wife arrived early but struggled to sleep due to the noise from passing trucks. 

“We just stayed outdoors, but it’s acceptable since buying it here is much cheaper than [buying] from resellers,” Khang said. 

“I already have eight Labubu toys at home and a few still in their boxes. 

“This time, we hope to find the second version of Labubu in pastel colors or the chrysanthemum version of Labubu. 

“I’m willing to endure the discomfort to satisfy my passion,” he said.

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