With a collection of nearly 500 limited-edition plush toys worth hundreds of millions of Vietnamese dong, 30-year-old Bui Quynh Anh is not just preserving childhood memories but she is also hoping to share her special passion with the wider community.

Beyond their material value, each plush toy in the Hanoi native’s collection carries a unique backstory.

From classic teddy bears to iconic animated characters, every piece represents a fragment of her childhood, lovingly preserved over more than three years of dedicated collecting.

Rekindling childhood memories through plush toys

Speaking with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, Anh shared that her journey into collecting plush toys began over three years ago.

Her current collection has grown to over 500 pieces, ranging from vintage teddy bears to beloved characters like Lotso, Winnie the Pooh, Rilakkuma, and Stitch.

The collection is estimated to cost hundreds of millions of Vietnamese dong. (VND100 million = US$3,899)

Many of the items are rare limited editions from famous animated films such as Up, Mickey Mouse, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, and Dumbo.

Depending on rarity, size, age, and availability, the value of each piece can range from several hundred thousand to several million dong.

“To others, plush toys might just be decorations. But to me, they’re a joyful and meaningful world. They help me hold onto the essence of my childhood,” Anh explained.

“Each item that finds its way to me has its own story.”

To pursue this passion, she has had to save diligently and spend carefully.

In 2021, she began posting videos of her collection online, which quickly garnered millions of views.

The outpouring of support from online communities has been a driving force that keeps her collecting.

Collecting toys a passion going beyond borders

Collecting limited-edition plush toys is not as simple as shopping online or walking into a store. The biggest challenge is that many rare items are discontinued or only released in specific countries.

Finding them requires patience, effort -- and sometimes a bit of luck.

Anh recounted a particularly emotional experience in South Korea, where she stumbled upon a vintage toy store displaying an 80th-anniversary edition Pooh bear. 

Despite her generous offer, the shop owner initially refused to sell it. Undeterred, she returned every day, striking up conversations and sharing her collecting journey.

“Eventually, he didn’t sell it but gifted it to me, along with the heartfelt advice to treasure it,” she recalled.

“It was much more precious than the price.”

Another memorable story came from a chance encounter with an old forum post about the 2014 Winter Festival edition Rilakkuma bear, a rare release once sold only in Japan. 

Though the post was years old and the seller was inactive, Anh remained persistent. She tracked down the seller’s username on social media and discovered they now ran a small vintage shop in Da Nang, central Vietnam.

When she visited the store, she was amazed to find the rare Rilakkuma bear still on display. The owner, initially reluctant to sell it due to sentimental attachment, eventually agreed to let it go after hearing her story -- charging only the original purchase price.

To keep her large collection in pristine condition, Anh has dedicated an entire room, complete with a dehumidifier and controlled lighting, to properly store and care for her plush toys.

Sharing the passion with the community

In addition to plush toys, Anh hopes to expand her collection to include plastic figurines from Disney and Lego. She envisions building a showroom where fellow collectors can gather, admire the items, and share their passion for limited editions.

While she has received lucrative offers from international collectors, she is not yet ready to part with her cherished items.

However, she plans to organize a charity auction for a few of her 'favorite pieces,' with all proceeds going to support local community causes.

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