Sony Invades Vietnam with PlayStations

[Greg Tito]

Sony Invades Vietnam with PlayStations

Sony announced that it is now selling its PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 2 and 3 consoles in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

As of January 16th, 2010, citizens of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam will be able to purchase Sony videogame consoles in their country. Vietnam is now the eighth Asian nation in which Sony sells its videogame hardware. PlayStation Portable is 5,990,000 Vietnamese Dong or US $319.33. The PlayStation 2 will retail for 4,490,000 Vietnamese Dong (US $239.37), while the PlayStation 3 is being sold for 9,990,000 Dong ($532.57). Any way you cut it, that's a lot of Dong.

The PlayStation 3 model being sold in Vietnam is the "slim" model with a 120gb hard drive which was released last year. "While inheriting the sleek curved body design of the original model," Sony said. "The form factor of the new PS3 system features a new meticulous design with textured surface finish, giving an all new impression and a casual look."

Previously, if you wanted a PlayStation in Vietnam, you were forced to import it yourself. There is no mention as to why Sony did not sell its consoles in the country before, or why the sales are now allowed in the Socialist nation.



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[Lost In The Void]

Sony Invades Vietnam with Playstations

Any way you cut it, that's a lot of Dong.

And how. Sexual jokes aside, that's really expensive any way you cut it, I mean Vietnam isn't that rich to begin with

 

[Jared]

Well, I suppose they at least have choice now...

I wonder how many will actually be bought.

 

[TheNamlessGuy]

DELETED

 

[UsefulPlayer 1]

Yeah! I have family there!

But I have a Xbox 360....

 

[dmase]

I think it would be hilarious if sony brought all that tech to Vietnam then as soon as they get all the ps3's unloaded the country goes all sociolist and just take the ps3's off the shelves. Presumably to start a missle program to rival Koreas.

 

[MartyB]

Indeed that is a lot of Dong needed to buy it in Vietnam.

 

[fix-the-spade]

Hmm, perhaps Sony just didn't think Vietnam was a big enough market to invest in.

Or perhaps it's that until the end of 2008 all electric/automotive/heavy industry goods had to go through the Japan-Vietnam Trade Association and pay huge amounts of import/export duty, with that gone just over a year seems reasonable to do the localisation and find a distributor.

 

[Monshroud]

I am really surprised at the price points for the systems. To my knowledge Vietnam is not a rich nation, so I would assume that those prices are out of the reach of the majority of the population.

Granted I don't know the cost of other items there, those prices could be in line with other products.

 

[tmujir955]

Dong!?

Dong is their currency!? Seriously!?

Wow...just...wow.

 

[oshin]

I am really surprised at the price points for the systems. To my knowledge Vietnam is not a rich nation, so I would assume that those prices are out of the reach of the majority of the population.

Granted I don't know the cost of other items there, those prices could be in line with other products.

Its the same in many other poorer nations. The manufacturers might say its due to shipping costs and other factors. I believe its because if somebody in these countrys has $300 to spend then another $200 isnt going to matter. Rich / poor gulf and all that.

 

[Greg Tito]

I am really surprised at the price points for the systems. To my knowledge Vietnam is not a rich nation, so I would assume that those prices are out of the reach of the majority of the population.

Granted I don't know the cost of other items there, those prices could be in line with other products.

Its the same in many other poorer nations. The manufacturers might say its due to shipping costs and other factors. I believe its because if somebody in these countrys has $300 to spend then another $200 isnt going to matter. Rich / poor gulf and all that.

Governmental tariffs, most likely. For non-infrastructure electronics, the tariff is likely 50% of the value, plus a VAT tax of 10%[footnote]Based on values found in the December 2005 Tariff Schedule, Chapter 85[/footnote]

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

Shit...It seems like it'd be CHEAPER to import.

 

[Grayjack]

That's a lot of Dongs!

 

[Simalacrum]

I doubt the myriad of games with American campaigns only will go down well.

Especily ones set in Veitnam.

Whats this? Lots of rumours about the next Call of Duty being set in Vietnam? [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/91428-Rumor-Next-Call-of-Duty-In-Nam]

 

[brewbeard]

I am really surprised at the price points for the systems. To my knowledge Vietnam is not a rich nation, so I would assume that those prices are out of the reach of the majority of the population.

Granted I don't know the cost of other items there, those prices could be in line with other products.

Can you say 'Missile Guidance System?'