Even though sex toys and unregistered aphrodisiacs are awesome illegal in HCMC, many sex shops stock these items and are seeing their profits soar. After all, it’s hard to run a business selling condoms and lube. To boost sales, owners have added everything from dragon-headed dildos to over-priced Viagra.
Sex shops are becomingly increasingly popular in the city, especially on Phan Dang Luu, Quang Trung and Cach Mang Thang Tam streets. Because customers may be a bit nervous, workers greet them bluntly by saying, "Hello, here we have condoms, lubricant gel, dildos and other sex toys. What do you want?"
Not awkward at all, right?
Most popular between 8pm – 11pm, customers range from teenagers to the elderly.
While some may a bit new to the world of sex shops and require a tutorial, others seem to have things pretty figured out:
“On receiving a man who is a construction contractor and a regular client of the shop, he asked bluntly if the shop has any special goods. Holding in hand a dildo with its tip in the shape of a dragon head with battery-charged vibration, he gave a nod for its price of VND1.2 million ($58) and took out a bank note of 100 US dollars.”
You gotta respect a man who knows what he wants.
The owner of a sex shop called HT told Tuoi Tre that there are three types of customers:
“… one coming for curiosity, one in need of products and consulting with information and the last one, ‘professional’ with hands-on experience.”
Many of the aphrodisiacs on offer are ineffective imports from China and Malaysia. Luckily for the shop owners, customers are not likely to complain about the low quality:
“A sex shop owner admitted that aphrodisiac has little effect as what it is advertised for but almost no user return for complaints thanks to shyness.”
While operating a shop can cost up to VND30 million per month, prices are set at 7 or 8 times the normal rate, allowing owners to rake in huge profits. One of these overpriced products is Viagra – 4 100mg pills that should be sold at VND35,000 are offered at VND220,000.
At that price, rhino horn may appear to be an affordable alternative.
[Tuoi Tre]
