Shops in HCMC are finding ways to make the most of Pokemon Go to attract customers days after the augmented reality game, which has become wildly popular in many countries, was launched in Vietnam late last week.

Developed by Japanese video game company Nintendo for smartphones, Pokemon Go was initially released in select countries in July 2016. In the game, players use their mobile devices to capture, grow, and train Pokemon characters that appear on the screens in real-world places.

A number of Pokestops have come into existence to provide items of the Pokemon Go for players. Restaurants, coffee shops and fast-food outlets are expected to join to attract more customers.

In the U.S. and some other countries, incomes of bookstores, cafes and restaurants have risen since they were listed as Pokestops by Nintendo. Shops also spent money on the items that attract Pokemon characters in the game (Lure Module) to entice customers or encouraged customers to share photos of caught Pokemons on their fanbooks.

Fewer shops in Vietnam have been labeled as Pokestops by Nintendo. In HCMC, Pokestops are located mainly in parks and hotels in the downtown area such as Duxton, Times Square and Riverside.

Owners of some stores in the downtown area said they are still figuring out how much it would cost to be added to the list of Pokestops. Meanwhile, some retail and online stores have already started using the images of Pokemon characters in their promotional programs and mini-games.

Luu Binh, head of the marketing department at an e-commerce company, said the game would

be a good opportunity for local firms to do the branding, and promote their products and services by creating related programs and events.

Binh said his company intends to launch a mini-game inspired by Pokemon Go to woo more customers and that customers could be rewarded when they visit the company’s shops.

SGT