VietNamNet Bridge - The Vietnamese mobile phone market in the third quarter saw an unexpected breakthrough from Samsung, which now holds the largest market share among smartphone makers. 

The third quarter was never a lucky period for mobile phone manufacturers in particular and businesses in general. The sales in the period were always low because of the summer holiday, the seventh month of the lunar calendar, called the ‘month of forsaken spirits’, and because of the rainy season in HCM City. 

Retailers just ‘sat idle’ in the third quarter and hoped for a recovery in the last months of the year.

However, the third quarter brought luck to Samsung, which now holds the largest market share, and a new brand which has entered the Vietnamese market.

Of 10 smartphone models listed as bestsellers at The Gioi Di Dong, the largest distribution chain, seven models belong to Samsung. 

Of 10 smartphone models listed as bestsellers at The Gioi Di Dong, the largest distribution chain, seven models belong to Samsung.

Samsung accounts for 70 percent of total number of top smartphones in Vietnam.

In FPT Shop’s list of best sellers, Samsung had five models, while Oppo, the nearest rival, had three.

In May 2017, Samsung led the market with 47.6 percent of market share, followed by Oppo with 23.15 percent of market share, according to GfK.

Observers, after comparing the lists of best sellers in H1 and in the third quarter, realized that some positions that once belonged to Oppo and Apple are now occupied by Samsung.

In H1, Oppo had four and Apple had two models in The Gioi Di Dong’s top 10, but in the third quarter, both of them had only two models in the list.

The third quarter also was a lucky time for Vivo, a young brand. Of 10 best sellers at FPT Shop, Vivo’s Y55S was in the eighth position.

The Vietnamese mobile phone market witnessed a string of surprises.

After half a month in Vietnam, iPhone 8 64 GB price dropped from VND20 million to VND17.3 million, equal to the price of iPhone 7 Plus 128 GB. The price reduction had never occurred with Apple’s new models in the past.

Meanwhile, the owner of a mobile phone shop on Phan Dang Luu street in HCMC said he still sells iPhone 5S though the model has not even been updated on his website. 

“The supply is unstable, but I usually sell 5S arrivals as soon as I get them,” he said.

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