Organized by the Vietnam Partnership Auction (VPA), the event featured 80,000 plates divided into eight sessions. Among them were 50,000 motorcycle plates and 30,000 car plates. The standout moment came in the afternoon car auction, when the five-digit plate of repeating 9s, registered in Bac Ninh, fetched an unprecedented 21.8 billion VND (approx. $860,000).

The “quintuple 9” sequence is considered a symbol of luck, prosperity, eternity, and career success in Vietnamese culture. Experts rank it among the rarest and most valuable plate patterns.

This record follows other high-profile auctions of “quintuple number” plates. On May 22, the plate 88A-888.88, registered in Phu Tho (formerly Vinh Phuc), drew bids exceeding $830,000 before the winner forfeited the deposit. When re-auctioned on August 8, it sold for 14.88 billion VND ($588,000).

In April, the Hanoi plate 30K-888.88 fetched 20.08 billion VND ($794,000), placing it among the most expensive on record. Similarly, Ho Chi Minh City’s 51K-888.88 caused a stir in September 2024 when it initially sold for 32.34 billion VND ($1.28 million). The winning bidder later withdrew, and it was re-auctioned in October for 15.26 billion VND ($604,000).

Another standout was the Ho Chi Minh City plate 51K-999.99, which climbed to 21.5 billion VND ($850,000) in April this year, nearly $40,000 more than its January auction price of 20.56 billion VND ($812,000).

Other high-priced plates include the Hanoi “quintuple 5” 30K-555.55, which sold for 14.5 billion VND ($575,000), and the so-called “dragon sequence” plate 30K-567.89, which fetched 16.57 billion VND ($655,000).

In Vietnam, repeating number plates are seen as powerful symbols of luck and wealth, making them prized assets for collectors and business tycoons alike. The rising demand has transformed license plate auctions into a nationwide phenomenon, blending cultural beliefs with financial ambition.

Y Nhuy