If you are looking for licensed Chiikawa or Sanrio merchandise in Vietnam, MINISO (Mingchuang Youpin) is the place to go. The official store locator showed 61 locations across 18 provinces and cities nationwide as of September 2026. Stores can be found along tourist routes such as Hang Ngang Street in Hanoi's Old Quarter and Nguyen Hue Street in Ho Chi Minh City.
From 2026 onward, two stores under the new "MINISO FRIENDS" format — which dedicates more than 70% of floor space to character merchandise — have opened in Ho Chi Minh City. Items not released in Japan and Southeast Asia-exclusive products are carried at these locations. This article outlines what you can buy and which stores to visit.
What You Can Buy at MINISO in Vietnam
As with MINISO in Japan, everyday household goods and cosmetics fill most of the shelves. In Vietnam, the main draw is the character collaboration merchandise.
| Character | Main goods | What to Look For |
|---|---|---|
| Chiikawa | Plush toys, pouches, keychains | Includes designs not seen in Japan |
| Sanrio | Hello Kitty, Kuromi, Cinnamoroll | Southeast Asia-exclusive collections available at times |
| Disney | Plush toys, household goods | Selection varies by store |
| Star Wars | Figures, miscellaneous goods | Carried at FRIENDS-format stores |
| YOYO (in-house IP) | Blind boxes, figures | Main focus of FRIENDS-format stores |
The range of products varies greatly depending on store size. The number of characters stocked differs between large mall stores and smaller roadside locations. If you are after a specific item, choose a large store or a FRIENDS-format location.
Are Chiikawa Products at MINISO Official Licensed Merchandise?
MINISO's official newsroom (dated November 7, 2025) states that the company partners with more than 150 licensors and launches over 10,000 new products per year. Partners named include Harry Potter, Sanrio, Barbie, Disney, Chiikawa, and One Piece. The company received the Radar Award at The Licensing Awards 2025.
In other words, Chiikawa products on MINISO shelves are based on agreements with the rights holders. Similar character merchandise can be found at Vietnamese markets and street-side variety shops, but those are not necessarily licensed goods. Whether the packaging carries a rights notice is one way to tell the difference.
Stores Convenient for Tourists
Counting the official store list by province and city gives the following breakdown (confirmed September 2026).
| Province / City | Number of locations |
|---|---|
| Ho Chi Minh City | 24 |
| Hanoi | 11 |
| Khanh Hoa Province (Nha Trang) | 5 |
| Da Nang / Can Tho | 3 each |
| Hai Phong / Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province | 2 each |
| Other 11 provinces and cities | 1 each |
Ho Chi Minh City (24 stores)
The most convenient store for visitors is Miniso 103 Nguyễn Huệ, facing the Nguyen Hue pedestrian street. It is easy to stop by between sightseeing in District 1. Other options include Vincom at Landmark 81, Estella in Thao Dien, and Crescent Mall in District 7, so you can choose based on where you are staying.
The full list of stores is as follows: 247 Nguyễn Chí Thanh / Vạn Hạnh Mall / Centre Mall Củ Chi / Phan Chu Trinh / Giga Mall / 103 Nguyễn Huệ / Crescent Mall / 27 Trần Hưng Đạo / 252 Lê Văn Sỹ / Aeon Mall Tân Phú / 510 Nguyễn Thị Thập / Estella / Vincom Lê Văn Việt / Aeon Mall Bình Tân / Vincom Phan Văn Trị / Hùng Vương Plaza / 22 Nguyễn Gia Trí D2 / Vincom Landmark81 / SC Vivocity / Emart Phan Huy Ích / Vincom Grand Park / Parc Mall / Satra Võ Văn Kiệt / LOTTE Mart Nam Q7.
Hanoi (11 stores)
If you are walking through the Old Quarter, Miniso 28 Hàng Ngang is nearby, and Miniso Hồ Hoàn Kiếm is close to the lakeside. Both are in the heart of the tourist area.
The full list of stores is as follows: Vincom Bắc Từ Liêm (234 Phạm Văn Đồng) / Times City / Aeon Mall Hà Đông / The Loop IPH / Vincom Phạm Ngọc Thạch / 28 Hàng Ngang / 59 Huỳnh Thúc Kháng / Vincom Royal City / 186 Lê Thanh Nghị / Hồ Hoàn Kiếm / Aeon Mall Long Biên.
Da Nang, Nha Trang, and Can Tho
Da Nang has 3 stores: Miniso 01 Nguyễn Văn Linh, Miniso Lotte Mart Đà Nẵng, and Vincom Đà Nẵng. Nha Trang has 5 stores spread across Nha Trang Center, GO! Nha Trang, Vincom Trần Phú, Gold Cost Nha Trang, and Vinpearl Hòn Tre. Can Tho has 3 stores: Sense City, Big C, and Lotte Mart.
There are also stores in Hue, Da Lat, Quy Nhon, Buon Ma Thuot, Phan Thiet, Hai Phong, Vung Tau, and other cities. In regional cities there is often only one store, and the product range does not match that of large stores in major cities.
IP-Focused Format "MINISO FRIENDS" Has 2 Locations in Ho Chi Minh City
The difference from regular stores is that more than 70% of the floor space is devoted to character merchandise. The space is divided into zones for blind boxes, collectible figures, and plush toys, with large character displays at the entrance.
| Shop | Opening | Location |
|---|---|---|
| MINISO FRIENDS Vạn Hạnh Mall | April 25, 2026 | Vạn Hạnh Mall, 3rd floor (11 Sư Vạn Hạnh, Phường Hòa Hưng) |
| MINISO FRIENDS AEON MALL Tân Phú Celadon | August 29, 2026 | Aeon Mall Tân Phú Celadon, 2nd floor (30 Tân Thắng, Phường Tân Sơn Nhì) |
The first store at Vạn Hạnh Mall is in the area formerly known as District 10, about 20 minutes by taxi from the center of District 1. The second store at Aeon Mall Tân Phú Celadon is located closer to Tan Son Nhat Airport, making it possible to stop by before a departing flight.
At the opening of the Vạn Hạnh Mall store, collections featuring the in-house IP YOYO "Fly with the Wind" series, Sanrio, Chiikawa, and Star Wars were introduced. Singer Quân A.P appeared at the opening event. The opening of the second store was announced by both Miniso Vietnam's official channels and the official channels of Aeon Mall Tân Phú Celadon.
Note: Address Formats Have Changed
Vietnam's address format changed in 2025, and in Ho Chi Minh City addresses are now written using ward (Phường) names rather than district numbers. The official Vạn Hạnh Mall website also lists the address in the new format: "11 Sư Vạn Hạnh, Phường Hòa Hưng, TP.HCM."
Travel guides and blogs may still use the old format (e.g., Phường 12, Quận 10), which can cause a mismatch between the address you enter into a taxi app and the one in your notes. Searching for the store name on Google Maps is more reliable.
What to know before visiting
Payment is accepted in cash (VND), credit card, and QR code. Mall store hours generally follow the mall schedule, with 9:30 to around 22:00 as a rough guide. Hours for street-level stores vary by location.
Blind boxes are sold without letting you choose the contents. If you want a specific character, check the shelves selling individual items first. Southeast Asia-exclusive Sanrio products are hard to find in Japan, so there is value in buying them locally.
Note that plush toys are light but bulky. If you plan to buy several, it is safer to allow for space in your suitcase or plan for extra carry-on luggage.
How MINISO Established Itself in Vietnam
MINISO opened its first stores in Vietnam in 2016, launching three locations in Hanoi simultaneously. Since then, it has expanded to major commercial areas including the Landmark 81 vicinity, Vincom Times City, the area around Hoan Kiem Lake, and Nha Trang Center.
In Ho Chi Minh City, Pop Mart's IP-focused stores and KKV's flagship stores have also opened one after another since 2025, and the city is becoming a hub for character merchandise retail. MINISO itself opened FRIENDS and LAND format stores in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia from 2026 onward, indicating a continued expansion strategy across Asia.
Sources
MINISO VIETNAM official website store list (confirmed September 2026) / MINISO official newsroom, "MINISO Wins Radar Award at The Licensing Awards 2025" (November 7, 2025) / MINISO official newsroom, "MINISO Brings Immersive IP-based MINISO LAND and MINISO FRIENDS Formats to More Asian Markets" / Vạn Hạnh Mall official website (address listing) / Miniso Vietnam official social media and AEON MALL Tân Phú Celadon official social media (second store opening announcement)
