First GS25 convenience store opens in HCMC

Convenience store GS25 Vietnam officially opened the doors of its first store in Ho Chi Minh City today.

Spread over 87sqm, the store is located on the ground floor of Empress Tower on Hai Ba Trung Street in District 3, close to the city’s CBD.

Three more stores will open this month, including on sites at Truong Dinh Street, inside M Plaza, and Viettel Tower.

Targeting Vietnamese customers in their 20s and 30s who are familiar with Hallyu, GS25 offers Korean food and products.

All the stores have cooking and eating stations and sell food including Korean-style fried chicken, dumplings, cup rice, and tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), as well as boxed lunches.

Local dishes such as banh mi and sticky rice, and freshly brewed coffee will also be served.

All dishes are made at a local factory overseen by GS25 standards.

GS25 CEO Cho Yoon Sung believes Vietnam’s high economic growth rate makes it a good starting point for the company’s overseas expansion.

The chain also plans to launch in other Asian markets, such as Cambodia and China.

GS25 Vietnam is a joint venture between Korea’s GS Retail and Vietnam’s Son Kim Group.