HO CHI MINH CITY: In Vietnam's fast-growing commercial capital Ho Chi Minh City, most people buy cheap condoms from no-frills roadside kiosks, at the drug store or in supermarkets.

But two brothers have opened an upmarket condom boutique here, saying customers want more choice and more sophisticated options - even in a country known for being conservative.

"Doing this business is good for the public and the society," says Nguyen Khanh Phong, 28.

"We went to the authorities and asked for permission and they allowed us," adds his 21-year-old brother Nguyen Hoang Long.

"Now things come easier," he adds, noting that the business - open for more than two months now - is thriving.

The shop, called Volcano, makes no attempt to hide what it's selling. Condom boxes are stuck to the glass doors of the tiny store, the walls are painted pink and shelves are stacked with condoms from across Asia.

"We spent a lot of money," Phong says. "It looks friendly."

The Fuji Shock brand from Japan is currently popular amongst Volcano's customers, even though it costs about five times as much as the 5,000-dong (29-cent) box of three locally made VIP condoms.

"When they take this out, it's like some chocolate candy," Phong says, showing off the shiny wrapper.

Another Japanese condom on display has a light that illuminates when the man ejaculates.

"Our customers really like the design of the Japanese condoms," Long adds.

Long and Phong say they want to offer their customers the widest variety of condoms available. They even stock the locally-made brands, although Phong says they lack "special features".

The brothers say their customers are willing to pay for quality and service. Frequent buyers receive a discount. For their more shy customers, they offer delivery service.

"To open this shop we spent more than 20 million dong," but first-week sales reached around 1.5 million dong and revenue now exceeds 10 million dong per week, Long says.

AFP

(China Daily 05/15/2009 page10)