The Baby Three doll Town Bunny Ver. 2A is facing criticism in Vietnam as local consumers perceive as depicting a politically sensitive symbol.
Vietnamese consumers have called for a boycott of a Chinese-made doll due to alleged facial marks on the doll's face that apparently resemble China's territorial claims in the South China Sea.
This controversy has significantly impacted sales, with some sellers facing backlash from the public.
A Baby Three retailer in Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City, reported a sharp decline in sales and pricing, affecting the entire Baby Three market. Initially, a shipment of six boxes of Town Bunny Ver. 2 was imported for over VND 2 million (USD80), but prices have now dropped to around VND 1.2-1.3 million. Similarly, the Journey to the West edition, which previously cost over VND 2 million for eight boxes, is now priced at just over VND 1 million.
"Demand for Baby Three has dropped by over half. Previously, I could sell 50-60 boxes a day, but now I struggle to sell even 20. I have had to lower prices and accept minimal profit, yet customers remain hesitant," shared the seller, who requested anonymity.
Baby Three losing its popularity.
The seller attributed this decline to the controversy surrounding the Town Bunny Ver. 2 edition, which many Vietnamese consumers perceive as depicting a politically sensitive symbol.
"Whenever I livestream to sell this version, viewers attack me and urge me not to sell it in Vietnam," the seller added.
According to Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper, areas that previously had a strong presence of Baby Three retailers, such as Pham Van Dong Street in Thu Duc City and Phan Van Tri Street in Go Vap District, have now seen a significant reduction in sales points. Many vendors have even stopped selling the dolls due to dwindling demand.
Numerous posts on Baby Three community groups on Facebook offer to liquidate Town Bunny Ver. 2 dolls at discounted prices, ranging from VND 250,000 to 400,000 per unit.
On 10 March, in response to public concerns about the controversial imagery of Baby Three dolls, Ho Chi Minh City's Market Management Department confirmed that it was aware of the issue. Authorities have instructed market surveillance teams across localities to monitor, inspect, and trace the origins of production, import, and distribution channels.
Market regulators stated that if inspections confirm any violations related to territorial imagery, penalties will be imposed.
In response to the controversy, the Baby Three manufacturer in China issued a statement claiming that the design on the Town Bunny Ver. 2 face is merely a Gothic-style graffiti artwork with no geographical representation.
The manufacturer announced, "The company has decided to recall and destroy all products featuring this facial expression and will immediately cease production."
Customers who have purchased dolls with the design will be eligible for a free exchange for a new model. Further details on the process will be announced later.
Previously, Dang Tien Hoang, known as streamer ViruSs, declared that he would stop importing and selling Baby Three plush toys upon discovering the supposedly contentious design on the Town Bunny Ver. 2 edition.
Similarly, the eyewear chain Anna has also announced that it will cease its partnership with Baby Three's manufacturer.
