Over ten thousand copies are now safe in Fahasa’s warehouse

Yesterday, July 18, the copies were transported from Tan Son Nhat International Airport in 4 trucks to the warehouse of the sole distributor in Vietnam, HCM City Book Distributing Company (Fahasa). On the same day, 3,000 copies were sent to central provinces and Hanoi.

According to Fahasa, the number of available copies is 10,016. In 2005, 3,000 copies of Harry Potter 6 were quickly sold out. So this time, Fahasa decided to import 3 times as many. “We believe Vietnamese readers’ love for Harry Potter is still very great,” said Fahasa’s President Pham Minh Thuan.

Since June 5, Fahasa said it had received thousands of orders from readers. Along with these 10 thousand copies, there are also other bonus items like Harry Potter T-shirts, hats, posters, bookcases and book baskets. For one copy, customers will receive a free hat, and for two, a free T-shirt. The 7th volume will be sold at VND575,000 (US$35.7) each.

However, Fahasa is keeping secret other information about content, illustrations and even book casks. Harry Potter and the Deadly Hallows will be released around the world at 00:01 BST on July 21, or at 7.30 am on the same day in Vietnam at 30 Fahasa bookstores throughout HCM City and 14 other provinces.

Harry Potter’s worldwide distributor, Bloomsbury Publishing House, will send a representative to observe the release at Bookstore 40 Nguyen Hue in HCM City. The British General Consul will also attend the event.

This whole high-profile publishing deal cost Fahasa around VND5.8billion plus another 500 million for air transportation, which is a record in the country’s publishing business. Youth Publishing House plans to purchase Harry Potter 7’s copyright, translate and publish the Vietnamese version in mid-October.

(Source: VNN, TT, TP, NLD)