Founded in 2010 by Chinese entrepreneur Wang Ning, POP MART began as a lifestyle store offering quirky pop culture merchandise. Over time, one product line rose to prominence: art toys. Inspired by Japan’s gacha machines, POP MART embraced the blind box model, where customers never know which character they will receive until they open the box. The thrill of surprise became its signature.
As a frequent traveller and passionate collector, I have discovered that the best travel keepsake is not a fridge magnet or postcard, but a POP MART blind box. Recently, I visited POP MART stores in Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. Each location brought a different experience worth sharing.
TAIWAN
Taipei’s Ximending district is home to one of the most iconic POP MART flagships. The store spans four full levels, with a grand exterior resembling a theatre. Inside, you will find a rotating exhibition space, a VIP lounge, and exclusive merchandise featuring Pop Bean and other character lines.
Image Credits: Anna Crisostomo
During our visit just four days ago, the lines were long and products sold out quickly. Still, my sister managed to get a Twinkle Twinkle box, and I picked up a Hacipupu. Beyond the Ximending flagship, POP MART outlets and Roboshops are widely available in cities such as Kaohsiung, Chiayi, Taoyuan, and Tainan.
THAILAND
In Thailand, the POP MART craze is equally strong. The flagship store at CentralWorld in Bangkok offers limited edition collectibles exclusive to the Thai market. Additional branches can be found in major malls like Terminal21 Asoke, Siam Center, Central Ladprao, Central Westgate, and Fashion Island.
Image Credits: facebook.com/popmartth
We explored the CentralWorld branch hoping to shop, but the checkout line was too long, and our schedule was tight. We left without a purchase, a reminder that timing is everything for POP MART collectors in Bangkok.
VIETNAM
Apart from Taiwan, our family’s most recent travel included a stop at Ba Na Hills in Da Nang, Vietnam. To my surprise, the POP MART store there is set inside a castle. It was a unique setting for a collectible hunt!
Image Credits: danangfantasticity.com
Vietnam currently has two official POP MART locations. One is inside Crescent Mall in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City. The other, which we visited, is located inside Ba Na Hills, high in the mountains. With no queues and well-stocked shelves, we were able to buy four blind boxes in under 10 minutes.
VERDICT: MOST REWARDING POP MART EXPERIENCE
Of all the stores I visited, the Ba Na Hills location in Da Nang stood out the most. The stunning views, peaceful atmosphere, and relaxed shopping experience made it the most enjoyable. Since it requires extra effort to reach and an admission ticket to enter, it seems to keep the crowd size down and the product selection wide.
If you are planning a trip and love collectible art toys, a POP MART visit might just be the most memorable part of your journey. Whether you find yourself in Taipei, Bangkok, or Da Nang, the right blind box could be waiting for you!
