Hong Kong-based healthcare and beauty retailer Watsons will launch its first store in Viet Nam on January 17, according to the news website InsideRetail Asia.

The Watsons store will be located in the lower floors of the Bitexco financial tower in District 1, HCM City.

Teasing the launch, a huge backdrop with the slogan “Look good, Feel great” has been built outside the space, attracting many Vietnamese youngsters to take selfies and check in on social media, the source noted.

On its LinkedIn page, Watsons Viet Nam has been recruiting staff for the store and featuring the same artwork as on the Bitexco backdrop.

Watsons is operated by AS Watson, a subsidiary of retail and telecommunications giant CK Hutchison which is quarter-owned by Singapore sovereign investment fund Temasek Holdings.

Currently, AS Watson has some 6,800 Watsons health and beauty stores in 12 markets in Asia and Europe, including Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Macau, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia.

The broader AS Watson group also owns other retail brands such as Drogas, Superdrug and Watsons’ Wine, with more than 14,500 stores in 24 markets. — VNS