2026.09.07 Chinese Lifestyle Retail Brand Oh!Some Scales Down Vietnam Operations

Chinese Lifestyle Retail Brand Oh!Some Scales Down Vietnam Operations

Chinese lifestyle retail chain Oh!Some is showing signs of contraction in Vietnam after a rapid expansion phase. Stores in multiple shopping malls across Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have posted “suspended operation” notices, with some outlets fully cleared of merchandise or shut down. The brand entered Vietnam in April 2025 and had opened around 13 stores by the end of that year. Its parent company, Blue Origin Group, has been struggling with cash flow difficulties and, effective July 13, 2026, has suspended operations and deferred salary payments until the end of January 2027. The pullback underscores the risks of aggressive physical retail expansion in Southeast Asia and serves as a cautionary note for cross-border brands evaluating offline entry strategies.

Thailand’s August Core CPI Rises 1.44% Year-on-Year

Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce reported that the core consumer price index (CPI) rose 1.44% year-on-year in August 2026, beating market expectations of 1.39% and accelerating from July’s 1.34% increase. This marks the highest core inflation reading since May 2023. Excluding volatile energy and fresh food prices, core inflation remained moderate, staying within the Bank of Thailand’s 1%–3% target range. Meanwhile, headline CPI climbed 2.53% year-on-year, also above forecasts and hitting a three-month high. For cross-border sellers, the gradual pickup in Thai inflation could signal shifting consumer purchasing power and input costs, making pricing strategies and demand forecasting increasingly important in the coming months.