Event organiser, Nguyen Thi Hong Hanh, from Venus Communications, said photographs of the statues would be used as advertising for the stores prior to the opening of the first stores in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city on August 28, which will be followed by seven others nationwide.

As new enterprises open up, more are using established advertising practices to get their brand name in the public eye. The “statues” cause much interest from passersby and locals as they stand still, painted either in gold or silver and all look good in their normal posture.

Any traveller who has spent time in Barcelona walking down La Rambla will recognise the effectiveness of these “statues” in drawing the attention of every passerby.

To gain recognition for their products, which will mainly be electrical, IN stores should retain this public interest until their stores open. If that is the case we may see more ”statues” in Vietnam.

IN will be at 45 Thai Ha St and 205 Kham Thien St in Dong Da District Hanoi and 458 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai St and 147 Bis Hai Ba Trung St in HCM. Website is www.instore.vn