Readers in Vietnam bought over 5,000 copies of British author J.K. Rowling’s seventh and final Harry Potter novel on its first day of release.

Bookstores in 14 Vietnamese cities began selling Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows at 7:30 am yesterday, in sync with global release.




According to Ho Chi Minh City’s Book Distribution Company (FAHASA) – Harry Potter’s sole distributor in Vietnam since 2005 – some 5,240 copies had been sold by 4pm yesterday.

British Consul-General to Vietnam Deborah Clarke and the UK-based Bloomsbury Publishing House representative Keith Hardy attended the release ceremony held in HCMC-based Nguyen Hue Bookstore, where they signed onto the very first sold copies.

Many Harry Potter fans, both Vietnamese and foreigners had queued in front of the Nguyen Hue bookstore since 4am to snap up early copies for VND575,000 (US$35.7) each.

Since 1997’s release of Rowling’s first novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the Harry Potter books have garnered immense commercial success worldwide, spawning films, video games and assorted merchandise.

The first six Harry Potters have sold more than 325 million copies and have been translated into more than 63 languages.

With the seventh and last book in the series, publishers announced a record-breaking 12 million copies printed for the first U.S. run alone.

The success of the novels has made author Rowling the highest-paid novelist ever.