Thousands of iPhones in Vietnam are listed at starting prices below 50 USD per device. This is not a flash sale by Apple or a gray market loophole, but a public sale of confiscated goods organized by Vietnamese customs authorities
Vietnamese customs authorities have announced the public sale of confiscated mobile phones, with starting prices that catch global attention: some used iPhones are listed at under 50 USD per unit. The final prices, however, will only be known after the allocation process.
What is being sold is not new consumer stock, but confiscated goods that have become state owned property after administrative violations, mainly related to smuggling and improper import procedures.
There are two main lots.
The first lot includes 2,360 used smartphones from brands such as iPhone, OPPO, and HONOR. The total starting price is about 1.36 billion VND, equivalent to roughly 54,500 USD, or an average of around 23 USD per device.
The second lot consists of 2,540 used iPhones only, with a total starting price of about 2.03 billion VND, roughly 81,400 USD, averaging around 32 USD per iPhone.
All phones are sold in bulk by lot, not individually. The condition of each device may vary, and buyers assume all commercial and legal risks after purchase.
Registration for the purchase opens from 07/01/2026, and the draw to select buyers, if multiple applicants register, is scheduled for 15/01/2026. At this stage, it remains unclear how much higher the final purchase prices may go.
