Trump-Kim T-shirts hottest items ahead of Hanoi summit as shops cash in

HANOI — Madam Nguyen Thu Minh Thao, 80, does not recognise the face of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un that, along with United States president Donald Trump, adorn the T-shirts that are flying off the shelves at her son’s roadside stall in Hanoi’s Old Quarter.

She is just grateful that her son, Mr Truong Thanh Duc, and many other merchants in Hanoi’s bustling shopping area have been seen their businesses get a much-needed boost, ahead of the visit by the two leaders on Feb 27 and 28 for a summit.

From keychains to Trump-Kim haircuts and a bar brewing “Kim Jong Ale”, summit-themed merchandise and promotions have sprung up in recent days to welcome the delegations and cash in on this meeting.

One of the first here to start selling Trump-Kim T-shirts, Mr Duc, 56, used to earn about 2 million Vietnamese dong (S$116) a day, but he is now pocketing 10 times that amount.

“My son owes quite a lot of debt to many people. His business wasn’t going well before, but now, thanks to this opportunity, it really drove up sales,” said Mdm Thao, who was in town on a visit from the province of Bac Ninh.

“I want to thank both Mr Trump and the other man (Kim) for holding this here so we can make money out of it… It is really a lifesaver.”

When TODAY visited Mr Duc's stall at Hang Bong Street on Sunday (Feb 24), he and a worker were toiling away at a tiny workspace on the second floor of a building, screen-printing T-shirts and using hairdryers to quicken the drying process to meet high demand.

The T-shirts are designed by Mr Duc, and the bestseller is one with the silhouettes of both leaders and emblazoned with the word “peace”. Each T-shirt is selling at less than US$5 (S$6.80), and he has printed about 1,000 to date.

Given the popularity of Mr Duc's T-shirts, at least three other shirt and banner shops along the same street have jumped on the bandwagon.

Shop owner Nguyen Thi Anh Tuyet, 57, told TODAY that she sells 100 self-designed Trump-Kim shirts a day, mostly to tourists from western countries, Japan and South Korea. She has printed 300 shirts so far, and will continue to do so on daily 12-hour shifts for as long as there is demand.

Another merchant, Mr Nguyen Hoai Thanh, 45, was inspired to design his own summit banner after taking an order of 5,000 North Korea and US flags from the Vietnamese government about 10 days ago. He has printed 100 of his own banners, which are being sold for 100,000 dong each.

Over at western fast-food joint Durty Bird, Irish chef and restaurant co-owner Colin Kelly, 40, on Monday launched two “Summit Specials” modelled after the characteristics of the two leaders.

In keeping with Mr Trump’s “extravagant personality”, the “Durty Donald” burger comes with a double portion of each ingredient — beef, cheese and bacon — and is topped with chicken floss to mimic his blond hair. Russian dressing is used in the dish that cost 200,000 dong,in a cheeky nod to the Russia-linked woes that have troubled Mr Trump’s presidency.

The “Kim Jong Yum” burger is plainer because not much is known about him, added Mr Kelly. The burger, which is selling for 150,000 dong, is packed with smoked pork belly and wild boar meat, topped with kimchi mayonnaise and crispy kimchi.

Durty Bird's general manager Greg Clarke said that the summit has been a “godsend” as the Trump-Kim-inspired burgers have been their best marketing effort since the eatery opened in September.

“It brought our marketing to another level. Best of all, it is free,” Mr Clarke said.

But not all businesses in Hanoi are rejoicing. Some that are located too close to the action — near selected hotels — have been told by government officials to shut from Feb 23 to 28due to security reasons. They have not been given any compensation.

However, that has not stopped some of them from using the occasion to market their business. Dewo Hotpot Buffet, a steamboat restaurant located directly opposite luxury hotel JW Marriott — where Mr Trump is said to be staying — spent 1 million dong printing a huge banner to rival the size of the official summit backdrops lining the hotel entrance. The eatery’s banner features an illustration of the two leaders shaking hands, along with the words, “Welcome to Vietnam”.

“We want the leaders or officials to see it and be impressed,” said its general manager Nguyen Van Quang, 29.

Mr Kim will be travelling by train via China and is expected to arrive in Hanoi on Monday. He will be accompanied by a number of high-ranking officials, including his sister Kim Yo Jong, who was also present at the first Trump-Kim summit in Singapore in June last year.

The historic meeting in Singapore had led to general commitments to improve relations and denuclearise the Korean peninsula, and North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme is expected to take centrestage again in Hanoi.