After the iPhone 4 was distributed in Singapore and the software to unlock the phone was launched, the prices for this product in Vietnam have changed.

Around one month ago, the prices for this hi-tech product were towering, with 36 million dong ($1890) for model 32GB and 29.5 million dong ($1550) for model 16GB while locked iPhone 4 were priced around $1000. The prices for the iPhone 4 international version have fallen and increased for the locked version. International versionso of the iPhone 4 are being sold for 21 million dong ($1100) for model 16GB and 25 million dong ($1300) for model 32GB, down by 8-10 million dong/phone.

Phone shops in ${bigcity_Hanoi:"Hanoi"} and ${bigcity_Ho_Chi_Minh_City:”Ho Chi Minh City”} explained that the prices for the international versions of the iPhone 4 were reduced dramatically because Apple announced the official prices for the product in Singapore, which are $SGD888 (equivalent to 12.5 million dong) for the 16GB model and SGD$1048 (14.8 million dong for the 32GB model.

However, as the supply is still below demand, Vietnamese traders cannot import large numbers of iPhone 4’s. “It is easy to bring an iPhone 4 from Singapore to Vietnam but it is very difficult to take a big batch of iPhones to Vietnam. Vietnamese traders have to collect individual phones at high prices,” said the owner of a phone shop in HCM City. The prices for the locked version have increased to 18 and 21 million dong for models with16 GB and 32GB, respectively, after Dev-Team found a way to unlock it.

However, the source of supply is also very limited. Though the prices for iPhone4’s have fallen dramatically, this product is still luxury for most Vietnamese people. It is anticipated that the prices will fall farther when VinaPhone and Viettel officially distribute the iPhone in Vietnam starting in September.