Stepping into Bui Quynh Anh’s room, born in 1995 in Hanoi, many are surprised to find it designed like a miniature home with a beautiful, sturdy display shelf system.

This is where she keeps her collection of 500 plush toys, each with unique shapes and colors—many of them limited editions in the world.

For Quynh Anh, this room has been a private haven preserving both her beautiful childhood memories and an endless source of inspiration throughout her adult years.

The collection of over 500 pieces is worth hundreds of millions of dong. They include characters from famous animated films like Up, The Incredibles, Mickey Mouse, Beauty and the Beast, and more.

Among them, the most meaningful toys for Anh are the characters from The Incredibles. To collect all characters of the film, she had to experience a challenging yet thrilling “hunting” journey.

The Hanoi native has loved plush toys since she was little. In 2023, after becoming an office worker with a stable income, she saved her salary to buy adorable plush toys.

“The more I bought, the more I fell in love with them,” she said, marking the start of her quest to hunt down limited-edition plush toys worldwide. Prices range from a few hundred thousand to several million dong, depending on their shape, color, size, and rarity.

Anh collects plush toys that perfectly match the size and appearance of animated characters, special Disney editions, and cute, quirky designs like Japan’s Tsum Tsum bears or the clasped-hand bears from &you.

She treasures her collection. Each plush toy is kept in its own display box tailored to its size and shape. With their own spots, the toys look “cooler” and are better preserved.

“I regularly vacuum, filter the air in the room, and wash them every two months. For the special ones, I store them in boxes to keep dust away,” Quynh Anh said.

The hunt

Quynh Anh said collecting limited-edition plush toys isn’t just about ordering online or buying from stores. Many rare items demand patience, effort, and a bit of luck to acquire.

One of her most memorable hunts was for a special Lotso bear from Toy Story, exclusively released in Japan. Knowing it was a hot item, she set her alarm for 3am to buy it the moment the website opened, but within seconds, it sold out.

Quynh Anh then joined international collector groups, searching for someone willing to sell. After months of effort, she found a seller on a Japanese auction site. Ironically, after sending a deposit, the seller suddenly blocked her and disappeared.

“I was really shaken and disappointed. It felt like I’d touched something I longed for, only to have it snatched away right in front of my eyes,” Anh said.

Still, she didn’t give up. After more than 20 negotiations, Anh finally secured the Lotso bear—at three times its original price.

Through such dramatic hunts, Quynh Anh realized that the value of some items isn’t in the amount of money but in the journey of persistence and effort to obtain them. Each successful “catch” felt worthwhile.

In another case, while traveling in South Korea, she discovered a rare 1997 Winnie the Pooh in a shop in Insadong.

The shop owner initially refused to sell, as it was a keepsake. Instead of giving up, Quynh Anh returned daily, sharing her story. In the end, her sincerity won over the owner, who sold her the bear on one condition: she had to promise to cherish and care for it.

“Each plush toy isn’t just a material object, but it’s proof of an emotional hunting journey. It’s taught me patience, passion, and even forged amazing connections with people who share my hobby,” Quynh Anh said.

Quynh Anh’s plush toy collecting hobby once faced family disapproval. Some people also thought it was a childish pursuit, not worth spending so much money and effort to “hunt.”

But for Quynh Anh, each plush toy carries a special story. The 500 toys reigning over her cozy bedroom aren’t just of material value - they hold immense spiritual meaning in her life.

Thanh Minh