CEO Vân Hạnh On Setting The "Premium" Standard For Vietnamese TV Shows

The Vietnamese entertainment industry is evolving rapidly, pushing TV shows to continuously innovate. Ngô Thị Vân Hạnh, CEO of Yeah1 Group (YEG), has solidified her role as a strategist, contributing to the transformation of Vietnam's entertainment landscape.

With over 24 years of experience in media and entertainment, Vân Hạnh joined Yeah1 in early 2023 and quickly took on the CEO position. Vân Hạnh was the one who decided to bring the Chinese shows Call Me by Fire (Anh Trai Vượt Ngàn Chông Gai) and Sisters Who Make Waves (Chị Đẹp Đạp Gió Rẽ Sóng) to Vietnam, marking a new chapter for premium TV shows in the country.

In this episode of the Have A Sip podcast, Vân Hạnh shared her insights into the production processes and her vision for transforming Vietnam's entertainment offerings into a source of national pride that resonates with both local and global audiences.

Good Planning Would Pay Off

The Vietnamese version of Call Me by Fire premiered simultaneously with another show of similar format - Brother Say Hi (Anh Trai Say Hi), produced by DatViet VAC Group Holdings. Unsurprisingly, the two shows were seen as rivals.

Is this a bad thing? Vân Hạnh believes that it’s not but rather a driving force for the team to give their best to the audiences. The saying “the grass is always greener on the other side” does not apply to her team as they already set very clear directions with meticulous planning in the beginning. The result is the premium quality of Call Me by Fire that Vân Hạnh and her team take great pride in.

A premium show must be made by a premium team. That’s why Vân Hạnh curated a dream team that includes music director SlimV and film director Đinh Hà Uyên Thư - two remarkable figures in the Vietnamese entertainment industry.

To be able to deliver such satisfying performances and handle all the logistics behind the stage, the team has learned a lot from the original TV show in China —from filming and staging to organizing performance structure.

The other factor that can not be underestimated is the well-being of the artists and their staff. That is why Vân Hạnh and her production team embrace a spirited approach to their work. She believes that when both artists and staff can fully invest their efforts in their best condition, the audience can sense the passion and enthusiasm through each performance. Their commitment and dedication to creating memorable stages for the artists is what draws more audiences to the show.

Setting Premium Standards For Vietnamese TV Shows

From the beginning, Vân Hạnh and her team aim for more than just high ratings or revenue - they aspire to create "premium" shows. This requires substantial investment in high-quality content, particularly in visuals and audience experience, which the Vietnamese entertainment landscape is lacking.

For her, creating a premium program requires both innovation and high determination from all members of the team. With the success of current shows like Sisters Who Make Waves and Call Me by Fire, she is nurturing future projects with the vision of raising the standards of television production in Vietnam.

Maximizing Creativity With Limited Resources

Realizing such premium TV shows like those in China is no easy task, especially when resources are much more limited. Compared to the TV show production industry in China and Korea, which have many years of construction and development, Vietnam doesn’t only lack experience, but also finance, space, and human resources. The original Call Me by Fire in China has large studios with multiple pre-prepared filming areas, and its production budget is 30 times larger.

In contrast, the Vietnamese production team must find ways to maximize the potential of more modest filming spaces. Thanks to the team's meticulous organization, strategic planning, and capabilities to take full advantage of available resources, the Vietnamese production team has successfully feasted the audience’s eyes and ears on such spectacular and high-quality performances.

Artists At The Heart Of Every Decision

Vân Hạnh insists on not arousing controversy to lure audiences to the show by compromising her artists’ needs and desires. Her goal is to create a variety show where each artist can feel safe and express themselves freely, without being forced into negative situations or exploited for the wrong reasons.

In fact, sensationalism was one of the main concerns for artists when the team first approached the lineup for Sisters Who Make Waves 2023 as there are many bad precedents in the industry. Vân Hạnh and her team had to work closely with the artists to ensure that every situation was handled with sensitivity and respect, so as not to upset or hurt them.

Each participating artist’s voice was valued and kept authentic, even on-screen or off-screen. All these efforts are paid off through not only commercial success but also the overwhelming love for the shows and the unprecedented bonds established between the audience and the artists.

Translated by Thúy An