Top 7 Most Popular Internationally Licensed Game Shows in Vietnam Today

Running Man Vietnam is the Vietnamese adaptation of the famous South Korean reality TV show ‘Running Man’. It is the third international version of the series after the original Korean and Chinese editions. The show is a collaboration between Ho Chi Minh City Television (HTV), SBS, and Dong Tay Promotion (formerly Madison Media Group), and has been airing on HTV7 since April 6, 2019. In its first season, episodes were broadcast at 7:30 PM every Saturday on HTV7, with replays at 8:00, 8:10, and 8:45 PM on the same day. The first season featured 7 members: Ninh Duong Lan Ngoc, Ngo Kien Huy, Jun Pham, Tran Thanh, BB Tran, Lien Binh Phat, and Truong The Vinh.

The second season began airing on Sunday evenings at 8:30 PM on HTV7 from September 19, 2021, and was also available on the VieON app, with reruns on Tuesday at 2:20 PM on HTV7, Saturday at 5:30 PM on HTV2, Sunday at 1:45 PM on HTV9, and Sunday at 8:00 PM on VTVcab 1 - Vie Giải Trí. This season was also broadcast in South Korea and several other countries. The cast for this season included Ninh Duong Lan Ngoc, Truong Giang, Ngo Kien Huy, Truong The Vinh, Jun Pham, Thuy Ngan, Karik, and Lien Binh Phat. As with previous versions of ‘Running Man’, the show features challenges and games to gather clues or collect items, leading up to the final ‘Name Tag Ripping’ game, where the winner is decided. Players compete in teams or as individuals in this thrilling race.

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire Vietnam is the Vietnamese adaptation of the popular British television game show. The program has been airing weekly on VTV3 every Tuesday night since its debut on January 4, 2005. Between September 7, 2010, and June 28, 2011, the show temporarily introduced a new format called ‘Hot Seat’, which was later reverted back to the original version after viewer feedback. During each episode, 10 contestants (reduced to 6 from November 2015 onwards) compete in a rapid-fire question round to determine who will take the coveted hot seat. The contestants are presented with a multiple-choice question, answering within a limited time frame. The fastest contestant to answer correctly takes the hot seat. If multiple contestants tie, an additional question is asked to break the tie, with the winner taking the seat across from the host.

Contestants must answer 15 progressively difficult questions with no time limit. Each question carries an increasing prize value, with three major milestones: question 5 (first milestone), question 10 (second milestone), and question 15 (the final 'Millionaire' prize). Reaching these milestones guarantees the contestant the prize for each level. From question 10 onward, the host signs a check for the prize associated with each correct answer. Contestants may choose to continue playing or stop at any point. If they stop, they leave with the prize from their last correct answer. If they continue but answer incorrectly, the game ends, and they receive the prize associated with the most recent milestone. Incorrect answers before question 5 result in no prize. Answering all questions correctly makes the contestant a 'Millionaire', winning the grand prize. If time allows, remaining contestants can continue answering quick-fire questions until the end of the show. Since 2018, the host has called new contestants into the studio if there is still time. If a contestant's turn isn't completed by the end of the show, their game continues in the next episode.

2 Days 1 Night is a Vietnamese reality travel show produced by Ho Chi Minh City Television (HTV) in collaboration with Đông Tây Promotion. The show premiered on June 19, 2022, airing on HTV7. It is the Vietnamese version of the popular South Korean series, which is also the second international version of the show, following the Chinese adaptation. Despite being a recent addition to television, the show quickly captured the audience's attention with its lighthearted motto, ‘Freedom, Freedom to Handle,’ bringing hilarious and heartwarming moments to viewers.

The Vietnamese version of 2 Days 1 Night stays true to the format of the original. The regular cast consists of famous Vietnamese entertainers, including comedian Trường Giang, actor Kiều Minh Tuấn, singer Ngô Kiến Huy, actor Lê Dương Bảo Lâm, entertainer Cris Phan, and singer HIEUTHUHAI. Each episode also features different celebrity guests, such as Miss Nguyễn Thúc Thùy Tiên, supermodel Võ Hoàng Yến, singer Jun Phạm, and Miss Mai Phương Thúy. In each episode, the cast embarks on a 2-day, 1-night journey through various stunning locations and landmarks in Vietnam. They complete tasks and challenges set by the production team, earning rewards or facing penalties that create amusing, authentic situations. The show successfully completed its first season with 20 regular episodes, followed by a special ‘Festival Season’ with 11 additional episodes. Within five months of airing, the show amassed over 2.2 billion views across digital platforms. Every episode ranked among the top trending videos on YouTube, a remarkable achievement. Episode 3 reached the number one trending spot within 48 hours of release, while six other episodes ranked in the second spot. The show's popularity continued into the special season, with episodes consistently trending on YouTube. Episodes 21, 26, and 27 even hit the number one spot shortly after airing. With such impressive statistics, it is undeniable that 2 Days 1 Night has become a major hit on Vietnamese television.

This TV show is the Vietnamese adaptation of the Thai program Roo Mai Krai Sod (Who is Single?), which first aired in Vietnam on November 2, 2018, on HTV2 - Vie Channel, Vie GIẢITRÍ - VTVCab 1. Who Is the One? quickly became a sensation, gaining immense popularity that few other dating shows could surpass. Over the years, the show has aired 5 seasons, each filled with emotional moments, from heartwarming stories of love and life to the suspense and excitement of watching the female lead find her ideal match. These emotions unfold in just 150 minutes of each episode.

The format of the Vietnamese version of Who Is the One? is fairly straightforward. Single women participate in the show with the goal of finding their soulmate for love and dating. The task is to eliminate the men who are either taken, married, in relationships, or identify as LGBT, and figure out which bachelor is most compatible. Each episode features a panel of experienced celebrity advisors who assist the women in making their choices. The show is hosted by the charismatic and cheerful MC Trấn Thành, with singer Hương Giang as the female host for seasons 1, 2, and 3. In season 4, Hương Giang was replaced by supermodel Minh Tú, and in season 5, model Châu Bùi became the permanent advisor, with guest advisors rotating each week.

Thank God You're Here! is the Vietnamese adaptation of the popular Australian show of the same name, which premiered on October 11, 2014, on VTV3. The show features Xuân Bắc as the host and NSƯT Hoài Linh as the head judge and leader of Room 5. Contestants aim to succeed by navigating challenges in five "secret" rooms, each with a different room leader. The essence of the show lies in testing the contestants' improvisation skills, as they are asked to perform in skits without knowing the script in advance. The only thing they are informed about beforehand is the costume they will wear, which is revealed at the beginning of the show.

The room leaders and supporting actors guide the contestants through an open-ended script, using predefined ideas while creating humorous and spontaneous moments on stage. The skits do not have a fixed ending; they stop only when the head judge, Hoài Linh, rings the bell. Each contestant performs in a skit in one of the rooms, with four contestants competing in Room 5, facing off against the head judge Hoài Linh. Thank God You're Here! offers viewers a variety of emotions. From laughter and light-hearted moments driven by the clever performances of the guests and the challenges posed by the room leaders, to deep, reflective moments that bring tears and introspection. These emotional highs and lows make the show not only entertaining but thought-provoking, and it has gained widespread love from the public. The show has been a major hit, with high viewership ratings and has won three Mai Vàng Awards, along with seven other nominations at the same award ceremony.

The Voice Kids is based on the original format of The Voice Kids of Holland, licensed exclusively by Talpa. Produced by Cát Tiên Sa in collaboration with Vietnam Television, the show aims to discover young vocal talents. The coaches select the most promising contestants to join their teams. Alongside their own music teams, the coaches help the kids improve their vocal skills, stage presence, and confidence to face the intense challenges of the Battle Rounds and Live Performances. The professional production team from Cát Tiên Sa also supports the contestants in creating high-quality music products and building their image. The Vietnamese version of The Voice, Giọng Hát Việt, has already become a phenomenon in the country's entertainment scene, discovering many promising singers like Hương Tràm, Đinh Hương, Xuân Nghi, and Kiên Giang.

Building on the success of The Voice, The Voice Kids brings opportunities for children aged 10-15 to shine. The focus of the show is not on appearance, but on the vocal talent and stage presence of the contestants, which is showcased in the Blind Auditions where coaches judge purely on voice. Participants have the chance to learn vocal techniques, performance styles, and stage skills. In addition, the children face various challenges and intense training to reach the top. By the end of the competition, the contestants will be equipped with the skills and confidence to pursue their own singing careers.

Your Face Sounds Familiar is a popular interactive television show broadcast by Vietnam Television (VTV) in collaboration with Sóng Vàng Production Company. The program, based on the Spanish format of the same name, airs on VTV3 and VTV3 HD. Sponsored by Mobifone (Seasons 1-2) and TCL (Seasons 3-4), the show features six celebrity contestants who undergo dramatic transformations to impersonate famous Vietnamese or international stars. Each episode, a panel of three judges scores the contestants between 7 and 12 points, while contestants also have the opportunity to award 5 points to another participant. Starting from the third season, the point-giving system between contestants was discontinued. The highest-scoring contestant in each episode wins a cash prize of 100 million VND, with half of the amount being donated to charity.

The show focuses less on intense competition and more on the spirit of camaraderie among the contestants, who come from different backgrounds and professions. They perform their challenges with a sense of unity and friendliness, as though they were part of one big family. At the end of each episode, contestants randomly select which celebrity they will impersonate for the next performance. The grand winner of the season receives a cash prize of 700 million VND, with 500 million VND dedicated to charity. Additionally, the contestant with the most public votes can win a prize of 100 million VND. The program promotes sharing happiness with the community and emphasizes a lighthearted and inclusive atmosphere over fierce competition.