Top 9 Vietnamese TV Shows That Ended, Leaving Audiences Feeling Nostalgic

Golden Bell Challenge was a knowledge competition for university students in Vietnam, produced by Vietnam Television (VTV). The format was adapted from the South Korean show 도전! 골든벨, aired on KBS. The program was sponsored by the Orion food technology group throughout its run. Initially, the competition was limited to students from the same university, but it later expanded to include teams from different universities, competing in a knockout format to determine the last remaining contestant. In the third season, the competition returned to a single university format, but each school sent at least two finalists. The first ten questions covered specific topics for each university, and from the 11th question onward, general knowledge questions were posed, including data, images, and video clips.

It's hard to forget the theme song Golden Bell by the band Bức Tường, which perfectly captured the passion and determination of the students. The show wasn't only for students, as teachers were also invited to participate in games designed to help students continue in the competition. Originally, the show featured only students from one university, but to increase competitiveness and encourage perseverance, it transitioned into a nationwide competition between two universities. The program included 100 students answering questions to see who could ring the golden bell first. After the final broadcast on VTV3 on November 6, 2011, the show transitioned to high school students from the 6th season onward, with broadcasts on VTV9, while VTV3 replaced it with the return of SV-2012.

Twist and Shout was a delightful segment on VTV3's Weekend Relaxation program, combining humor with informative content. Though it revolved around simple question-and-answer exchanges, it was far from boring. Recently, the show gained widespread popularity due to its unique and entertaining format. The dynamic between the host and the professor created a fun and amusing atmosphere: a learned professor who loved to joke and tease the host, and a slightly formal host who would often be caught off guard, unable to match the professor's wit. The quirky and humorous interactions were a key part of the show's charm.

The Twist and Shout segment became a fan favorite, airing every Saturday at 9 PM. It was seen as a fresh update to the now-ended show 'Meeting at the End of the Week'. The format featured questions posed by Xoáy (played by Xuân Bắc), which were claimed to be submitted by viewers, and answered by Professor Cù Trọng Xoay (played by Đinh Tiến Dũng). The witty banter between the characters and the clever questioning made it a hit with audiences. Professor Cù Trọng Xoay's role helped catapult Đinh Tiến Dũng from an unknown figure to a well-known personality. After some time, however, Đinh Tiến Dũng bid farewell to the program, and Phạm Dũng stepped in as the new expert. Despite the change, the show's popularity never quite returned to its former heights.

The Amazing Wheel was a popular television game show aired on VTV3, produced by Vietnam Television in collaboration with Vietba Media. The show was based on the American game show Wheel of Fortune, which first aired on January 6, 1975. On January 3, 2004, the show underwent a visual redesign, replacing the previous logo used from 2001 to 2003, while keeping the signature red wheel segments with point values of 100, 300, and 900, along with special sections. In 2012, the program refreshed its format with a new set and completely revamped music scores composed by Lưu Hà An, lasting until the show’s conclusion.

The show said goodbye to its audience after 16 years of airing. The Amazing Wheel had its first broadcast in 2001 and concluded on December 24, 2016, after 811 episodes. In each episode, three contestants would take turns spinning a large wheel divided into sections to earn the chance to guess letters in a phrase, earning points toward cash or prizes. The show set a record for its long run, lasting 15 years, and the memories of its popularity continue to linger in the hearts of its fans.

SV 2012 was a television game show designed specifically for university students across Vietnam, airing every Sunday morning at 10 AM throughout 2012. Featuring a variety of intellectual and exciting games, SV 2012 gathered talented individuals from universities across the country, providing a platform for students to showcase their creativity, humor, and intellect. It followed in the footsteps of its predecessors, SV 96 and SV 2000, which had already earned a significant fan base and paved the way for the program’s nationwide success.

With the slogan 'The Return of the Funny Intellectuals', despite various changes from the earlier versions, SV 2012 still focused on the two key traits of intelligence and wit. After a year-long run, the grand finale took place on December 30, 2012, featuring four of the most outstanding university teams from across the country: Yersin University (the winner and online voting champion), University of Construction (second place), University of Economics in Ho Chi Minh City (third place), and Danang University of Science and Technology (tied third). Yersin University’s victory marked the end of the SV 2012 program, and it’s unclear when or if it will return to television in the future.

The Music Game is a music-themed television game show, produced and aired by Vietnam Television (VTV) on channel VTV3. It is considered a continuation of the show 'The Century of Music,' which aired on VTV3 from 2001. Since its debut, The Music Game has undergone three versions, each with different formats and rules. This is a 100% Vietnamese format, where each episode features three teams, primarily consisting of students from universities and colleges across Vietnam who share a passion for music. The game is based on music trivia questions, with teams competing in a knockout format. The winning team of the live broadcast final will win a prize, usually an international vacation.

The Music Game became a highly popular game show over time. Initially aimed at students with a passion for music, the program later expanded to include celebrity participants and a wider audience. In the revamped version, two teams led by famous musicians take turns presenting four contestants, with each team opening a section of the screen. If they reveal a green section, they must sing a song that corresponds to that lyric, while opening a red section results in a penalty. The show also saw the rise of prominent hosts like Diễm Quỳnh, Anh Tuấn, and Ngọc Linh. The program later adopted the 'Don’t Forget the Lyrics!' format, created by Anh and first aired on November 7, 2012, with Nguyên Khang as the host. On December 30, 2015, the show officially bid farewell to its audience.

Contemporary Figures is a talk show featuring prominent individuals who have made significant contributions to Vietnamese society. The program premiered in 2001 and aired on VTV3, Vietnam Television. In 2004, it moved to VTV1 but continued to be rebroadcast on VTV3. By 2007, the show was aired on both VTV1 and VTV6. From 2001 to 2006, the show was produced by VTV3's Sports, Entertainment, and Economic Information Department, and from 2007 to 2012, it was produced by VTV6's Youth Department. The show was hosted by journalist Tạ Bích Loan.

Contemporary Figures was a popular talk show broadcast on national television channels VTV3 and VTV1. Each episode introduced a notable guest, with journalist Tạ Bích Loan as the host. Premiering in 2001, the program ran for 12 years, featuring over 500 guests from various fields including successful professionals, young talents, and artists who made valuable contributions to society. On February 8, 2013, the show aired its final episode, concluding its 12-year journey with television audiences. Starting March 9, 2013, the program Chuyện đương thời replaced it on air.

Sunday at Home was one of the longest-running game shows on Vietnam's VTV3 channel. The show was first hosted by journalist Tạ Bích Loan, followed by journalist Bùi Thu Thủy, who left a lasting impact on viewers. In its final years, journalist Vũ Thanh Hường took over as host. Premiering in 1998, the show aired every Sunday at noon and featured families participating in various games. After Thanh Hường became the host, the show adopted a format based on a German version. On December 30, 2007, the production team announced that the show would go on a hiatus, officially ending after 9 years of airing. It was replaced by a similar program called Ô cửa bí mật, produced in collaboration with BHD company.

Each episode introduced two different families with a range of ages and personalities, competing against each other by answering questions and playing games to outdo the other family and win. Sunday at Home aired on VTV3 from 1999, with multiple changes in the hosting lineup over the years. Initially, it was hosted by journalists Tạ Bích Loan, Bảo Vân, Minh Vũ, and Bùi Thu Thủy from 1999 to 2004. From 2005, Thanh Hường took over. On December 30, 2007, the show officially ended, leaving fans disappointed as it had become a beloved weekend tradition.

Weekend Encounter was a comedy and reality show produced by the Vietnam Television Film Studio (now the Television Film Production Center - VFC) and aired from April 2000 to 2006. It first aired on April 1, 2000, and was inspired by earlier comedic programs such as Góc thư giãn, Gặp nhau và... cười, and Những người thích đùa. After the original series ended, a special segment called Gala Cười – a part of Weekend Encounter – returned around March 2007 and was aired quarterly until December 30, 2007. From 2010, Weekend Encounter was rebooted as Weekend Relaxation, with the first episode airing on August 28, 2010, on VTV3. Subsequent episodes were broadcast regularly every Saturday night on VTV3. In 2013, after over two years of airing, a new format called Chém Chuối was launched, with the first episode airing on January 5, 2013. The show came to an end on April 18, 2015, leaving fans with fond memories of a program that helped launch the careers of several well-known comedians and artists.

During its run, Weekend Encounter introduced a variety of well-loved comedic characters, some of whom went on to achieve long-lasting fame in Vietnam’s entertainment scene. Notable names like 'Quang Tèo - Giang Còi' (played by NSƯT Nguyễn Tiến Quang and NS Lê Hồng Giang), 'Thắng mũi to' (NS Đặng Quang Thắng), 'Hiệp gà' (NS Dương Đức Hiệp), and 'Sếp Bằng' (NSƯT Phạm Bằng) became iconic figures in the Vietnamese comedy world.

Cultural Journey was a Vietnamese television program focused on exploring both Vietnamese and global cultures, airing on VTV3 at 7:50 PM on Thursdays (before 2003, it aired on Saturdays). The program was initially hosted by MC Hoa Thanh Tùng and later by MC Bạch Dương. Over the years, four different hosts have presented the show: Bạch Dương, Hoa Thanh Tùng, Hồng Phúc, and Lam Kiều, but it was Bạch Dương and Hoa Thanh Tùng who left the most lasting impressions on the audience.

There are few programs that focus so heavily on discovering Vietnamese and international cultures, so when Cultural Journey bid farewell after six years on VTV3, it left many fans feeling nostalgic and saddened. The program first aired in 2001 and was regularly broadcast at 8:00 PM every Thursday. Each episode featured six participants divided into three teams, competing in four rounds, with topics centered on the customs and traditions of various countries around the world.