Top 10 Best Vietnamese Films You Might Enjoy

Criminal Police is a long-running television series produced in 1997 by the Vietnam Television Film Production Center, focusing on crime prevention. The series depicts the courageous struggle of the police force in combating and dismantling large criminal networks involved in drug trafficking and prostitution to bring peace to the people. Despite the existence of corruption within the police force, ultimately they must be held accountable to the law.

Criminal Police revives the nation's pride in the police force and reassures the people that they are always protected and assisted when needed. The series has received prestigious awards, including the Golden Kite Award in 2006, the Golden Medal for television films at the Television Film Festival in 2006, and the Special Prize at the Tokyo International Film Festival in 2008.

Flowers of Fortune is a film directed by Le Trong Ninh, released in 2001, which achieved certain successes. The film consists of 2 main parts: part 1 tells the meeting of 7 kids Na, Huong, Hung, Thai, Thuy, Binh, Tien from different countryside areas gathering in Hanoi, thus forming the group 'Hanoi Unity'.

Part 2 depicts their lives after growing up, dealing with various issues and conflicts arising in life, no longer enjoying the same freedom as when they were children, and there's a plan for the release of part 3. The details revolving around friendship and love in the film have won over countless audiences.

Ahead Lies the Sky is a social psychological film by director Do Thanh Hai, first released in 2001. The main characters in the film are Nguyet, Thuong, Nhung, three provincial girls who have just graduated from university and struggle to find jobs. Despite distributing their resumes everywhere, life's necessities such as food, clothing, shelter, and money make their lives extremely difficult. Through their efforts, the three girls eventually secure stable jobs they desire.

In that small boarding house, there are also newly enrolled students, carefree and untroubled. Although life is tough, the bond between these students is truly precious. The film is very intimate and authentic, easily resonating with the audience.

Southern Land is a film adapted from the novel Southern Land by writer Doan Gioi, produced by Ho Chi Minh City Television in 1997. The film is set in the Southern region during the resistance against the French colonialists, where the powerful and landlords reign. The main character in the film is An, an orphaned boy who wanders around searching for his father. Along the way, he encounters lives even more unfortunate than his own, the exploitation by the French and the tyranny of the powerful over the people, witnessing the suffering of the people.

At the end of the film, he and his companion join the revolution to bring a better life to the people. Nearly 20 years later, the film is still being broadcast on many local television channels and is the first television series exported to the United States, well-received by a large audience.

The Carpenter's Tale is an exceptionally outstanding romantic drama film by director Tran Luc, first introduced to the audience in 1998. The film features the participation of the Meritorious Artist Hai Diep as Mr. Moc, who, out of love for his hard-working daughter, is determined to send her to the city to prepare for the university entrance exam to escape from the arduous agricultural life.

Actress Nhu Trang plays the role of Mr. Moc's daughter - a countryside girl, naive, eager to learn, obsessed with exams to the point of fanaticism. Actor Xuan Bac portrays Nhu Trang's lover from their rural days. While Mr. Moc cries bitterly, thinking his daughter failed the university entrance exam, he runs around the village shouting with joy, leaving the audience in stitches. The film leaves a deep impression on the audience about the profound father-daughter bond, human kindness, and community spirit that have faded over time.

Land and its People is a social psychological film directed by Phan Huu Phan and Pham Thanh Phong, premiered in 2002, based on the famous novel 'A Piece of Land, Many People, Many Ghosts' by writer Nguyen Khac Tuong. The film depicts the conflict between the two Trinh-Vu lineages with intricate schemes, petty calculations, and a mix of truth and falsehood.

Actors in the film include:

• Artist Han Van Tinh as Chu Van Quenh, a rough and alcoholic man who learns to repent and change himself when shown affection.
• Artist Duy Thanh as Trinh Ba Thu, who appears gentle and composed but harbors great ambitions to seize power in the village.
• Artist Duy Hau as Trinh Ham, the head of the lineage with feudal ideologies deeply ingrained, along with cunning and ruthless schemes, alongside many other actors.

Set Aside is a film released in 2000 that brought fame to director Do Thanh Hai, adapted from the short story by writer Nguyen Thi Thu Hue. The film revolves around the family of Mrs. Vi and her three grown children: Thanh, Tien, and Thu. Mrs. Vi falls chronically ill and in need of constant care, but all three children are extremely busy and have no time to take care of her, so they hire a helper.

Heartbroken by her children's behavior, Mrs. Vi leaves. Realizing their mistakes and the importance of their mother, they try everything to bring her back. The film explores motherly love and a mother's devotion to her children. It features the participation of Meritorious Artist Hoang Yen (Mrs. Vi), Anh Tu (Thanh), Thu Huong (Thu), Hong Tuan (Tien), and many other actors.

When Will October Come is considered one of Vietnam's films, first released in 1984 by director Dang Nhat Minh. The film portrays the silent sacrifices of women in the old society. Duyen is the woman known for these silent sacrifices. Duyen visits her husband at the southwestern border and learns of his passing. Because her elderly father-in-law is frail, she keeps this news to herself and endures the pain alone. Duyen asks teacher Khang to write letters to her father-in-law so he can be at peace.

Due to his frailty, before passing away, her father-in-law instructs Duyen to send a letter to her husband to visit him. At this point, she can no longer conceal the truth. Whether her silent sacrifices for her husband's family will be repaid, everyone will have to watch and feel for themselves.

The best war film in Vietnam directed by Nguyen Hong Sen. The film is set in the Dong Thap Muoi region during the war, focusing on the husband and wife of the Ba Do family and their young child living in a hut in the middle of a river tasked with maintaining communication for the military.

When Ba Do is shot by an American helicopter, his wife pursues and shoots down the aircraft. The film portrays the difficult lives of people during the war, the harmonious and loving relationship between husband and wife that brings tears to the audience and leaves a lasting impression to this day.

Waves at the River Bottom is a film based on a true story about a person's life in society by director Le Duc Tien, first released in 2000.

The film portrays a character named Mountain and his life. Mountain is the son of a mistress, and his mother used to be from a wealthy family. Since childhood, Mountain and his two siblings (River and Sea) were not accepted by their father, and the four of them only received leftover food. Mountain's father always tried to expel them from the house. When the war broke out, taking advantage of the city's evacuation, he sent the three siblings away.

Mountain studied in the countryside and excelled in school. In the countryside, he had a first love with a girl from a distant family, who became pregnant. After the family discovered the situation, Mountain's lover left for another place.

After his mother's death, abandoned by his father, and his siblings scattered, Mountain became a thief and went to jail multiple times, living a life in the underworld. Eventually, when he reunited with his former love, Mountain was redeemed and returned to himself.