SOUTHERN SOAP OPERA: The poster for web drama Tết Nữa U Là Trời (Tết Comes Home), a new production by director Đinh Mạnh Phúc, starring famous actors from HCM City. Photo courtesy of the producer

HCM CITY — The first episode of a web drama series about family life, starring People’s Artist and comic actress Hồng Vân, was released on YouTube on New Year’s Eve, attracting more than 138,000 views.

The show Tết Nữa U Là Trời (Tết Comes Home) focuses on traditional family values in Việt Nam, and has 12 episodes. 

The series features a poor mother trying to make things rights with her only daughter. The show looks at the trials and tribulations between mother and daughter.

The work also highlights cultural activities and family traditions celebrated during Tết (Lunar New Year) Festival. This year, Tết begins on Feburary 1.

Famous actress Vân plays the mother and leaves a strong impression on audiences. 

Vân performs with young artists such as Hoàng Thy, Quyên Trần and Lạc Hoàng Long. 

"Tết Nữa U Là Trời is useful to audiences, particularly youth, and offers much laughter," said director Vân, who is also a theatre producer. 

“The film highlights the traditional values of a family in the southern region. We decided to release many of the episodes during the Tết holiday because we hope to entertain Vietnamese at home and abroad.

“We have worked hard to make each episode a lively story, with images, sounds and music that provides audiences a look into Vietnamese culture and lifestyle."

FAMILY VALUES: People’s Artist, theatre actress and director Hồng Vân (right) perfoms in Tết Nữa U Là Trời (Tết Comes Home), a web series featuring domestic life. The work was released on YouTube to celebrate Tết (Lunar New Year) Festival. Photo courtesy of the producer

Last Tết, Vân and her staff released Mẹ Mẹ Con Con (The Game of Love), a web drama about a wealthy family.

The 11-part series earned more than 15 million views, and helped increase the number of subscribers to Vân’s YouTube channel, Hồng Vân Entertainment, to 593,000 from 300,000.

“I believe releasing web dramas on YouTube is a good way to save money on production and provide audiences with art, as the COVID-19 pandemic has still not ended,” said Vân, who has 30 years of experience in the industry. 

Vân now owns two drama troupes, Hồng Vân Drama Troupe and Phú Nhuận Drama Troupe, both leading private theatres in the region. The groups have offer training courses in performance skills, targeting young talents, for the last eight years. VNS