The Vietnamese chick-flick film Gái Già Lắm Chiêu 3 (The Royal Bride) was the highest-grossing film during the Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday. Photo courtesy of producer

HCM CITY — The Vietnamese chick-flick film Gái Già Lắm Chiêu 3 (The Royal Bride) was the highest-grossing Vietnamese film nationwide during the Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday.

The film, co-directed by Bảo Nhân and Namcito, raked in VNĐ102 billion (US$4.4 million) in ticket sales in just six days starting on January 25. As many as 1.6 million tickets were sold.  

The film stars Ninh Dương Lan Ngọc, winner of Golden Kite Best Actress award in 2010 and 2015, and People Artists Lê Khanh and Hồng Vân.

Ngọc plays a successful woman who travels to Huế to meet her boyfriend's family and discovers that they are descendents of Vietnamese royalty.

Director Namcito told media that the film was set in Huế and "featured the city's beautiful landscapes. It is also about the life of a Vietnamese royal family.”

“The appearance of two veteran actresses Lê Khanh and Hồng Vân in the film is another factor that helps pull in audiences.”

Producer and director Quang Huy’s fantasy comedy 30 Chưa Phải Tết (Tết Has Not Come Yet), earned VNĐ11 billion ($474,000) on its premiere day on January 25.

The film is about a man who is stuck living on repeat on Lunar New Year’s Eve. With the help of a monk, he escapes from the time loop to gather with his family during Tết.

Huy invited comic actor Trường Giang and Mạc Văn Khoa to play roles in the film.

“My film highlights traditional family values and friendship. I invested large amounts of money in my films for Tết. I hope the film can keep its current high ticket sales,” Huy said.

Leading film company Thiên Ngân (Galaxy) Studio’s film Đôi Mắt Âm Dương (Eyes of Evil) was also expected to be successful due to its horror theme.

Directed by Nhất Trung, the film depicts the lives of beautiful women who are hunted in a house in Đà Lạt. Their lives and deaths are secret until they go toward the light.  

Trung invited Quốc Trường and Bảo Thanh to play leading roles. They became well-known last year thanks to the TV series Về Nhà Đi Con (Come Home, My Dear) about family issues.

People’s Artist Ngọc Giàu and comic actress Thu Trang are also featured in the film.

After its release in January, the film earned VNĐ5.4 billion ($233,000) in ticket sales in three sneak shows from January 17-19. — VNS