Unlike talent-seeking or reality shows that are purely for entertainment; charity reality shows in Vietnam, though less glittery, are more “real” and loaded with love and compassion, as they offer immense monetary assistance and mental support to disadvantaged people in remote, rural areas.

>> Vietnam reality shows rife with fights, dashed dreams

More charity reality shows have appeared in recent years, though they are not usually aired during peak viewing hours.  

Compared to talent-seeking programs, which are usually the local versions of foreign shows – such as “Vietnam Idol,” “The Voice of Vietnam,” and “So You Think You Can Dance” – and purely entertainment reality shows including “Big Brother Vietnam,” “Odd One In,” and “The X Factor,” charity reality shows are considerably more interactive, as they typically portray needy people, and provide close-ups of their daily lives and financial difficulties.   Showbiz glitterati, including singers, actors and models, also appear in the programs, but in plain clothes, and they actually get involved in helping the people in their daily jobs, such as peddling fruit, making simple handicraft items, preparing street food, carpentry, plumbing, or manual work. 

The shows are thus graced with the warm feelings and familial bonds between the beneficiaries and celebrities. Some actors who serve as the shows’ hosts stay with locals for almost a month.  

In addition, compared to their entertainment counterparts, charity reality shows are edited quite truthfully, and usually do not feature exaggerated or distorted information on the people involved.

Another distinct difference between entertainment and charity reality shows is that while the former are rife with result-fixing and sex scandals; the latter is free of such tabloid fare.

One of the most recent reality scandals occurred in the first episode of the second season of “MasterChef Vietnam,” which aired on national TV channel VTV3 in late July.

Chung Chi Cong, who is a prominent public figure, and his wife, Tran Thi Thanh Thao, both Top 40 contestants, posted accusations of corruption and lack of professionalism on Cong’s Facebook.

There are numerous other examples of realty-TV scandals. For example, contestants, particularly the women, on “Big Brother Vietnam,” stripped off nearly all their clothes to shed as much weight as possible during one of the show’s challenges in a December 2013 TV broadcast.

A few months ago, local viewers were also outraged when singer Anh Thuy tricked them by dressing up as a poor, scar-riddled coffee attendant and made up a pitiable story in one “The X-Factor” episode.

Despite its unexpected success, the first season of “The Voice Kids Vietnam” ended in September last year with certain controversy, as before the finale, two dispatches thought to be issued by authorities in the central province of Thanh Hoa surfaced online.

In the documents, the authorities called on local officials, teachers, and students to vote for Quang Anh, a Thanh Hoa resident, who was later named the show’s winner.

Rewarding charity reality shows

Most charity reality shows produced so far are locally made and place poor people at their center. One pioneering charity reality show, “Vuot Len Chinh Minh” (Overcoming Your Own Limits), turns 11 this year.

Aired at 8:00 pm every Friday on Ho Chi Minh City Television’s HTV7 and hosted by actor Quyen Linh, the program portrays poor people with overdue bank loans. These loans can be as small as VND2 million (US$94), but the beneficiaries may not be able to pay them back for ten years.

The show sets a few tasks for the beneficiaries and one or two of their family members. The tasks are simulations of their daily jobs.

With the help of a celebrity, if the beneficiaries manage to finish the task in a set time limit, they will have their bank debts paid off by the show.

They will also receive large sums of money from the show’s sponsors.

Similarly, “Nhip Cau Uoc Mo” (The Bridge of the Dream), which debuted last month on Let’s Viet channel and airs once a month, rewards the winning team with the construction of a bridge worth VND500 million ($23,534) in their residing locality which usually needs such a construction. Following the philosophy of “Giving is precious,” players on “Vi Ban Xung Dang” (Because You’re Worth It), which airs at 5:00 pm every Sunday on national broadcaster VTV3, hand over their entire winnings to the poor.

Meanwhile “Luc Lac Vang” (Gold Bells), which is broadcast at 8:40 pm every Saturday on VTV1, presents six pairs of cows to six needy households in each of its episode.

In the same vein, “Cung Xay Tuong Lai” (Let’s Build Kids’ Future Together), jointly organized by Dong Tay Co. and the Prudence Foundation and aired at 11:00 am every Sunday on HTV7, builds schools and provides books and necessities for children in poor, remote areas to help support their long-term schooling.

Also on the list is “Ngoi Nha Mo Uoc” (The Dream House), which has aired at 8:00 pm every Saturday on HTV7 for several years. During this show, the participants build a house for one disadvantaged household in each episode.

Another example is “Bep Yeu Thuong” (The Kitchen of Love), which is broadcast at 9:00 pm every Wednesday on HTV7 and provides money and cooking oil for charity kitchens at hospitals, as well as patients with financial difficulties.

At 7:10 pm every Sunday, Van, a Ho Chi Minh City resident who babysits for a living, eagerly watches “Than Tai Go Cua” (God of Wealth Knocks on Your Door), which is shown on the THVL1 channel of Vinh Long Province in the Mekong Delta.

“As a poor person, I’m full of admiration for the show’s beneficiaries’ tremendous efforts. The more money they earn, the happier I feel for them,” she shared.

Television viewers’ sympathy and compassion for the beneficiaries of these shows are integral to earning them a stable standing, despite fierce competition from their glittery entertainment counterparts and other TV programs.