The smash-hit “Big Brother” reality show will have its Vietnamese version called “Nguoi giau mat” (the hidden man).

The 12 selected contestants of the Vietnamese program will spend some time in a common house. During their stay, they’ll be totally isolated from the outside world and are not commonly aware of outside events by being denied access to the telephone, Internet, radio, newspapers and relatives.

Contestants will be continuously monitored by over 30 in-house television cameras as well as personal audio microphones during their stay. They will also have to take up the challenges provided by ‘the hidden man’.

The last housemate or houseguest remaining in the compound by the series' conclusion will be crowned winner and walk away with a whopping VND2 billion (US$95,800) prize.

The program, which is directed by film director Nguyen Quang Dung, will start recruiting nationwide on Sept 8.

“Big Brother”, which is a reality game show franchise created by John de Mol, has seen 40 different versions in the world and draws over 2 billion views each year.