Promoting tourism and agriculture from reality TV shows

In 2025, the entertainment and culture sector will see the emergence of many reality TV shows, bringing viewers closer to not only specific jobs and professions, but also to lands that may be familiar or strange, but still have many interesting things to discover .

Among them, the reality TV show "Haha Family" not only brings laughter and entertainment but also creates a strong ripple effect, contributing to promoting tourism and economy in many localities across Vietnam. By exploiting the rustic, genuine beauty of daily life, the program has turned simple villages such as Ban Lien (Lao Cai), Sa Huynh (Quang Ngai) or Giong Trom ( Ben Tre - now Vinh Long) into "hot" destinations sought after by tourists.

As the first filming location of the program “Haha Family”, right after the first episodes aired, Ban Lien - a small village hidden in the mountains and forests of the Northwest - became a tourist phenomenon. The images of lush green terraced fields, Shan Tuyet tea hills and the simple life of Ms. Vang Thi Thong's family touched the hearts of the audience, especially young people looking for a "healing" experience.

Previously, when talking about Lao Cai tourism, most tourists only knew about Sa Pa or Bac Ha, but few knew about the fresh land of Ban Lien, the friendly people and many interesting customs. The people here, with the support of a number of international organizations as well as tourism agencies, have made great efforts to put Ban Lien "on the map of Lao Cai tourism, however, due to the Covid-19 epidemic and its consequences, tourism in Ban Lien has not been able to break through.

But after the artists of the program “Haha Family” came to Ban Lien, lived together, shared the daily work of the people here, learned about the customs and practices, the beautiful images of this land reached millions of viewers both at home and abroad.

This effect is clearly shown through the numbers: Ms. Vang Thi Thong's homestay was "sold out" until the end of the year, while the number of guests booking rooms at other accommodation facilities in the commune also increased by 30-40%.

Tourists come to Ban Lien not only to admire the scenery, but also to experience the local culture: from plowing the fields, learning to embroider brocade, to enjoying rustic dishes such as fern fern and grilled stream fish. The program has successfully combined entertainment and cultural promotion, helping people become more aware of preserving their identity and developing a sustainable economy.

The stop at Sa Huynh salt fields also created an equally positive wave. The story of salt workers and especially the 9X female CEO Pham Hong Tham attracted great attention from the community. With just a short scene, keywords related to "Sahu salt" such as "sahu salt flowers", "sahu salt" quickly entered the top search results on e-commerce platforms.

The media effect from the program has helped the Sahu salt brand spread, increasing the value of Sa Huynh salt grains, thereby improving the income of salt farmers. This is a typical example of how a television program can not only promote a place but also spread the story of OCOP products and the entrepreneurial spirit of young people, encouraging tourists to not only visit but also support local products.

Ly Son has also become a destination for many young people to experience the life of the islanders, and to visit the places that the members of the "Haha Family" have been to.

In Ben Tre, "Haha Family" has turned a simple experience into a "sold-out" tour. The story of the simple life at Uncle and Aunt Chin Cuong's house, with activities such as going to the early market, picking coconuts, making honey... has attracted a large number of tourists, especially from Ho Chi Minh City and the North.

Mr. Duy Thinh, a local community tourism worker, said that the number of guests booking homestays and tours to visit Uncle and Aunt Chin's house has increased dramatically, fully booked until October. This not only helps Ben Tre people earn more income but also brings confidence to those working in tourism. Local products such as honey and coconut caramel are also "consumed" quickly. The effect of the program has helped Ben Tre affirm its position on the tourism map, with wild, intimate experiences full of humanity.

The success of "Haha Family" in the above localities has proven the effectiveness of the model combining entertainment and tourism. Instead of dry promotion, the program has told true, inspiring stories, making tourists come not only to see but also to feel and accompany.

Many other localities that have not been visited by "Haha Family" are also hoping to apply this model to develop tourism. Recently, the People's Committee of Dien Bien province has just issued a master plan to stimulate tourism in the period of 2025-2026, aiming to turn tourism into a driving force for economic growth, improving its position on the domestic and international tourism map. In particular, the province aims to welcome 1.45 million visitors in 2025, with plans to organize a series of festivals, night tours and the "HaHa Family" program.

The success stories in Ban Lien, Sa Huynh or Ben Tre are a source of inspiration for other potential lands to realize that the beauty of tourism lies not only in the landscape but also in the life, culture and indigenous people. Hopefully in the future, the model of community tourism combined with reality TV will be widely replicated, contributing to the sustainable and humane development of Vietnam's tourism.