Hue to showcase cultural heritage in multinational reality TV show

The programme was unveiled by the Hue municipal People's Committee on October 31 at a conference and press briefing introducing tourism promotion initiatives and new tourism products through 2027. Its first season is scheduled for 2027.

The show will draw inspiration from Hue's culture, heritage, people, living spaces and everyday challenges. International creators will work with Vietnamese artists, artisans, experts and local communities to explore the city's cultural traditions and develop new creative content, products and experiences.

The first season is expected to feature five teams, each comprising two creators from the same country and one Vietnamese artist or creative professional serving as a cultural bridge.

The first season is planned to comprise 15 episodes organised around five themes - Lễ (Rituals), Âm(Sounds), Vị (Flavours), Nghề (Traditional Crafts) and Hue Today.

The Rituals segment will explore ceremonies, architecture, traditional costumes, decorative patterns, royal aesthetics and etiquette. Sounds will focus on royal court music, Ca Hue folk singing, traditional music and everyday soundscapes, while Flavours will highlight Hue's cuisine, ingredients, cooking techniques and culinary traditions.

Crafts will connect participants with artisans, traditional craft villages and production techniques, while Hue Today will test creative ideas in contemporary settings.

Each episode will present a challenge rooted in Hue's culture, daily life or practical needs. Before developing their ideas, teams must understand the origins and significance of the cultural elements involved, traditional techniques and the principles that should be respected.

Local artisans, experts and communities will participate directly by providing information, offering practical guidance, giving feedback and verifying the outcomes. Depending on the challenge, the final results may include creative content, concepts, product prototypes, services or new experiences.

Unlike elimination-based reality shows, The Hue Creators will retain all five teams throughout the season and will not rank participating countries. Teams will accumulate points and achievements across challenges to compete for the title of Best Creative Team of the Season.

Approximately 70% of the challenges will be team-based, while the remaining 30% will involve collaboration between teams.

Nguyen Thanh Tri, the project's executive director, said the programme aims to develop a Vietnamese-created reality television format inspired by Hue's culture, heritage and people, while connecting international creators with local artisans and communities.

Pre-production, participant selection and content development are scheduled from late 2026 to early 2027. Filming in Hue is expected to take place from mid-March to early April 2027, including approximately 15 days of principal filming.

Following post-production and cultural content verification, the 15 episodes are set to air weekly between June and September 2027.

Organisers are exploring partnerships with domestic broadcasters and television partners in participating countries. The programme will also be distributed on digital platforms, with subtitles, voice-over narration or dubbing tailored to individual markets.

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