What is Gia dinh Haha?

Gia Dinh Haha - Nhung Ngay Troi Bao La (Haha Family - Days of Vast Skies) is a reality TV show on VTV3 where artists immerse themselves in the local culture of different regions. This entertainment show unexpectedly became a "tourism sensation," transforming the peaceful village of Ban Lien into a hot trend destination, all thanks to Haha's Family. Every local specialty featured, like cassava spring rolls, bamboo-tube sticky rice, and Shan tea, carries a deep cultural story from the Northwestern mountains.

So, what other unique specialties from this region offer both amazing flavors and rich cultural tales? Join CHUS as we follow Haha's Family to find out!

What is Gia Dinh Haha?

Gia Dinh Haha - Nhung Ngay Troi Bao La (Haha Family - Days of Vast Skies)  is a special reality TV show on VTV3 featuring renowned artists including Jun Pham, Rhymastic, Bui Cong Nam, Duy Khanh, Ngoc Thanh Tam, and guest performers. The program quickly captured audiences' hearts through its authentic, intimate approach to highland community life.

The show's highlight lies in how artists immerse themselves in local activities. Recently, this included learning to pick Shan tea, carving chopsticks, wrapping sticky rice, and cooking in the green forest. These experiences provide not just entertainment but also deeply convey ethnic cultural values.

Gia Dinh Haha - Nhung Ngay Troi Bao La has dominated recent media coverage

Why Did Gia Dinh Haha Become a Phenomenon?

In the initial episodes, Gia Dinh Haha visited Ban Lien village, featuring guest singer Minh Tuyet alongside the regular cast. The program exceeded expectations by delivering:

• Authentic Experiences: The cast genuinely lived and worked alongside local people
• Rich Culture: Season opening ceremonies, traditional games, red thread tying for luck
• Unique Cuisine: Discovering Northwest Vietnam specialties through artists' perspectives
• Meaningful Messages: Planting 500 pine trees for environmental protection

The Gia Dinh Haha cast experiencing indigenous culture at Ban Lien village

Why Has Ban Lien Become Popular Recently?

Ban Lien belongs to Ban Lien commune, Bac Ha district, Lao Cai, approximately 20-30km from the district center. Before Gia Dinh Haha's filming, this was simply a peaceful village with smooth terraced fields and year-round cool climate.

Since the Gia Dinh Haha program aired, Ban Lien has become a hot trending destination in Vietnam tourism. Notably, Ban Lien Pine homestay - the show's main filming location operated by Ms. Thong and Mr. Ha - is continuously fully booked.

The series of attractive experiences at Ban Lien that make viewers constantly want to visit

Ban Lien's endless beauty captivates many:

• Natural Landscape: Terraced fields and lush green pine forests
• Ethnic Culture: Preserved indigenous Tay and Hmong lifestyles
• Local Cuisine: Ban Lien specialties and
• Northwest Vietnam specialties Homestay Experience: Slow living, close to nature

Specialties That "Stir Nostalgia" in Gia Dinh Haha

The Gia Dinh Haha program has become an excellent culinary cultural bridge, bringing Northwest Vietnam specialties to audiences through authentic and emotional experiences.

1. Cassava Cake

In the emotionally charged episode 4, the farewell evening was marked by special cassava cake. Ms. Thong - the homestay owner - shared a meaningful story about this dish born from poverty: "Grated cassava with one egg can feed 5-6 children."

The dining spread rich with Tay ethnic Northwest characteristics in the final program episode (Gia Dinh Haha)

Previously, images of Ms. Thong guiding tourists in making Ban Lien cassava cake had spread across newspaper pages, capturing beautiful moments when traditional culinary arts passed from hand to hand. Cassava cake with its golden outer layer and soft, mildly sweet interior represents the creativity and resilience of highland people.

Ms. Thong guiding tourists in making bamboo rice that appeared previously (Photo: Government Newspaper)

2. Com lam (Rice in Bamboo Tubes)

Bamboo rice appears like a living art piece in each Gia Dinh Haha meal. From scenes of the cast preparing with homestay hosts to enjoyment moments, every detail radiates the beauty of highland cuisine.

Carefully selected upland glutinous rice, cooked in fresh young bamboo tubes, creates a distinctive flavor found nowhere else.

3. Shan Tea

The Shan snow tea picking activity in the program opened a special culinary experience. From Ban Lien's hundred-year-old ancient tea gardens, young tea buds are picked by skillful hands.

Each sip carries the pure mountain forest flavor, with refreshing coolness spreading throughout the body, like bathing in the fresh highland air.

The artist cast together with locals experiencing Shan tea picking (Gia Dinh Haha)

>>> Read more: Snowshan Ancient Tea: A Northwest Specialty of Vietnam

4. Grilled Local Pork

In episode 4's meaningful dinner, alongside cassava cake and bamboo rice, grilled local pork earned endless praise from artists. Pigs raised freely on high mountains, eating forest grass and drinking pure spring water, produce superior quality meat.

NNgoc Thanh Tam, Bui Cong Nam grilling pork during a cool evening (Gia Dinh Haha)

When grilled over glowing charcoal, the meat releases an enticing aroma, with crispy skin combining with rich, sweet meat. Each piece seems to contain the entire essence of Northwest mountains and forests, providing an unforgettable culinary experience.

5. Stream Fish

Though simple, stream fish captivated the Gia Dinh Haha artist cast. Fresh fish from crystal-clear mountain streams, grilled over fragrant charcoal, create wonderful flavors.

The fish meat is firm and sweet, without fishiness, eaten with forest vegetables and distinctive green chili salt. Each piece seems to carry the stream's story, the mountains and forests, and Northwest people's love for nature.

The delicious dining spread with stream fish (Gia Dinh Haha)

6. Forest Bamboo Shoots

The "forest bamboo shoot digging" scene in the program captured memorable moments when members experienced searching for forest bamboo shoots - one of the most precious Northwest Vietnam specialties.

From ancient bamboo trees deep in the forest, young shoots are dug up with natural crisp sweetness, carrying the rich flavor of earth and sky. When prepared, bamboo shoots maintain their characteristic crispness and wholesome taste, creating refined and nutritious dishes.

The Gia Dinh Haha artist cast experiencing forest bamboo shoot harvesting at Ban Lien (Gia Dinh Haha)

Essential Northwest Specialties to Try

Beyond the foods appearing in Gia Dinh Haha, the Northwest region possesses a rich treasure of specialties, each carrying strong ethnic cultural identity.

1. Smoked buffalo meat (Thit trau gac bep)

Smoked buffalo meatSmoked buffalo meat is the most famous specialty among Northwest Vietnam specialties. The meat is naturally smoked over kitchen fires for extended periods, creating the characteristic shiny black color and unforgettable sweet aroma.

Thai people in Son La and Dien Bien typically prepare this dish for important festivals. The meat can be preserved for months without spoiling, demonstrating highland people's wisdom. Therefore, when seeking Northwest specialty gifts, buffalo meat gac bep is an excellent suggestion.

Buffalo meat gac bep with unique preparation methods

2. Five-Color Sticky Rice - Culinary Art Masterpiece

Five-color sticky rice gets its colors from natural forest leaves: purple (cam leaves), red (gac leaves), yellow (turmeric leaves), green (pineapple leaves), and preserving the white of glutinous rice. According to Government Newspaper, five-color sticky rice follows five-element principles, seeking health, wealth, happiness, living environment, and loyalty.

Five-color sticky rice carrying meanings of luck and prosperity

3. Thang Co - Hmong People's Specialty

Thang co is a traditional dish of Hmong people in Bac Ha and Ha Giang. Cooked from horse meat and organs with distinctive spices like mac khen and forest dill, the dish has rich, slightly gamey flavors. This dish is always what many tourists anticipate experiencing when visiting the Northwest.

Thang co - the dish that creates mountain region impressions

4. Essential Distinctive Spices

Besides dishes, spices are an important part creating the difference in Northwest cuisine, including:

• Mac Khen: The "soul-creating" spice for many Northwest Vietnam specialties
• Doi Seeds: Creating mild sourness and refreshing taste for soups
• Forest Bamboo Shoots: Main ingredient for many fermented and soup dishes
• Mac Mat Leaves: Distinctive spice of Tay and Nung people

>>> Read more: Do Regional Specialties After Mergers Still Preserve Their Identity? 

5. Rượu thóc & Rượu Táo Mèo (Rice Wine and Local Apple Wine)

Rice wine fermented from purple glutinous rice has crystal clarity and sweet taste. Táo mèo  wine with the distinctive aroma of wild crab apples are meaningful souvenirs from Northwest Vietnam specialties.

Meaningful wine cups from Northwest mountains and forests

A Beloved Northwest Through Gia Dinh Haha's Lens

The Gia Dinh Haha program has succeeded in bringing Northwest Vietnam specialties closer to nationwide audiences. From Ban Lien Lao Cai to unique traditional dishes, each experience carries cultural stories and highland people's warmth.
This is truly a meaningful journey, ensuring no piece of our nation's land is forgotten. CHUS takes pride in accompanying this mission with handcrafted brocade products from the Northwest to tea lines and highland specialty foods. If you also want to contribute, visit CHUS to explore together!

FAQs

• What is "Gia đình Haha"?
  “Gia đình Haha” is a Vietnamese reality TV show with a fun, lighthearted tone. It follows a celebrity group traveling across Vietnam to explore local cuisine and culture.
• Where is Bản Liền located?
  Bản Liền is a commune in Bắc Hà District, Lào Cai Province, in Northwest Vietnam. It’s known for its ancient Shan Tuyet tea and the traditional culture of the Tày ethnic group.
• What are must-try specialties in Northwest Vietnam?
  Must-try specialties in Northwest Vietnam include smoked buffalo meat, grilled stream fish, wild bamboo shoots, five-colored sticky rice, and “thắng cố” – a traditional Hmong stew.
• Which Northwest Vietnam specialties make good souvenirs?
  Great souvenirs from Northwest Vietnam include smoked buffalo meat, Shan Tuyet tea, forest honey, dried bamboo shoots, and local spices like “mac khen” and “hat doi”.
• Who stars in “Gia đình Haha”?
  The core cast features five Vietnamese stars: Jun Phạm, Rhymastic, Bùi Công Nam, Ngọc Thanh Tâm, and Duy Khánh and pecial guests occasionally