Jun Phạm, Rhymastic, Bùi Công Nam, Ngọc Thanh Tâm, and Duy Khánh Reunite in Quan Nha Haha, Revealing the Real Pressure of Running an Actual Restaurant

The return of the cast lineup: Jun Phạm, Bùi Công Nam, Ngọc Thanh Tâm, Rhymastic, and Duy Khánh is expected to once again deliver relatable stories, familiar laughter, and a flavorful journey through Vietnamese cuisine, where every dish served at the restaurant tells a vivid story about the traditions and spiritual life of the local people.

The program is expected to last seven days at each destination, during which the artists must directly face the real-life challenges of operating a restaurant or homestay - from grocery shopping, cooking, and budget management to farming, livestock care, and fishing alongside local residents. This upgraded format places greater responsibility on every member. While “head chef” Jun Phạm worries about the culinary workload, audiences are equally curious to see how “math genius” Rhymastic will handle financial management, how Bùi Công Nam will cope with physical labor, and whether Ngọc Thanh Tâm has finally “leveled up” her kitchen skills after spending an entire previous season mostly… peeling garlic.

Jun Phạm feels overwhelmed by “three memorial feasts a day,” while Duy Khánh fears getting “physically disciplined” by the eldest brother

As the member who carried most of the cooking responsibilities last season, Jun Phạm admitted feeling overwhelmed as the show increases its level of difficulty:

“Honestly, I’m really overwhelmed. Last year, it was only on a family scale, but cooking already felt like preparing three memorial feasts a day. This year, it’s upgraded into ‘Quan Nha Haha,’ and if the restaurant gets too crowded, whoever cooks will definitely panic — I’m genuinely worried. But I also hope that after one year, my four younger siblings have improved their skills, especially Ngọc Thanh Tâm. Hopefully this season she can move on to stir-frying and cooking with me instead of just peeling garlic.”

Meanwhile, Duy Khánh is particularly excited about the culinary theme, as he personally enjoys exploring local specialties whenever traveling to a new destination. The actor believes Vietnamese cuisine is incredibly diverse, and that Quan Nha Haha can become a meaningful bridge, allowing audiences who may not have the chance to travel everywhere to still experience authentic regional flavors and cultural beauty.



However, Duy Khánh also jokingly predicted his own “fate” in the kitchen:

“Last season, I was so clumsy that Jun hit me quite a lot already. This season involves running a restaurant with tons of dishes and plates, so I’m scared I’ll accidentally break something and end up getting ‘physically disciplined’ by Jun even more. But no matter what, my philosophy on this show remains: Travel one day, eat a whole tray of food!”

A breakthrough format: Blurring the line between audience and reality

The biggest breakthrough of this season of Quan Nha Haha lies in its effort to erase the boundary between television and real life. Audiences will no longer simply watch passively — they now have the opportunity to become “culinary ambassadors” themselves.

Selected viewers will directly appear on-screen alongside the cast, participating in the entire process from market shopping and cooking to budgeting and working with local residents. This immersive interaction promises to create a more authentic and emotional viewing experience.

By promoting local agriculture, cuisine, and culture through accessible entertainment, Quan Nha Haha hopes to continue generating positive impacts on tourism while also helping create sustainable livelihoods for local communities even after filming ends.

With the natural chemistry among the five cast members and the real pressures brought by the upgraded format, the journey from “Home” to “Restaurant” promises plenty of laughter and heartfelt moments on VTV3. Even before filming officially begins, Quan Nha Haha has already demonstrated strong appeal not only to audiences but also to major partners. The participation of the Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank) as a co-investment partner — with the goal of promoting Vietnamese traditions and national beauty — further highlights how Vietnamese culture is increasingly becoming a key focus and an essential creative resource for the country’s cultural industry.

Through the promotion of local produce, cuisine, and cultural identity via relatable entertainment storytelling, Quan Nha Haha also aims to continue creating positive impacts for tourism and local livelihoods long after production wraps.