Vietnamese Box Office Heats Up as Tran Thanh Faces Competition from Xuan Hinh

The Lunar New Year 2026 film season in Vietnam is shaping up to be a fierce battle for box office dominance, with director Tran Thanh’s “Tho Oi” (Oh, Little Rabbit) currently leading the charge. However, the debut of comedian Xuan Hinh with “Mui Pho” (The Scent of Pho) is injecting unpredictability into the market.

“The Scent of Pho” and a New Challenger

“Mui Pho,” directed by Bùi Quang Minh (Shark Minh Beta), marks Xuan Hinh’s first foray into feature films. The film centers on Mr. Mui, a pho restaurant owner, and his attempts to pass on his culinary legacy to his children, leading to generational conflict ultimately resolved through forgiveness and understanding. As of March 3, 2026, the film has grossed over 33 billion VND.

Box Office Performance and Competition

Even as “Tho Oi” has already surpassed 300 billion VND in revenue, and Truong Giang’s “Nha Ba Toi Mot Phong” (My Father’s House, One Room) has earned over 93 billion VND, “Mui Pho” is currently performing more modestly. Xuan Hinh acknowledged the pressures of releasing a cultural film during the competitive Lunar New Year season, noting challenges with editing and pre-release commentary.

A Unique Soundtrack Blends Tradition and Modernity

“The Scent of Pho” distinguishes itself with a unique soundtrack that blends traditional Vietnamese music with contemporary production techniques. The music incorporates the pentatonic scale and features contributions from several prominent artists.

• Christian Dinh Gulino: Composed the song “Pho Rap,” combining traditional Vietnamese folk song Xam with modern rap, featuring Xuan Hinh. Gulino has worked with international artists like Kylie Minogue and Sam Smith.
• Maseu (Le Thuan An): Produced and arranged “The Traditional Man Gets Married,” blending North Vietnamese folk melodies with modern instrumentation.
• Ho Hoai An: Arranged and produced “Em Be Que” (Country Child).
• Hoa Kim Tuyen: Served as the music producer for the film’s theme song, “Mui Ky Uc” (Scent of Memories).

Cultural Significance and Artistic Endeavor

Xuan Hinh expressed his satisfaction in contributing to the promotion of Vietnamese culture through the film, despite the challenges faced during production. The film aims to honor family values and traditional heritage.

Source: vgt.vn, vietnam.vn, cafebiz.vn, thethaovanhoa.vn