Chinese TV shows being lapped up by Vietnamese youngsters

[Photo provided to China Daily]

Chinese music shows are also popular among Vietnamese youngsters. "I spend 1-2 hours a day online watching Sing My Song and Come Sing with Me, Hanoian Nguyen Phuong Linh, 25, says.

"The shows prove that even ordinary people can shine on the stage with a great performance," Linh explains as to why the programs are appealing to her.

Sing My Song, China's talent show requiring contestants to perform their original compositions rather than singing songs by others, had its first Vietnamese version produced in 2016 by local firm Cattiensa Media. After being aired on a national television channel, Sing My Song quickly became one of the most favored shows in Vietnam.

Realizing the new appetite of a young audience, online platforms started screening a greater variety of Chinese shows, including traveling programs (Divas Hit the Roads, Flowers on Trip), reality shows (Awesome Challenge, or Up Idols) and other genres such as dating (We Are in Love) or family-related shows (Dad, Where Are We Going).

To meet Vietnamese audience's huge demand for Chinese shows, more and more Vietnamese teams specializing in entertainment programs are being established to make subtitles.

"On the Subteam's Facebook fanpage, followers send us messages and comments every day about our translating schedule," says Yu, head of the Earth Subteam, which is one of the most reputable translation groups devoted to Chinese shows. "That is stressful, but motivating," she smiled.

Having started the team in July 2015, the 26-year-old woman says she has been very happy seeing youngsters nationwide, who have the same passion for Chinese entertainment programs, joining the community.

At first, the team produced subtitles for the shows they liked on a voluntary basis. "We just want to spread joy," says Yu. Now, with their translations purchased and published by many video websites, joy is being spread even further.