Who is the Millionaire (Vietnamese game show)
Ai Là Triệu Phú (English translation: Who is the Millionaire?) is the licensed Vietnamese version based on the British game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? in original format, which premiered on January 4, 2005 on VTV3. The main goal of the show is to win ₫150,000,000 (about $6,585) by answering 15 multiple choice questions correctly (the previous top prizes were ₫50,000,000, ₫100,000,000 and ₫120,000,000). The show is broadcast on VTV3 every Tuesday at 8.30 pm (GMT +7) (earlier 8.00 pm and 8.05 pm) and rebroadcast at 10.00 am (earlier 9.20 am) on the following Wednesday.
| Ai Là Triệu Phú | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Created by | Vietnam Television (domestic. 2005 - present) Mesa (previously as E-Media) (domestic, 2005 - 201x) Sony Pictures Television (international, 2005 - 2007 (Celador), 2007 - present (2waytraffic)) |
| Presented by | Lại Văn Sâm (2005-2017) Phan Đăng (2018-present) |
| Country of origin | Vietnam |
| Original language(s) | Vietnamese |
| No. of episodes | 742 (as of February 25, 2020) |
| Production | |
| Running time | 45 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | VTV3 |
The show was hosted by Lại Văn Sâm from January 4, 2005 to December 26, 2017. He left the show after his retirement at age 60. After the last episode featuring him as the host was broadcast on VTV3, there was a selection of who would become the new host. At the end of the selection, Phan Đăng was chosen to take over the role as the new host of the show from 2018 afterwards.
The show was replaced by the Hot Seat version called Ai Là Triệu Phú - Hot Seat from September 7, 2010 to June 28, 2011. After the audience had a feedback that they like and were familiar to the original version than the Hot Seat version, the show returned from July 5, 2011 to present.
So far, no one has won the top prize in the version. The biggest win was in 2008, when Nguyễn Lê Anh and couple Bùi Thị Hà Thanh and Đào Hồng Vũ, both were won ₫80,000,000 while the biggest prize (in 2008) was ₫120,000,000.
[[Ai Là Triệu Phú (2019-2020 season)|Seas on 10 will be the final season using the 2014 blue graphic. According to the VTV3 24th Anniversary news report, VTV3 (which airs the show) said that many gameshow are having big changes, and Ai Là Triệu Phú is no exception. It's said that the show will increase the money trees and new graphics (possibly the new Dutch graphics), but it is unknown if the show will build a new beautiful studio with LED screen or not.
History
Before Ai là Triệu Phú, an unlicensed version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? in Vietnam title Rồng vàng was started broadcast on HTV7 (Ho Chi Minh City Television) starting from May 23, 2003 and it was popular until 2005.
In 2005, after the successful of Chiếc Nón Kỳ Diệu (Vietnamese version of Wheel of Fortune) and Hãy Chọn Giá Đúng (Vietnamese version of The Price Is Right), former VTV3 chairmen Lại Văn Sâm offered VTV3 staffs to take the British format of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? to Vietnam and named as Ai là Triệu Phú (Who is the Millionaire?). The show premiered on January 4, 2005 and became one of the most popular knowledge gameshow in Vietnam. The biggest winner in this season was Nguyễn Văn Thắng who won ₫14,000,000.
Starting from the Vietnamese Women's Day special in 2005, the show increased the money tree to ₫100,000,000. On this year, Phạm Văn Hoan was the most successful contestant, although he just won ₫40,000,000, becoming the biggest winner in the Vietnamese version until 2008. In 2006, 2 other contestants won ₫25,000,000 (reached question 13 and took the money).
In 2007, the show increased the money tree once again to ₫120,000,000. Also, the Season 3 was the final season using black graphic and also the final season Celador owned the show. The biggest winner in Season 3 was ₫35,000,000 and was won by 3 different contestants. This season also have the first penultimate prize loser.
On May 20, 2008, when the show was owned by Sony Pictures Television (with brand 2waytraffic), the show upgraded to the brand new Rave format, making Vietnam become the first Asian country to use the Rave format, with a new blue graphic (which was used firstly on the Australian version), along with a new lifeline, Ask Three of the Audience. 2008 is the most successful year when the show had two records: Nguyễn Lê Anh and couple Bùi Thị Hà Thanh and Đào Hồng Vũ, both won ₫80,000,000 after answering the penultimate question correctly. Another contestant, Nguyễn Văn Yến also reached the penultimate question, but took the money and won ₫50,000,000. In 2009 the biggest win was only ₫35,000,000 and was won by 2 different contestants. In 2010 it is unknown if any contestant won ₫35,000,000 or not.
The show was replaced by the Hot Seat version called Ai Là Triệu Phú - Ghế Nóng from September 7, 2010 to June 28, 2011. After the audience had a feedback that they like and were familiar to the original version than the Hot Seat version, the show returned from July 5, 2011 to present. The most successful of 2011 was Lại Tuấn Dũng, when he won ₫50,000,000 and walk away on the penultimate question.
Starting from June 19, 2012, the show increased the money tree once again to ₫150,000,000. Starting from June 2013, VTV3 started broadcast the channel in HD. Because of that, the show was broadcast in the 16:9 resolution (HD). This making the size of blue graphic was smaller and same as the one used in Australia. To fix that problem, on September 30, 2014, the show upgraded to another new blue graphic once again, but it was similar to the 2010 - 2014 UK purple flux background.
On December 30, 2014, on the 10th Anniversary episode, celebrities Hoàng Bách, Minh Thư, and Tự Long appeared. The episode also mentioned some impressive contestants from 2005 to 2014, including Nguyễn Lê Anh, Nguyễn Thế Kiên, Trần Tiến Thực, Đặng Thiêm, and Trần Khanh.
Starting from 2015, the show used the 6-player Fastest Finger First format. The December 26, 2017 episode is the final episode when Lại Văn Sâm as the host. Before he left the show, the VTV3 staffs and the show's fan showed the special celebration of his final episode. However, the celebration was not shown on air, but it was seen in some newspapers about the taping date of his final episode.
After the last episode featuring Lại Văn Sâm as the host was broadcast on VTV3, there was a selection of who would become the new host. At the end of the selection, Phan Đăng was chosen to take over the role as the new host of the show from 2018 afterwards. Since Phan Đăng became the new host, the Fastest Finger First round is dropped and contestants are invited to the studio instead.
Ai Là Triệu Phú temporary stopped airing on March 20, 2018 for one week due to the death of former Prime Minister Phan Văn Khải. Instead, the reality show Điều ước thứ 7 and a film called Lời ru của mẹ replaced it.
On 2020, Hồ Thị Thụy Như become the second penultimate prize loser, and also holding the record for losing the biggest amount of money in a single question in the show's history.
From April 7, 2020 to April 28, 2020, the show was taped before April 1, 2020 because of the isolation order from April 1 to April 15, 2020 (later April 30, 2020) to avoid the COVID-19 pandemic (Coronavirus). Also in the upcoming tapings starting from around May - June, no audience in the studio, so the show introduced Ask two Experts and Plus One lifeline as a replacement of Ask Three of the Audience and Ask The Audience
Recently, according to the VTV3 24th Anniversary news report, VTV3 (which airs the show) said that many gameshow are having big changes, and Ai Là Triệu Phú is no exception. It's said that the show will increase the money trees and new graphics (possibly the new Dutch graphics), but it is unknown if the show will build a new beautiful studio with LED screen or not.
Filming and production
Filming takes place in S16 studio of Vietnam Television Station (VTV) in Nguyễn Chí Thanh, Hanoi, Vietnam. In earlier episodes the show was taped in the Gia Lam gymnasium, which is also in Hanoi.
In some earlier episodes (when the show was taped in the Gia Lam gymnasium), the studio using yellow lighting system (which was used on some WWTBAM international versions such as the U.K., Russia, the U.S.,...). Later, when the show moved to the S16 studio of Vietnam Television Station (VTV), the show began using red lighting system.
Qualifications
The qualification in the Vietnamese version had the same rules from the U.S. version, except some different:
- In the test with multiple-choice-questions, there are 100 questions printed in a test paper. The contestants in the qualification round will do the test in 20 minutes. They will pass this round and be advanced to the interview round if they can answer correctly at least 70 questions.
- In the interview round, the production staff will ask potential contestants some questions in 10 minutes. After a week since the interview round, the show will call them, to announce that they will be in the FFF row on the show.
- Originally from 2005 - 2010, a weekly contest called "Đi tìm triệu phú" (Finding The Millionaire) was made as a part of the qualification for people who would like to join the show. They would have to call a number (19001789) in order to answer questions from the staff on the dial. The winner of the contest would receive ₫2,000,000 (a Sufat motorcycle earlier) while the two runner-ups would receive ₫1,000,000 (no prize earlier). Also, top 12 of the contest will automatically advanced to the interview round without taking the test with multiple-choice-questions. However, the contest was discontinued in 2010 as the 19001789 phone number was eventually used for another VTV game show Hãy Chọn Giá Đúng (Vietnamese version of The Price is Right) weekly bidding contest for a chance to participate a special show at the end of each quarteryear.
Fastest Finger First in Lại Văn Sâm's era (2005 - 2010, 2011 - 2017)
Fastest Finger First round lasted for 12 years, from 2005 to 2017. There are 10 contestants (6 starting from 2015) playing for the Hot Seat. The original FFF set consists of a computer (in 2005 - 2009 they used a Sony monitor, in earlier episode they used a LG monitor) with keypad for contestant to press. However, when the show returned in 2011, the FFF row was upgraded with a touchscreen one. When Phan Đăng as the new host since 2018, the FFF was removed, making the FFF row removed after 12 years.
Monitors
The FFF monitor, host monitor and contestant monitor using the oldest black graphic, although the show was using Rave graphic from 2008 to present. Since May, 2020, the host monitor and contestant monitor using the blue background.
In earlier episode they used LG monitors, then replaced by Sony from 2005 to 2009, later replaced by Samsung from 2009 to 2016 (including all Hot Seat episodes). Touchscreen FFF was added in 2011. On 2016, the show used new monitors from Shuttle for FFF Row, host and contestant.
In Phan Đăng's era (2018 - present)
Since Phan Đăng became the new host, the Fastest Finger First round is dropped and contestants are invited to the studio instead. Before go to the studio, the contestant introduce his/her name, address, hobby, nickname,... then host Phan Đăng invited contestant to the studio.
The host also change the Vietnamese name of two lifelines, including Ask the Audience (Xin ý kiến khán giả trường quay) and Three of the Audience (Hỏi ý kiến của tổ tư vấn trường quay).
Rules (Effective from June 23, 2020)
A contestant is asked a series of up to 15 questions with increasing difficulty with no time limit. Questions 5 and 10 are known as milestone questions, if they are answered correctly, the contestant's minimum payout will be increased. This continues until either the contestant answers all 15 questions correctly, misses a question or decides to walk away with all the money they have won so far. Any of these conditions being satisfied marks the end of a contestant's game.
After viewing a question, the contestant can walk away or continue. If they walk away, they will leave with the money already won rather than guessing the answer. If the contestant answers a question incorrectly, the game ends and all of their winnings are lost, except that the ₫2,000,000 and ₫22,000,000 prizes are guaranteed. A contestant could leave empty handed if they provide a wrong answer to any of the first five question (Which never happened on air since 2011 to prevent home-viewing public from harassing them). By correctly answering all 15 questions, the player becomes a "millionaire". All contestants who are shown on air are guaranteed to win at least ₫2,000,000.
After the previous contestant finishes the game, the host will invite the next contestant until the end of the program. If the player has not finished the game but time is up, the player will be able to continue in the next episode.
Lifelines
In show there are four main lifelines: 50:50, Phone-A-Friend, Plus One and Ask two Experts.
- 50:50 (Năm mươi - Năm mươi)
- Phone-A-Friend (Gọi điện thoại cho người thân). On 2017, the video call was added on this lifeline, but it was removed since 2018.
- Plus One (Hỏi ý kiến bạn đồng hành) - One of the show's two new lifelines due to coronavirus.
- Ask two Experts (Xin ý kiến của những nhà thông thái) - One of the show's two new lifelines due to coronavirus. This lifeline was a variation of Ask the Expert and Three Wise Men. Can be used after answering the ₫2,000,000 question (5th question) correctly.
Special episodes and 10th Anniversary (2014)
- The producers of the show usually celebrate holidays in Vietnam by producing episodes with specific contestants that the producers invite to join the show (i.e. On the International Day of Older Persons episode, the show will invite contestants whose age is at least 50). Celebrity contestants may also appear on major holidays (such as Lunar New Year, Valentine's Day and International Women's Day) and they are allowed to keep their winnings or donate them to their charity of choice. Many special episodes before 2014 has couple (or special people) playing for the Top Prize.
- There are 5 Vietnamese Women's Day special that have celebrities are taped from 2005 - 2009. In 2011 they invited only 10 standalone women playing for the top prize.
- There are 3 Children's Day special in 2009, 2010 and 2012. There are 5 couples consists of a kid and an adult (in 2009 their grandparents, in 2010 their uncle or aunt, in 2012 their parents or grandparents).
- There are also Vietnamese Teacher's Day special which consists of students and teachers couples. Starting from 2011 they only invited 10 standalone teachers playing for the top prize.
- Celebrities, at least before December 30, 2014, appeared in the Hot Seat as a couple (although they did do some episode with 10 standalone celebrities).
- On December 30, 2014, on the 10th Anniversary episode, celebrities Hoàng Bách, Minh Thư, and Tự Long appeared. The episode also mentioned some impressive contestants from 2005 to 2014, including Nguyễn Lê Anh, Nguyễn Thế Kiên, Trần Tiến Thực, Đặng Thiêm, and Trần Khanh.
- There are also episodes where staffs from VTV3 (which airs the show) appeared as a contestant. Only a few were known, they are Khắc Cường, Việt Khuê (both later left VTV3 to working in VTV Sports), Nguyễn Diệp Chi (now working as the director of the show itself, and also currently the host of Đường Lên Đỉnh Olympia (Vietnamese version of Digital LG Quiz)), and Vũ Anh Tuấn (later left VTV3 to working in the Performance Department of Vietnam Television).
- Starting from May 5, 2020, there won't be any audience appears in the studio due to the Coronavirus. All of the contestants invited to the studio are the celebrity (such as singer, actor, TV host, comedian,...).
Seasons
- Season 1 (37 episodes, January 4 - October 11, 2005)
- Season 2 (72 episodes, October 18, 2005 - February 27, 2007)
- Season 3 (63 episodes, March 6, 2007 - May 13, 2008)
- Season 4 (119 episodes, May 20, 2008 - August 31, 2010)
- Season 5 (50 episodes, July 5, 2011 - June 12, 2012)
- Season 6 (121 episodes, June 19, 2012 - September 23, 2014)
- Season 7 (58 episodes, September 30, 2014 - November 3, 2015)
- Season 8 (112 episodes, November 10, 2015 - December 26, 2017)
- Season 9 (56 episodes, January 2, 2018 - January 29, 2019)
- Season 10 (63+ episodes, February 12, 2019 – present)
In Seasons 1-10, in 2005–2020, 692 episodes aired.
Money trees
Unlike other WWTBAM versions, the money tree was shown with the point value instead of money value, which mean that 1 point = ₫1,000
04.01 - 11.10.2005
| Question |
Correct Answer Value (Points) |
Correct Answer Value (Money) | Walk Away Value | Miss Answer Value | Amount Lost if Wrong Answer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 50,000 | ₫50,000,000 | ₫30,000,000 | ₫6,800,000 | ₫23,200,000 |
| 14 | 30,000 | ₫30,000,000 | ₫20,000,000 | ₫13,200,000 | |
| 13 | 20,000 | ₫20,000,000 | ₫14,000,000 | ₫7,200,000 | |
| 12 | 14,000 | ₫14,000,000 | ₫10,000,000 | ₫3,200,000 | |
| 11 | 10,000 | ₫10,000,000 | ₫6,800,000 | ₫0 | |
| 10 | 6,800 | ₫6,800,000 | ₫4,800,000 | ₫800,000 | ₫4,000,000 |
| 9 | 4,800 | ₫4,800,000 | ₫3,200,000 | ₫2,400,000 | |
| 8 | 3,200 | ₫3,200,000 | ₫2,000,000 | ₫1,200,000 | |
| 7 | 2,000 | ₫2,000,000 | ₫1,200,000 | ₫400,000 | |
| 6 | 1,200 | ₫1,200,000 | ₫800,000 | ₫0 | |
| 5 | 800 | ₫800,000 | ₫500,000 | ₫0 | ₫500,000 |
| 4 | 500 | ₫500,000 | ₫300,000 | ₫300,000 | |
| 3 | 300 | ₫300,000 | ₫200,000 | ₫200,000 | |
| 2 | 200 | ₫200,000 | ₫100,000 | ₫100,000 | |
| 1 | 100 | ₫100,000 | ₫0 | ₫0 |
18.10.2005 - 27.02.2006
| Question |
Correct Answer Value (Points) |
Correct Answer Value (Money) | Walk Away Value | Miss Answer Value | Amount Lost if Wrong Answer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 100,000 | ₫100,000,000 | ₫65,000,000 | ₫10,000,000 | ₫55,000,000 |
| 14 | 65,000 | ₫65,000,000 | ₫40,000,000 | ₫30,000,000 | |
| 13 | 40,000 | ₫40,000,000 | ₫25,000,000 | ₫15,000,000 | |
| 12 | 25,000 | ₫25,000,000 | ₫15,000,000 | ₫5,000,000 | |
| 11 | 15,000 | ₫15,000,000 | ₫10,000,000 | ₫0 | |
| 10 | 10,000 | ₫10,000,000 | ₫7,000,000 | ₫1,000,000 | ₫6,000,000 |
| 9 | 7,000 | ₫7,000,000 | ₫5,000,000 | ₫4,000,000 | |
| 8 | 5,000 | ₫5,000,000 | ₫3,200,000 | ₫2,200,000 | |
| 7 | 3,200 | ₫3,200,000 | ₫1,800,000 | ₫800,000 | |
| 6 | 1,800 | ₫1,800,000 | ₫1,000,000 | ₫0 | |
| 5 | 1,000 | ₫1,000,000 | ₫500,000 | ₫0 | ₫500,000 |
| 4 | 500 | ₫500,000 | ₫300,000 | ₫300,000 | |
| 3 | 300 | ₫300,000 | ₫200,000 | ₫200,000 | |
| 2 | 200 | ₫200,000 | ₫100,000 | ₫100,000 | |
| 1 | 100 | ₫100,000 | ₫0 | ₫0 |
06.03.2007 - 31.08.2010, 05.07.2011 - 12.06.2012
| Question |
Correct Answer Value (Points) |
Correct Answer Value (Money) | Walk Away Value | Miss Answer Value | Amount Lost if Wrong Answer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 120,000 | ₫120,000,000 | ₫80,000,000 | ₫15,000,000 | ₫65,000,000 |
| 14 | 80,000 | ₫80,000,000 | ₫50,000,000 | ₫35,000,000 | |
| 13 | 50,000 | ₫50,000,000 | ₫35,000,000 | ₫20,000,000 | |
| 12 | 35,000 | ₫35,000,000 | ₫25,000,000 | ₫10,000,000 | |
| 11 | 25,000 | ₫25,000,000 | ₫15,000,000 | ₫0 | |
| 10 | 15,000 | ₫15,000,000 | ₫9,000,000 | ₫1,000,000 | ₫8,000,000 |
| 9 | 9,000 | ₫9,000,000 | ₫6,000,000 | ₫5,000,000 | |
| 8 | 6,000 | ₫6,000,000 | ₫3,600,000 | ₫2,600,000 | |
| 7 | 3,600 | ₫3,600,000 | ₫2,000,000 | ₫1,000,000 | |
| 6 | 2,000 | ₫2,000,000 | ₫1,000,000 | ₫0 | |
| 5 | 1,000 | ₫1,000,000 | ₫500,000 | ₫0 | ₫500,000 |
| 4 | 500 | ₫500,000 | ₫300,000 | ₫300,000 | |
| 3 | 300 | ₫300,000 | ₫200,000 | ₫200,000 | |
| 2 | 200 | ₫200,000 | ₫100,000 | ₫100,000 | |
| 1 | 100 | ₫100,000 | ₫0 | ₫0 |
19.06.2012 - Present
| Question |
Correct Answer Value (Points) |
Correct Answer Value (Money) | Walk Away Value | Miss Answer Value | Amount Lost if Wrong Answer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 150,000 | ₫150,000,000 | ₫85,000,000 | ₫22,000,000 | ₫63,000,000 |
| 14 | 85,000 | ₫85,000,000 | ₫60,000,000 | ₫38,000,000 | |
| 13 | 60,000 | ₫60,000,000 | ₫40,000,000 | ₫18,000,000 | |
| 12 | 40,000 | ₫40,000,000 | ₫30,000,000 | ₫8,000,000 | |
| 11 | 30,000 | ₫30,000,000 | ₫22,000,000 | ₫0 | |
| 10 | 22,000 | ₫22,000,000 | ₫14,000,000 | ₫2,000,000 | ₫12,000,000 |
| 9 | 14,000 | ₫14,000,000 | ₫10,000,000 | ₫8,000,000 | |
| 8 | 10,000 | ₫10,000,000 | ₫6,000,000 | ₫4,000,000 | |
| 7 | 6,000 | ₫6,000,000 | ₫3,000,000 | ₫1,000,000 | |
| 6 | 3,000 | ₫3,000,000 | ₫2,000,000 | ₫0 | |
| 5 | 2,000 | ₫2,000,000 | ₫1,000,000 | ₫0 | ₫1,000,000 |
| 4 | 1,000 | ₫1,000,000 | ₫600,000 | ₫600,000 | |
| 3 | 600 | ₫600,000 | ₫400,000 | ₫400,000 | |
| 2 | 400 | ₫400,000 | ₫200,000 | ₫200,000 | |
| 1 | 200 | ₫200,000 | ₫0 | ₫0 |
Top Prize Winners
No one in the show has become the real Top Prize Winner. But there are 3 fictional Top Prize Winners of the show: singer Phương Thanh, Mrs. Kim Lành, and host Phan Đăng.
- On September 6, 2013, singer Phương Thanh participated in a simulated game (a skit of the 43rd VTV's anniversary special show "A day with VTV"), she "simulatedly" answered all 15 questions correctly and became a "Millionaire". Also, she won the top prize of "working as an editor of Ai Là Triệu Phú for a day".
- On December 6, 2014, Mrs. Kim Lành won 4 prizes in a simulated game (A skit of Điều Ước Thứ 7 (Saturday Wishes)): A soccer ball with Lại Văn Sâm's signature, A Manchester United clothing set, A chance to force the host to do anything, and a ticket to the Malaysia vs. Vietnam friendly football match.
- On January 27, 2020, host Phan Đăng won the top prize of a Đông Hồ's painting called "Đám Cưới Chuột" (The Mouse's Wedding) in a simulated game (A skit of the "12 Con Giáp" (12 Zodiacs) - a VTV3's annual Lunar New Year special show), the picture was later given to host Lại Văn Sâm (former Ai Là Triệu Phú host) to show to Mr. Xuân Bắc and Ms. Tự Long.
Penultimate Prize Winners
- Nguyễn Lê Anh - ₫80,000,000 (September 9, 2008)
- Bùi Thị Hà Thanh and Đào Hồng Vũ - ₫80,000,000 (November 18, 2008)
Catchphrases
- Unlike some WWTBAM versions (the host was said the catchphrase "Final Answer?" after the contestant said the answer), the host (Lại Văn Sâm and Phan Đăng) said the catchphrase before the contestant said the answer, so the catchphrase was "Câu trả lời cuối cùng của bạn là?" (English: Your Final Answer Is?)
- Instead of said the famous catchphrase "Let's play Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" after the contestant know the game rules, the famous catchphrase in Vietnam was "Chúng ta bắt đầu đi tìm Ai Là Triệu Phú?" (English: Let's find Who is the Millionaire!) and was said by Lại Văn Sâm. Host Phan Đăng slightly change the catchphrase to "Chúng ta bắt đầu đi tìm Triệu Phú!" (English: Let's find the Millionaire!).
Sources
- About premiere
- About change of the host
- About return the show
- About the new change of money tree, rule and graphics in 2020
- About the possible introduction of Ask the Expert lifeline
- About the possible introduction of Switch the Question and other lifelines
- About Hà Việt Hoàng appeared on Ai là Triệu Phú