Hanoi [Vietnam], October 9: The departure of directors Do Thanh Hai and Khai Anh from Vietnam Television (VTV) is not simply a personnel change, but also raises the question of how to sustain 'Tao Quan' - a television brand that has been associated with many generations of viewers.
In early October 2026 , Meritorious Artist Do Thanh Hai officially retired from VTV at his own request. Prior to that, director Khai Anh had also left the station in 2025. The absence of these two key figures in the creative team raises questions about the return of the "Tao Quan" (Kitchen Gods ) show , especially since the program has temporarily ceased broadcasting during the Lunar New Year of 2026.
Created in 2003 from an idea by People's Artist Khai Hung, Tao Quan (Kitchen Gods ) was developed by Do Thanh Hai and his team into a unique entertainment brand of Vietnam Television. While People's Artist Khai Hung laid the foundation, Do Thanh Hai played a pivotal role throughout the process of shaping, developing, and maintaining the program's vitality.
Without the 'captain', the return of Tao Quân (the annual Lunar New Year comedy show) will be difficult.
As the overall director, Do Thanh Hai is not only responsible for the staging but also participates in content direction, connecting creative departments, coordinating the crew, and working with artists to finalize the script. Given its unique characteristic of using prominent current events of the year as material, the "Tao Quan" show requires the host to have the ability to grasp life, select issues, organize humor, and create a balance between entertainment and social critique.
That's also why Do Thanh Hai's role is difficult to replace simply by finding a new director. The success of Tao Quan doesn't lie in a fixed script, but is formed through a collective creative process, constantly adjusting dialogue, situations, and performance to create the best stage effect. Therefore, the director must possess both a comprehensive vision and a deep understanding of the strengths and acting personalities of each artist.
Source: Thanh Nein Newspaper
