"Gia Dinh Haha" episode 13: "You won’t know Ban Don until you go - Once you go, you must know to protect the elephants"

Through cinematic storytelling, viewers discover more layers of the Central Highlands: where coffee is cherished like treasure, and people dare to step outside their comfort zone in search of their own path to “stability.”

"You won’t know Ban Don until you go - Once you go, you must know to protect the elephants"

In their first time in the Central Highlands, "Gia Dinh Haha" was introduced to the 43-year-old "male elephant" belonging to Mr. Teo’s family. In episode 13, the group continues to have the opportunity to meet the "female elephant" H’tau, named by Mr. Do Thi's family, meaning "large rock". Throughout the journey, the "Gia Dinh Haha" members were introduced to many interesting things about elephants by the host and "tour guide" Xim: while both male and female African elephants have tusks, only male Asian elephants do; elephants’ pregnancy lasts for 26 months, and the way in which they express emotions through their ears and tails.

“Gia Dinh Haha” meets Mr. Do Thi’s "daughter" H’Tau - a resident of the Central Highlands region

The whole group participated in a "realistic experience tour" in the forest: feeding bananas to the elephant, listening to the “watermelon mukbang” of the elephant, and observing how they go about their days in their natural habitat. Through Mr. Do Thi's sharing, H’Tau is considered his "daughter" - always loved, cared for, and he dedicates three meals a day to visit her in the forest. When asked by the members about the "lady elephant," he repeatedly said, "I love her dearly."

After the experience meeting H'tau, everyone discusses the concerns about elephant conservation in the Central Highlands: whether the elephant population can increase again, and what goals the province has to improve the situation. Mr. Xim shared that the natural elephant herd here rarely exceeds 10 individuals and is facing the risk of extinction. Due to their cross-border migration habits, elephant conservation requires the joint effort of many countries. For domestic elephants, which are accustomed to living near humans, returning them to the forest is not simple.

The perspective on conservation work was also authentically explored. This is not a story about numbers or policies, but also an emotional concern. Currently, the locality is cooperating with the Animals Asia organization to encourage households to transition to a friendly tourism model. However, behind every domestic elephant is a bond of flesh-and-blood: "To send the elephant back to the forest, people feel concern and can't bear to do so." Xim's sharing shows the complexity and humanity in the effort to return elephants to the forest, just as the local saying goes: "You won’t know Ban Don until you go - Once you go, you must know to protect the elephants."

Coffee is as important to Central Highlands people as “music is to an artist"

Amid rows of ripe red coffee cherries, each family member found their own piece of memory. Ba Nam recalled picking leftover coffee as a child to save money for snacks, and now he nimbly passes on the tricks to everyone. For Tu Tam and (S)TRONG, the story of work connects the stage to the coffee fields, linking the artist’s dream to everyday labor. As (S)TRONG says while picking coffee, "Coffee beans are as important to farmers as music is to artists", both require perseverance, dedication, and love for one’s craft.

Coffee beans are as important to farmers as music is to artists

After harvesting, everyone works together to dry, pound, roast, and winnow the coffee. Amidst the lively atmosphere, Xim teaches them a M’nong folk verse about winnowing rice:

"Winnow, winnow, sieve, sieve (Xẩy xẩy xàng xàng)

Don't let the grains spill (Đừng làm rơi vãi thóc)

Arguing, crying (Cãi vã khóc lóc)

Don’t break the gourd pot of porridge. (Đừng làm vỡ nồi cháo bầu.)"

The simple folk verse likens the gourd porridge pot to the symbol of the kitchen, the keeper of household happiness. The gentle act of winnowing is like the patience and understanding needed to maintain family harmony. The process of growing coffee is laborious, but the result is a small phin of coffee, a cherished reward and a source of great pride for the Central Highlands people: rich, slow, and full of soul, like Vietnamese coffee culture itself, where waiting for each drip becomes a time for reflection, conversation, and connection.

The “stable” choice of Y Xim, a Central Highlands man: leaving the city to build a career in community tourism

The highlight of episode 13 was the moment Mr. Xim, the host in Dak Lak, opened up about his career journey. He spoke of his youth when he once worried his parents, who feared their son would lose stability. However, he remained determined and traveled solo to Sa Pa and Da Lat to gain experience and pursue his dream of doing community tourism. The journey was difficult in the early days, but step by step, Xim combined tourism with local cultural experiences to create his unique mark. The locality began to take notice, more tourists came, and his parents, who initially opposed, came to support and be proud of him. Through perseverance and continuous effort, he proved that his path was correct. Y Xim's story proves that true “stability” comes from sustainably building passion.



He shares about giving up the "stable" path to pursue his passion for community tourism

This story deeply resonates with “Gia Dinh Family” members, as artists who have also faced difficult career choices: to follow a safe path or carve out their own and pursue their passion. At that moment, the lunch meal became a connecting thread, tying those who dared to step out of their comfort zone and go their own way.

After 13 episodes, the journey of "Gia Dinh Haha" shows that the beauty of cultural exploration is never a repetitive experience. The program not only records surface-level activities but has touched on the simple life philosophies of the local people - from how they see elephants as family members, how they place their faith in coffee beans, to how they define "stability." It is this sincerity in learning about those life values that has created the simple and uniquely "healing" appeal for the program.

"Gia Dinh Haha – Nhung ngay troi bao la" - a reality TV program that brings beloved artists, "Anh Tai" and "Chi Dep", to experience authentic rural life in Vietnam, starting from Lao Cai, Quang Ngai, to the Mekong Delta and the Central Highlands. The show is a journey for the artists to explore the beauty of Vietnamese culture, landscapes, and the people, thereby creating a gentle, "unscripted movie" together, bonding over sincere values in everyday life.

Adapted from the format of HaHa Farmer, owned by MangoTV (China), the Vietnamese version “Gia Dinh Haha” is produced and licensed by Yeah1 Group.

The cast of "Gia Dinh Haha – Nhung ngay troi bao la" includes: Jun Pham, Rhymastic, Bui Cong Nam, Duy Khanh, and Ngoc Thanh Tam. At each journey segment, "Gia Dinh Haha" will have additional guests visiting the house, who are famous artists with long-standing activity in the industry and familiar to the public.

@'Gia Dinh Haha – Nhung ngay troi bao la' is a reality TV program invested, produced, and licensed by YeaH1.