"Gia Dinh Haha" episode 14: A new rice cycle begins, a family bond is born

From the method of brewing "rượu cần" (tube wine) - the yeast that unites the community, to intimate stories about the role of women in the matriarchal system, and the moment when the cast and Xim planted a star apple tree and named it "Gia Dinh Haha". These simple experiences, surrounded by laughter, immersing in the music, and the spirit of labor and kinship, paint a vivid portrait of life in the Central Highlands through the lens of "Gia Dinh Haha".

The seasonal harvest worship ceremony: Beginning the life cycle of rice, welcoming a season of abundance

Rice has been a sacred symbol for thousands of years, deeply intertwined with the Vietnamese people. Since ancient times, the Vietnamese have often referred to rice grains as “heavenly pearls,” viewing paddy rice as the mother of sustenance and prosperity. For "Gia Dinh Haha," the cultural journey also begins with a grain of rice — from Ban Lien, where they learned to till the soil and sow seeds, to later stages where they practiced transplanting rice seedlings, and finally, in Dak Lak, where they witnessed rice blooming during the harvest ceremony of the M’nong people.

The ethnic groups in the Central Highlands also worship the rice god and hold seasonal rituals from the time of land cultivation to harvest. Among the M’nong and Ede people, these ceremonies are indispensable parts of daily farming life. According to custom, they are performed multiple times per season — at early sowing (the sowing ritual), mid-season flowering, and at the end of harvesting. Closely related to the "rice mother" concept of the delta area, the Central Highlands people view the rice ritual as giving thanks to the deities for granting the seeds and praying for a bountiful harvest. The ceremony, led by the village elder or shaman, takes place festively right on the upland fields. More than just a belief, this symbolizes the sacred connection between humans and nature. Inside the village elder’s stilt house, gongs echoed their sound harmoniously with the cozy taste of tube wine, recreating the vibrant cultural spirit of the Central Highlands.

Dressed in traditional attire, the members of "Gia Dinh Haha" joined the village elder in preparing offerings: carving the nêu tree (ceremonial poles), cooking rice to offer to the deities, and raising a glass of tubewine as part of the ritual.

"Gia Dinh Haha" participates in the harvest ceremony for the first time in the Central Highlands segment.

After the ceremony, Xim’s mother, Ms. Dung, arrived carrying a jar of tube wine, joining the joyful celebration. The cast took turns expressing gratitude and congratulations to the village elder, the shaman, and Xim, who had all welcomed them like family. Ba Nam shared that, as someone from Dak Lak who had had many exchanges with Ede people before, it was only upon joining this journey that he realized he had overlooked many cultural values of his own homeland. Despite the language barrier, everyone could feel the palpable bond thanks to the genuine warmth and affection from the villagers. During the communal feast, the atmosphere grew livelier as everyone joined Ms. Dung, the village elder, and the village folks in a cultural exchange, immersing themselves in the sound of gongs and the characteristic melodies of the M’nong people.

Tube wine - the ties connecting the M’nong community

For the M'nong people, "rượu cần" (tube wine) is not just a drink, but a cultural ritual passed down through generations. Every jar aged in the corner of the kitchen is a symbol of hospitality, reserved for important guests during festive gatherings.

One afternoon, Ms. Dung came by the house and guided the cast of “Gia dinh Haha” to make traditional tube wine. She carefully demonstrated each step in detail: roasting the husks until fragrant and then colored, letting them cool off before kneading them with cooked rice, and mixing them up to ferment.

The cast clapped and marveled in delight as Ms. Dung taught everyone the song "Di hoc ve" (Returning from school) in the local language while having her hands full, skillfully mixing the rice with the husks. She shared that she once participated in the “Indigenous Lullaby Singing Contest” in Hanoi and received a merit certificate from the Central Government. The unadorned, rustic melodies enlighten the kitchen space.

During the wine-making process, Ms. Dung also spoke about the life of M’nong women in a matriarchal society: they are both the pillars of the household and the voices of the community, but they also bear much hardship and responsibility. In particular, a woman can even become the female village elder, respected by the entire community in clans where women carry strong social and political understanding, are financially stable, and are knowledgeable about customs and traditions.

Ms. Dung teaches the members to make tube wine, a special traditional drink of the M'nong people.

After completing the final step of the process, the fermented mixture was sealed inside a jar and covered with leaves. According to Ms. Dung, it would be ready to serve after about a month of fermentation, just as the M’nong traditionally prepare their tube wine for guests and festivals.

The star apple tree named "Gia Dinh Haha" - A personal gift for Y Xim

The journey of “Gia Dinh Haha” has always been tied to the fields, and in the Central Highlands, that bond continued as the group joined Xim in the hillside plot. Planting the tree also recalled the journey from the first few episodes.

If in Ban Lien, this act symbolized revival and renewal of the green-filled land, then here in the Central Highlands, this gift symbolizes a bond, so that every time the tree bears fruit, it will be a living reminder for Xim of the friendships formed through the show "Gia Dinh Haha".

Ba Nam sent his wishes: "When the tree bears fruit, please remember us." Xim smiled in reply: "We must always remember those who plant the tree." The whole group promised to one day return to Dak Lak and visit Xim while admiring the blossoming fruits from the  "Gia Dinh Haha" star apple tree - as a testament to the friendship and beautiful memories they had "sown" together.

The members gift Xim a commemorative star apple tree named “Gia Dinh Haha”

Farewell to Tóc Tiên - kinship is the connecting thread

The farewell dinner for Toc Tien began with the M’nong phrase “sa piêng” - an invitation to share a meal. Most notably, all the dishes were, as the second brother Thien jokingly said, “made in M’nong.”

In the warm, familial atmosphere, Toc Tien shared that what impressed her most about the journey was that “the show isn’t scripted”, allowing everyone to relax, enjoy, and truly expose themselves to new experiences.  She also reminisced about memories with the members: having co-written music with Ba Nam and yet going on three years without meeting him, or rarely having the chance to partner up for a journey with the eldest brother, Thuan, despite knowing him for over a decade.

Journeying with everyone in "Gia Dinh Haha" allowed her to bond and grow closer with her stage colleagues, now turned family members.

Xim admitted that when he first heard seven artists were visiting, he was nervous about the potential distance their fame might create. However, after more bonding time, Xim realized everyone was not what he had initially expected. The members of "Gia Dinh Haha" were all friendly, approachable, and sincere. And so, as a farewell present, Xim gifted Toc Tien a hand-embroidered hat featuring traditional Central Highlands patterns and a jar of specialty tube wine.

The moments of sharing, the simple and genuine gifts, the tight hugs are the bridges that bring people closer together.



Xim gifts Toc Tien a jar of traditional tube wine before saying goodbye

The farewell marked the close of Episode 14, yet lingered a distinct sense about the story of family bonds and friendship. Amidst the resounding gongs, the cozy meal, and the meaningful gifts, all distances seemed to vanish. Like the newly planted star apple tree in the red basalt soil, this journey has sown seeds of connection, so every sweet blossoming of fruits can be a reminder to a family - "Gia Dinh Haha" - who once created memories together in the sunny and windy Central Highlands.

"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.