Tan Binh Toan Nang Episode 1: Thai Le Minh Hieu "frozen" right from the First Performance

Episode 1 of "Tan Binh Toan Nang 2025" has officially aired, kicking off a fierce battle with top-tier stages, where the "all-round" title will be strictly assessed and measured by international standards. Under the guidance of All-Round Producer SOOBIN, the 11 members of the Promoted Rookie Team (Tan Binh Thang Cap) entered the First Performance Stage, facing off against the "monster" group 8TURN from South Korea.

Audiences are overwhelmed by the greatly invested production behind international-standard performances

From the very first moments, "Tan Binh Toan Nang 2025" demonstrated the class of an international-caliber music program. Instead of having established artists, the show offers something different with its main cast being "rookies" who have endured 100 days of relentless training to build a good foundation with the expectation of representing "a new generation of young artists, skilled in arts, English, and with upstanding communication and conduct," as mentioned in a comment from an audience member.

Supported by a professional production team, the names behind numerous top-tier stages recently, such as: Stage Director Dinh Ha Uyen Thu, Music Director SlimV, Lighting Director Long Kenji, Art Director Vi Khang, and Director of Photography Tran Quoc Vuong,... every performance, footage, and camera angle were pure spectacle, produced with great care to deliver an overwhelming sensory experience, true to the standard for stages on international music programs.

General Director Dinh Ha Uyen Thu: "I will create stages for you to enjoy, elevate your growth to a new height. The stage does not need to be complicated; when every simple aspect blends together, it will be sensational."

Music Director SlimV: "Regarding the music signature sound, SlimV still wants to bring new, trendy songs that retain a Vietnamese essence. I hope this will be a gateway for you to get closer to international artists."

All-Round Producer SOOBIN: "I want a talented generation with great potential for success in Vietnam’s Showbiz. SOOBIN will inspire, encourage, and guide them along the way from behind the stage."

In episode 1, the Promoted Rookie Team (Tan Binh Thang Cap) performed the opening number "Da Den Luc" (It's Time), remade to better suit the group's color, and the official competition entry "Exposure," produced under the direction of Training & Development Director Hyuk Shin. Meanwhile, 8TURN's opening number "Leggo" and competition entry piece "Walk it out" truly created explosive moments on stage.

At the 1st Performance Stage, we begin with the international group 8TURN from South Korea. This group is no strangers to big stages, professionals with skilfull team performance, having taken 3rd place when competing in the Road to Kingdom - a famous competition for boybands in South Korea. This 8-member group officially debuted in January 2023, which means they belong to Gen 5 of K-Pop. Gen 5 (the 5th Generation of K-Pop), emerging since 2023, is the ones to reshape the playing field with distinct characteristics, marking a new chapter for the Korean music industry. Within less than two years after their debut, the group has set impressive milestones in sales and performance quality, reached 100,000 sales in album sales, and a 2025 World Tour all over major cities in the United States, Canada, and Europe. According to the TOP 100 KPOP site, 8TURN is voted as the Top 36/50 K-Pop Groups of Gen 5.

With the "Walk it out" performance, 8TURN received 630 points, setting a tough Reference Point. Vietnamese audiences coudln’t help but to acknowledge: "The Korean fellas dance so beautifully, rhythmic like the pulse of jellyfish tentacles, both beautiful, relaxing, and rhythmically graceful."

Facing 8TURN's impressive achievement and formidable capabilities, SOOBIN and the Rookies devised a tactical plan to best leverage each member's strengths. This aimed to show respect for the opponent and their skill-level, but as this was the first “battle”, this also helps preserve the confidence, high spirits, and daring-to-engage, daring-to-compete attitude of the Top 11. "I want them to start seeing this seriously, to understand that we are entering a battle for survival - a battle to win a debut spot in a group, they must learn to get used to the pressure from the audience, stage, lights, sound, and even the rules," SOOBIN emphasized.

Tan Binh Toan Nang takes up the stage with their performance "Exposure", competing at 100% the challenge level, delivering an explosive, visually stunning, and sonically pleasing performance. The programs international exchange competition format is briefly understood as: the international group will always perform first in the Performance Missions, and the audiences’ vote for them will be the "Reference Point" used as a benchmark to measure the level of the Promoted Rookies (Tan Binh Thang Cap).

The program uses the international groups' voting scores as the Reference Point because this is the guidelines so the audience can have the appropriate standard for group performances, and it also sets a clear target for the Promoted Rookie Team (Tan Binh Thang Cap) to strive to achieve. Each time they choose a challenge level is a time the Promoted Rookie Team (Tan Binh Thang Cap) is forced to review and assess their overall development, both as individual and as a group. Despite raves from the audience “so lit, no different from an Mnet stage," Tan Binh Toan Nang is still met with an early defeat right at the start. This was quite a shock, but also a valuable lesson for the Vietnamese Rookie Team (Tan Binh Viet Nam).

"This journey of yours is one that is hard to come by again; this is a great opportunity. We must add great value to the production of our country's music - that is a mission I think any artist wishes to accomplish. We must always carry the thought: we are Vietnamese, making Vietnamese music, and we want to reach out to the world," All-Round Producer SOOBIN affirmed.

"It will be a big lesson, a rather painful blow to the thoughts of the Top 11 members, making them feel the need to try much harder, to know where they stand and what they still need to work on every day," Cuong Bach shared.

This defeat is not just the outcome but also the most realistic measure for the "idol group" standard, forcing the rookies to look back at themselves, know where they stand, and strive even harder to achieve the "all-round" title they are pursuing.

This is only the first round; the journey ahead is still long with many things to adjust and improve. This fair judgement from the audience is the most accurate measure and assessment for the Rookies.

A comment with hundreds of likes and interactions: "This is the joy of 'stanning' (following) this rookie (show), seeing them grow from awkward, clumsy kids mostly with no singing or dancing experience, to becoming mature and confident on stage... so proud! Recommend everyone to watch Project 100% to clearly feel the outstanding progress of the kids (and YeaH1 too...)"

A valuable lesson indiscipline on the journey to becoming an "all-round idol"

During the practice for the 2 competing performances, due to personal morale issues, Rookie (Tan Binh) Thai Le Minh Hieu refused to participate in the following class despite persuasion from the staffs. To ensure the overall progress of the performance and to create a strick warning according to the established rules, the show’s production team, after discussion, decided to cut Minh Hieu from the performance, meaning Hieu would not participate in the competing performance and was "frozen" at the First Performance Stage.

SOOBIN shared frankly: "On this path, managing one's emotions and learning self-control is also a way to go far. I think this should not happen even one more time in your upcoming journey." Rookie Thai Le Minh Hieu also acknowledged this will be a lesson for him to learn to control his personal emotions in the future.

This reveals the strict discipline the show’s producer has set for the Rookies. The path to becoming an idol is harsh, because besides demanding talent, skills, or professionalism on stage, the young participants must also be "all-round" in self-awareness, discipline, attitude, and conduct in life. Young people often have their own personalities, but that personality must not affect others. The Rookies are all very young, and still have much to learn from very real clashes in life and in the process of working professionally.

Despite failing in the first round, the stage quality of Tan Binh Toan Nang still left a strong impression. The proof of great effort in the professional stages somewhat eased the disappointment and affirmed the potential of young Vietnamese talents.

Episode 1 ended with many layers of emotions, from the excitement and confidence of the Rookies for the new journey to the disappointment of stumbling in the very first round. However, the road ahead is still long and arduous, but these very lessons will forge a generation of truly "all-round" (toan nang) artists that All-Round Producer SOOBIN and the "Tan Binh Toan Nang 2025" program are searching for.

The program is currently entering the Promoted stage, broadcast on VTV3 at 20:00 (8:00 PM) every Saturday and 20:30 (8:30 PM) on the YeaH1 One Youtube channel, and is officially available on the MangoPlus entertainment application.

Youtube link for episode 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_YXZ49A1zY

"Tan Binh Toan Nang 2025" Rules:

The Promoted Rookie Team will be led by All-Round Producer SOOBIN to compete directly with international music groups through 5 Performance Missions and 1 Finale.

Performance Mission challenge mechanism: Before each Performance Mission, the program sets the challenge levels: 90%, 100%, and 115%. This challenge level may increase or decrease by X% depending on the results of Extracurricular activities.

International exchange stage system:

• Each Performance Mission has at least 2 rounds; the international group performs first. Afterward, the live audience votes; the total audience vote for the international group is the Reference Point (corresponding to the 100% challenge level).
• The Promoted Rookie Team (Nhom Tan Binh Thang Cap) performs next and also receive votes from the audience; the total audience voting score is the group's performance score. Compare the Promoted Rookie Team's (Nhom Tan Binh Thang Cap) performance score with the Reference Point, based on the chosen challenge level, to determine the result.
• Achieving the challenge level or higher grants corresponding privileges; failing to meet the challenge will result in an obstacle in the next round or other consequences specific to each Performance Mission.
• After the Performance Mission, each audience member can vote for 3 Rookies (Tan Binh); each vote corresponds to 1 individual point. Individual points are accumulated throughout the 5 Performance Missions, combined with individual points at the Finale night, will be the basis for determining the Rookies (Tan Binh) who will debut in the official lineup.
• Rookies (Tan Binh) with low individual points may be "frozen" or eliminated from the program.
• If a member is "frozen," the remaining members will participate in a rescue round, also called "defrosting." If the rescue is successful, the member can compete again in the next round. If the rescue fails, the Rookies (Tan Binh) who participated in the rescue will have individual points deducted; the "frozen" Rookie (Tan Binh) will not have points deducted but they will not compete in the next round, meaning they cannot receive individual votes.

The First Performance Stage Rules: 2 competition rounds against one international group.

First Performance Stage Challenge Levels and Privileges:

• Achieve 90% or more of the international group's score: +100 individual points for each member.
• Achieve 100% or more of the international group's score: -3% challenge level for the next round.
• Achieve 115% or more of the international group's score: Unlock 1 debut position.

Each challenge level can only be chosen once per round; if passed, the corresponding privilege is received. If round 1 fails to meet the challenge level, each Rookie (Tan Binh) loses 100 individual points. If round 2 fails to meet the challenge level, +3% challenge level for Performance Mission 2. At the end of the 2 rounds, the live audience votes for their 3 favorite Rookies (Tan Binh); the number of audience votes for each Rookie (Tan Binh) is their individual score.

What is the measure for the "all-round" (toan nang) standard of an idol group?

In the program, All-Round Producer SOOBIN (along with associates Music Producer It’s Charles. and APJ) holds the main leadership role for the Promoted Rookie Team (Tan Binh Thang Cap) on their journey of direct competition with international music groups.

One of the first measures the program set is requiring the Promoted Rookies (Tan Binh Thang Cap) to self-assess their all-round level on a 100% scale. This also helps the expert team and the public understand each person's personality and perspective regarding their journey to conquer their artistic dream.

"The organizers created this evaluation to make everyone look deeper into their own 'all-round' issue, rather than just vaguely wondering where they stand now, or whether their skills are complete or not. At this moment, we must truly recognize what we have and what we lack," Rookie Lam Anh shared.

The differences in self-perception also revealed the invisible pressures each faces. "SOOBIN wants them to start seriously understanding that we are entering a battle for survival - a battle to win a debut spot in a group, they must learn to get used to the pressure from the audience, stage, lights, sound, and even the rules," All-Round Producer SOOBIN emphasized.

Each Rookie's current self-assessment level and perspective on being "all-round":

The official stage of the reality TV show "Tan Binh Toan Nang" airs on VTV3 in October 2025

Previously, the program's producer also announced the recording schedule for the 5 Performance Missions of the official "Tan Binh Toan Nang" stage: First Performance Stage took place on 12/08 at Tan Binh Arena, Performance Mission 2 on 10/09, Performance Mission 3 on 25/09, Performance Mission 4 on 9/10, and Performance Mission 5 on 24/10. At these 5 Performance Missions, the audience also has the opportunity to be the first to witness the next growth journey of the Promoted Rookie Team by attending the performance recordings.

In the official stage of "Tan Binh Toan Nang," the Promoted Rookie Team will also get to exchange and compete with formally trained international groups from the region, opening up opportunities to gain friction and learn practical skills from those with prior experience performing on stage in a group model.

The program officially announced the highly experienced production team, the guarantee behind numerous top-tier music stages in Vietnam, who will accompany "Tan Binh Toan Nang," including General Director Dinh Ha Uyen Thu, Music Director SlimV, Stage D.O.P Tran Quoc Vuong, Art Director Vi Khang, Makeup & Hair Artist Team Quan Nguyen - Pu Le... making the audience even more expectant of grandly invested and explosive performance stages. "Tan Binh Toan Nang" is proving to be a leading music playground for training and developing the group model in Vietnam, opening up new opportunities and a new era for young Vietnamese talent - a generation of skilled artists continuing the essence of excellence to reach the world.