Episode 10 of "Anh Trai Vuot Ngan Chong Gai 2026": Thuan Nguyen showcases conceptual skills by portraying memory loss on stage in "Giot Buon De Lai"

MAIN CONTENT SUMMARY

Theme & Competition Rules: Performance 4 officially commenced with the theme "Dau doi troi, chan dap dat" (Head to the sky, feet on the ground). Unlike previous performances, in this round, the 6 Houses did not compete independently but were divided into 3 Alliances, going through two main rounds and one special round together to determine the lineups with the most outstanding performances.

Round 1 was a vocal showdown featuring three songs: "Di tim loi ru Nu than Mat Troi", "Vung xam", and "Giot buon de lai". Moving to Round 2, the Houses tested their skills with X-songs built around three themes associated with familiar cultural figures in Vietnam: Lac Long Quan - Au Co, Thanh Giong, and Thach Sanh. Beyond focusing heavily on musical elements, this round also opened up a space for the teams to explore cultural, historical, and folklore materials in a fresher, more modern way.

Concluding Performance 4 was the Special Round featuring the song "Dai Khai Hoan". The highlight of this round lay in its competition mechanism, where members had the opportunity to protect their teammates from elimination.

Trying out new musical colors: Thai Le Minh Hieu and Ho Dong Quan are traditionally known for their strengths in youthful, modern Pop, with dance-pop styles often making an impact through catchy melodies and stage energy. However, in Performance 4, both decided to take on "Vung xam", a track blending R&B with subtle pop elements. Compared to their familiar styles, this song demands a softer, more fluid delivery, especially in terms of vocal control and emotional restraint. Choosing "Vung xam" thus became a real challenge for these two young members.

Meanwhile, for Thai VG, the challenge at Performance 4 came from an entirely different musical palette. Although this was not the first time the male rapper experimented with singing, "Di tim loi ru Nu than Mat Troi" remained a difficult puzzle, featuring an unfamiliar melody alongside high and wide vocal ranges. This required Thai VG not to rely solely on personal experience or style, but to proactively research and explore techniques suited to the song’s structure and melody. These hurdles turned Performance 4 into not only a contest among Alliances, but also a journey for each member to discover a new version of himself.

DETAILED CONTENT

Episode 10 of Anh Trai Vuot Ngan Chong Gai 2026 witnessed the completion of the new Alliances' formation in preparation for Performance 4. In the First Round, the three Alliances performed three vocal tracks in turn: "Di tim loi ru Nu than Mat Troi", "Vung xam", and "Giot buon de lai", delivering distinct musical shades and rich emotions to the audience.

Announcement of Performance 4's Theme and Competition Rules

The overarching theme of Performance 4 is "Dau doi troi, chan dap dat", evoking the image of men with strong wills, who always uphold pride and resilience before life's responsibilities. "Head to the sky" embodies the spirit of holding one's head high, striving toward grand aspirations, and constantly seeking life's purpose, while "feet on the ground" serves as a reminder of staying rooted in one's origins, homeland, and the practical values each person carries along their journey.

Sharing his thoughts on the theme of Performance 4, K.O expressed: "This phrase makes me think of men who carry their own responsibilities and burdens, toward themselves, their families, and the nation."

Alongside the new theme, Performance 4 also introduced completely different competition rules compared to the previous three performances. The six Houses were paired into 3 Alliances, with each Alliance comprising one House from the Trang Nguyen Board and one House from the Tham Hoa Board. The Alliances competed against each other across two main rounds and one special round.

In Round 1, the Alliances took on a vocal challenge with three songs: "Di tim loi ru Nu than Mat Troi", "Giot buon de lai", and "Vung xam". The lineup assignment for each stage was decided independently by each Alliance. Notably, a member could participate in both stages if their Alliance chose and arranged accordingly.

Next, Round 2 opened up a new challenge featuring three brand-new X-song performance tracks, built around three themes associated with familiar figures in Vietnamese culture: Lac Long Quan - Au Co, Thanh Giong, and Thach Sanh. Beyond requiring members to demonstrate their stage performance capabilities, this round posed a challenge in musical creativity and storytelling centered on the assigned themes.

Commenting on the themed X-song challenge at Performance 4, BB Tran shared: "It's true that the deeper we go into the subsequent performances, the greater the challenges become. Making music is within the capabilities of all the brothers; every House has music producers, but the issue here is that it's just a theme. Everyone has to find music that fits the theme, and then find a story to put into it. A performance piece centered on culture also requires quite a lot of time."

After completing two rounds, each Alliance's total firepower score will be calculated as the sum of their performance scores from Round 1 and Round 2. The Alliance holding the highest total score will become the safe Alliance, thereby gaining an advantage in the next stage. This scoring method makes the results of both rounds crucial, forcing the Alliances to weigh their strategies and allocate their personnel rationally right from the start.

Alliance Formation

The Houses based their choices of which House they wanted to ally with on the following ranking:

Trang Nguyen: Nha Benh Bong, Nha Ruc Ro, Nha My Man

Tham Hoa: Nha Nguyen To, Nha Hop Luc, Nha Quy Tu

During internal discussions, Jun Pham revealed that it was quite difficult for him to make a choice because every House had members he wished to collaborate with. This deliberation showed that the members not only looked at the overall strength of a House, but also cared about the opportunity to partner with personalities they had not yet had the chance to work with.

Meanwhile, Huynh Lap placed mutual understanding and coordination capability at the forefront. He shared: "Choose a House where we feel we understand each other, so that we don't have to waste time getting to know each other. Because the next performance is very important to Lap, we need plenty of time to invest in it instead of time spent getting familiar with one another." For Huynh Lap, as the pressures and demands of the Performances mount, quickly finding teammates who share the same work ethic helps members save time and focus more on the quality of the stage performance.

At Nha Ruc Ro, Leader Hoang Dung also identified his desired missing piece early on. The male singer expressed his initial wish to partner with Mew Amazing, as Nha Ruc Ro lacked a producer and needed additional members capable of handling multiple roles on stage. Similarly, Thom (Da LAB) of Nha Benh Bong identified Nha Quy Tu as a partner that matched what his lineup needed. He stated: "Setting aside personal emotions to choose an allied House in this performance, I would choose Quy Tu. They bring together the things our House needs."

As for Thai VG, he also clearly recognized his own strengths. The male rapper understood that he does not stand out in themes requiring extensive folklore material. Therefore, it was completely understandable that other Houses sought pieces that better fit their direction. This was also one of the factors that made the Alliance selection process unpredictable, as each House had its own criteria for building its lineup.

Following discussions, deliberations, and persuasions, the 3 Alliances were officially established:

Alliance 1: Nha My Man and Nha Nguyen To.

Alliance 2: Nha Quy Tu and Nha Benh Bong.

Alliance 3: Nha Hop Luc and Nha Ruc Ro.

The Race for Themes and Songs

After finalizing their lineups, the Alliances proceeded to an equally critical challenge: competing for the order of selection for the X-song themes and vocal tracks. To secure choices that aligned with their directions, the Alliances had to overcome an auction round and card-matching face-offs against the guardians - the Anh Tai K24, including Tang Phuc, Bui Cong Nam, and Lien Binh Phat.

Following intense competition, the final selections were distributed as follows: the Quy Tu - Benh Bong Alliance secured the Thanh Giong X-song theme alongside the track "Vung xam"; the My Man - Nguyen To Alliance selected the Lac Long Quan - Au Co theme and the track "Giot buon de lai"; the Ruc Ro - Hop Luc Alliance received the Thach Sanh theme and the track "Di tim loi ru Nu than Mat Troi".

Among these choices, Thanh Giong was a theme particularly prioritized by Huynh Lap. He stated: "Regarding the three vocal tracks, the brothers said we could be flexible; if we couldn't get this song, we could still pick another. But regarding the theme, Lap felt it was vital because it serves almost as an immense highlight for this performance. So Lap persuaded the brothers that we had to prioritize securing the Thanh Giong piece, because if Thanh Giong fell into someone else's hands, everything we built from the beginning would essentially have to be scrapped. Missing out on the Thanh Giong track was simply not an option."

Huynh Lap’s determination to claim the Thanh Giong theme also demonstrated that the Alliances had begun conceptualizing their stages very early on, rather than merely picking songs based on personal preferences. For X-song stages inspired by Vietnamese cultural materials, the theme served not only as a framework for musical development, but also dictated the storyline, visual identity, and overarching spirit that the entire team brought to the stage.

Meanwhile, Dinh Manh Ninh expressed surprise at the clarity of direction shown by all three Alliances. He observed: "The three Houses did not clash at all; I think everyone was very clear in shaping their styles as well as the spirit of the stages they would bring out. That makes me happy, because it promises that this performance will encompass a rich variety of colors."

The Emergence of the Special Round

One of the distinct highlights of Performance 4 was the introduction of the "Tieng goi Dung si" stage featuring the performance track "Dai Khai Hoan". This stage brought forth a challenge of special significance: fighting not just for oneself, but for the teammates standing by one's side. This very mechanism turned "Tieng goi Dung si" into a battle with a completely different dynamic. Participants faced not only the pressure of executing a demanding performance piece, but also the weight of responsibility toward their teammates.

For OSAD, the greatest hurdle in "Dai Khai Hoan" lay in the vocal parts. He remarked: "Honestly, I find this a very difficult song. In terms of choreography it isn't overly hard, but the vocal section is extremely tough. It is something I have never done before."

Meanwhile, Thanh Duy was drawn to the stage's special meaning. The male artist shared: "Duy didn't know this song beforehand, but when the show played it, Duy found it to be such a magnificent track and wanted to be on this stage to sing it. And particularly, the warrior this time can save a member from their House. Duy thinks that is a very cool role." Beyond being captivated by the track, Thanh Duy regarded becoming a Warrior as an opportunity to directly do something meaningful for his teammates.

Sharing the desire to fight for his House, Thuan Nguyen also proactively volunteered to take on the "Tieng goi Dung si" stage. He shared: "I didn't know how hard the song would be yet, but I still wanted to participate and try it once. If I win, I can protect my teammates. Thuan wants to protect the members and doesn't want anyone to leave, so I want to fight. No matter how hard it is, I believe I can pull through."

The Opening Stage: The Journey in Search of Light by the Hop Luc - Ruc Ro Alliance

Kicking off Performance 4, the Hop Luc - Ruc Ro Alliance presented a journey in search of light through the song "Di tim loi ru Nu than Mat Troi". On stage, Thanh Duy, Dinh Manh Ninh, Trinh Thang Binh, and Thai VG transformed into guardians of the light, lifting their voices and performing a ritual to awaken the Sun. From the very first notes blending with drumbeats and physical movement, the stage atmosphere steadily built to a crescendo as the darkness gradually receded, allowing the radiant sunlight to shine down once more.

The Anh Tai with highly acclaimed vocals performed the song "Di tim loi ru Nu than Mat Troi".

For Thai VG, the song quickly resonated with him right from the opening lyric, "Mot minh lang thang tren dat nay". Having journeyed through a stretch of life, the male rapper shared that he realized, after all, each person still has to learn to face and stay true to themselves. That very contemplation led Thai VG to feel he found a part of his own story within the song.

Beyond experiencing the song from a personal angle, Dinh Manh Ninh also saw in it a broader message about the connection between humanity and nature. This became one of the key themes tapped by the members when staging the performance, presenting people not as standing apart, but as harmonizing with nature, culture, and the vast forest expanse.

Working alongside Thai VG also gave Thanh Duy an intriguing experience. According to the male artist, with songs that have long held a familiar place in the audience's mind, crafting a new version requires artists to know how to break existing molds. Thanh Duy offered praise for Thai VG: "With a song like this, everyone has their own expectations. People have always assumed the song is just like that. But with anh Thai, when stepping into the recording booth, he thinks about what elements he needs to add and what he needs to do to make the track weirder, more unconventional."

The difficulty of the song helped the Talents break their own molds, stepping up to challenges to deliver the deep message within the song

Thanh Duy also revealed that Thai VG was initially quite hesitant when recording his first vocal lines. To help the male rapper feel more at ease with his performance, Thanh Duy suggested he try singing as if he were drunk—not focusing too rigidly on adhering to a specific mold, but loosening up and letting emotions take the lead. Following that advice, Thai VG gradually found a more fitting delivery, and the sheer naturalness of his vocals deeply moved Thanh Duy.

With lyrics and melodies carrying a liberal, free-spirited essence, "Di tim loi ru Nu than Mat Troi" also posed the challenge of preserving its original spirit while establishing a distinctive imprint for the Performance 4 version. Dinh Manh Ninh shared: "First, we had to bring the vigor, freedom, and generosity of the highland people into their song. Second, we had to weave our individual colors into the arrangement to evoke a sense that felt both strange and familiar to the audience." The fusion of each member's personal identity thus became a crucial part of refining the stage.

Notably, in the final moments of the performance, Hoang Rob appeared on stage with his signature violin, delivering an impressive conclusion. Beyond performing, Hoang Rob also took on the role of concept designer for both stages of the Alliance in this Performance. Sharing his thoughts on that unique experience, Hoang Rob said: "This performance is a special one, being the first time I took part in both stages and assumed the responsibility of concept development for both. This is a song that I believe is tied to many generations of Vietnamese people, speaking to the spirit of connection with nature and indigenous culture. Just as everyone could see at the very end, the sun lit up like the dawn blazing brightly once more."

Hoang Rob appeared at the conclusion with an impressive violin performance

Closing the performance, the Hop Luc - Ruc Ro Alliance achieved 2580 points.

Second stage: Navigating "Vung xam" alongside Anh Tai Hoang Ton, Thom DALAB, It's Charles, Ho Dong Quan, and Thai Le Minh Hieu

In this round, the Quy Tu - Benh Bong Alliance delivered the story of young men carrying an unforgettable silhouette within their hearts. On stage, "Vung xam" was portrayed like a haze of mist amidst a moonlit night of yearning, enveloping souls trapped within their own emotions.

To craft the Performance 4 version of "Vung xam", It's Charles took on the roles of line distributor and producer. Rather than altering too much of the original work, the members decided to preserve the lyrics and structure of "Vung xam", seeking instead to forge a new imprint through the musical arrangement. Thom shared that this was a track already beloved by all members for its characteristic melodic line. Therefore, the question was how to introduce a fresh color while still maintaining the inherent spirit of the song.

The song "Vung xam" brought forward the story of young men carrying an unforgettable silhouette within their hearts.

From the very first melodies, the song captured the attention of Thai Le Minh Hieu through its R&B shade, which was somewhat enchanting, alluring, and distinct from what he had previously performed. Another notable point in the lineup was that Ho Dong Quan decided to participate in both rounds with the desire to improve his Firepower score. Members of the Alliance continually encouraged the male singer to "go all out," so the audience could more clearly see his strengths and performance capabilities. Realizing that Ho Dong Quan's stage presence needed to be showcased further, It's Charles proactively proposed adding a dedicated musical section to give him more room to express himself.

Thom also expected "Vung xam" to become a stage that would help Ho Dong Quan make the most of his strengths: "This is a song that allows Quan to showcase what he does best, helping to make this track even more beautiful." With support from the members, Ho Dong Quan not only handled vocal parts but also had more opportunities to express his personal style, contributing to the diversity of the performance.

However, the biggest challenge of "Vung xam" lay in handling the emotions across each lyrical phrase. The song required singers to display restraint, subtlety, and the ability to place emotions precisely into every word. While this was relatively familiar territory for experienced members like Hoang Ton, It's Charles, and Thom, it posed a real challenge for the two young talents, Ho Dong Quan and Thai Le Minh Hieu.

The vocal track presented no small challenge for Ho Dong Quan and Thai Le Minh Hieu

Observing that Ho Dong Quan and Thai Le Minh Hieu were facing considerable difficulty delivering their assigned lines, Hoang Ton utilized his vocal experience to guide and assist them both. From phrasing and vocal control to channeling emotions into each lyric, the male singer helped the two juniors gradually familiarize themselves with the challenging sections.

Thanks to Hoang Ton's guidance alongside support from members of the Alliance, Ho Dong Quan and Thai Le Minh Hieu progressively synced with the musical character of "Vung xam", growing more confident in executing their vocal parts and readying themselves for the Performance 4 stage.

Third stage: The Nguyen To - My Man Alliance recreates Alzheimer's disease while performing the song "Giot buon de lai"

In Round 1 of Performance 4, Dong Hung, Ha An Huy, Cheng, Thuan Nguyen, and Toki Thanh Tho transformed into five distinct facets of a self, collectively facing memory loss and gradually forgetting the girl they once loved.

Sharing the idea behind the stage, Thuan Nguyen stated: "This is a very difficult song, not only in melody but also in emotion. That is why Thuan proposed to everyone the concept of an illness, portraying the emotions across each stage of that disease." From this premise, he suggested altering the story's narrative angle. Instead of a man missing his beloved to the point of madness, the character slowly descends into madness because he can no longer remember the name of the girl he once loved.

Thuan Nguyen received countless praises for the song's concept and narrative idea

Dong Hung praised Thuan Nguyen for taking charge of shaping the script and character arcs for the stage: "Thuan Nguyen is a man who is meticulous in every aspect, and in this song, Thuan is the one who developed the storyline and character lines. Even though this is a vocal track, it still requires its own narrative."

With a concept revolving around Thuan Nguyen's character—an identity constantly struggling and whispering to himself to recover lost memories—Cheng allocated the lowest and most resonant vocal register to Thuan. In his view, this was the way to convey the innermost confessions from the depths of the character's heart with sincerity and narrative alignment.

During rehearsals, Dong Hung was also surprised by Toki Thanh Tho's vocal capabilities. While Toki Thanh Tho had previously drawn audience attention primarily for his bright stage presence, Dong Hung hoped that through this performance, he would be recognized much more for his singing voice.

Combining five voices with five distinct colors also posed a challenge for the Alliance. However, Dong Hung believed this very diversity created the highlight of the performance. He shared: "I am confident in our current team; the brothers are doing well at preserving their individual colors rather than being bent to match the original version. Bringing our distinct traits into the same song and blending them harmoniously is what makes it a success."

Beyond handling vocals, Thuan Nguyen's concept also required the members to blend singing with acting, thereby fully conveying the psychological evolution of characters who are gradually losing their memories.

The members combined both vocals and acting to bring touching emotional moments in the song to the audience

Episode 10 of Anh Trai Vuot Ngan Chong Gai 2026 concluded with the Quy Tu - Benh Bong Alliance securing the advantage by earning the highest vote score in Round 1. Following this round, the three Alliances will advance to the themed X-song Round, promising explosive performances and numerous surprises on stage in the upcoming broadcast.

Source: 1Production