"Quan Nha Haha" episode 1: Kicking off the journey in Hue, the cast falls in love with ancient capital cuisine

Watch episode 1 of "Quan Nha Haha" here:

Right on the very first day, a series of hilarious, laugh-out-loud mishaps unfolded, treating viewers to moments of pure, lively entertainment.

Episode 1 of "Quan Nha Haha" takes viewers to the dreamy landscapes of Hue, where the cast members take on roles as staff at a family-run eatery owned by Aunt Be and Uncle Phuoc. Here, the cast savors authentic ancient capital home-cooked dishes for the first time and rolls up their sleeves in the kitchen under Aunt Be’s guidance. Shadowing Uncle Phuoc, the artists gradually grow accustomed to the daily grind of genuine restaurant staff. Amidst peaceful surroundings, bustling mornings serving patrons, and warm, laughter-filled meals together, the members quickly become a cherished part of the host couple's family.

An opening stage steeped in ancient capital charm

Episode 1 opens amidst the poetic, timeless atmosphere and characteristically unhurried pace of Hue. The cast makes their entrances in unique ways closely tied to ancient capital culture. Jun Pham leisurely rides a dragon boat along the Perfume River, humming the folk verse: "Whoever visits Hue, let them go; whoever heads back, return to Mount Ngu, return to the Perfume River…". Bui Cong Nam takes a taxi, chatting excitedly with the driver about plans to open "Quan Nha Haha" in Hue. Meanwhile, Ngoc Thanh Tam and Duy Khanh make a radiant entrance on a traditional cyclo, crossing the Nguyen Hoang Bridge. Rhymastic arrives at the meeting point first, taking time to enjoy the open breeze while waiting for the others.

The reunion of the five members takes place in a cheerful atmosphere filled with warm hugs and playful banter. Shortly after, they receive a secret letter and make their way to Aunt Be and Uncle Phuoc's family restaurant.

Opening day: Busy but overflowing with laughter

The group receives a heartfelt welcome from the hosts, who treat them to local specialty Nam Pho thick noodle soup for their very first breakfast. Duy Khanh thoughtfully prepares aprons custom-printed with the five members' names to gift to the aunt and uncle. The youngest member, Khanh, playfully quips that he packed plenty of extras just in case visiting patrons have free hands to put on an apron and help out. Eldest brother Jun Pham presents the cozy eatery with a wind chime to bring good fortune and prosperity, while Ngoc Thanh Tam brings along a cute pink cookware set to brighten up the kitchen space.

After breakfast, the members get straight to work preparing to open doors in time for customers. Bui Cong Nam shadows Uncle Phuoc to learn how to lay tablecloths and arrange bowls and chopsticks on the tables. Getting some one-on-one time with Uncle Phuoc, "third brother" Nam showers him with compliments, sweet-talking him with calls of "my dear uncle" in an attempt to... ask for a cut of the property deed. The artist also reveals that he used to work as a restaurant server back in the day, but having stepped away for so long, he had completely forgotten how to set the table properly.

The members serve the eatery's very first guests

As anticipated, eldest brother Jun Pham stepped up as head chef in the kitchen alongside Aunt Be. He was guided by Aunt Be in cooking specialty dishes such as young jackfruit soup with piper lolot leaves, stir-fried fig served with crispy rice crackers, and claypot-braised goby fish. Under Aunt Be's guidance, paired with his own culinary flair, Jun Pham had little trouble capturing an authentic Hue flavor profile.

Taking on front-of-house hosting and serving duties, Duy Khanh left the entire kitchen in fits of helpless laughter. Even though Aunt Be's eatery offered fixed daily set menus for families, he still struggled to memorize all the dish names, eventually hauling the massive menu board, half as tall as himself, straight to the table to introduce the food to guests. Even after double-checking and asking three separate times, the moment he dashed into the kitchen to relay an order, Duy Khanh casually blurted out, "Probably...". Knowing his younger brother inside and out since their days on Gia Dinh Haha, Jun Pham could not help but raise an eyebrow every single time Duy Khanh entered to call in a ticket.

While admittedly a bit clumsy as an order runner and food server, Duy Khanh excelled at livening up the room. He consistently found ways to put diners at ease and let them enjoy their meal, constantly serving up spontaneous, hilarious skits for the guests, his fellow castmates, and Aunt Be and Uncle Phuoc alike.

Eldest brother Thuan and third brother Nam take charge of cooking the dishes

Meanwhile, Ngoc Thanh Tam still could not escape dishwashing duty from the previous season. Even so, "fourth sister" Tam thoroughly enjoyed the chore without a single complaint. Ngoc Thanh Tam’s diligence, meticulousness, and cheerful spirit kept the kitchen spotless and orderly at all times.

Hardworking Tu Tam thoroughly enjoys her chores, always keeping the kitchen spotless

As for Rhymastic, he maintained his signature "fewer words, more action" approach. "Second brother" Thien quietly observed which station needed a hand and stepped in immediately. Even so, whenever he did speak up, the male rapper left everyone marveling at his rich "Premium Vietnamese" vocabulary and masterclass wordplay.

A cozy dinner and a Hue dialect class

Following a whirlwind day of non-stop work, the whole family gathered around a warm dinner spread featuring fragrant grilled pork wrapped in wet rice sheets (banh uot thit nuong), prepared together by Aunt Be, Uncle Phuoc, and the cast members. The dinner table brought together not just the five castmates and the host couple, but also Xuan An, Uncle Phuoc's son, who had just returned home from work. Xuan An enthusiastically shared his idea to create a commemorative board where guests visiting the homestay and eatery could leave behind their memories and well wishes. Rhymastic immediately offered his enthusiastic support, volunteering to help out whenever he had free time.

The members gradually settle into the rhythm of restaurant staff, becoming a close-knit part of the host family

The meal quickly turned into a lively "Hue dialect class." Uncle Phuoc wittily shared hilarious anecdotes about regional language misunderstandings. Uncle Phuoc’s family also enthusiastically explained rustic local terms to the cast, such as "doi" meaning to throw, or "xuoc ki cuoi" meaning to sweep the yard.

Touched by the family's warm hospitality, Jun Pham opened up: "We feel fortunate because every show we participate in offers a chance to learn more about the culture and people of different regions. But with this program in particular, we get to stay longer and gain a much deeper appreciation for the warmth and character of the local people here. This time around, we hope to have even more time to sit down, share, and chat with both of you." The male singer also humorously confessed that before arriving in Hue, he had cautioned his younger castmates to mind their manners out of concern that Hue locals might be strict, but now "it turns out Uncle and Aunt are the ones who need to be careful because we are far too noisy."

An indispensable "specialty" following every meal among the five castmates was the word-chain game. The members excitedly invited Aunt Be and Uncle Phuoc to join in. Despite being niece/nephews and aunt/uncle in daily life, the moment they stepped into the word-chain "battlefield," everyone competed with absolute resolve, giving no quarter. The room, as a result, burst into non-stop laughter.

Minh Hang and Quoc Thien make a surprise appearance

Heading into the second day, operations ran much more smoothly as every member had grown accustomed to their designated roles. Following breakfast, the entire group gathered in the kitchen to prep ingredients, ready to welcome patrons.

Just when it seemed episode 1 of "Quan Nha Haha" would draw to a close within that peaceful scene, an unexpected twist occurred. Two special guest stars, Minh Hang and Quoc Thien, officially showed up to join the Hue leg. Their sudden visit caught the entire cast completely off guard. The collaboration between the five members and the two guest artists promises to inject an explosive, fresh energy into the show. Viewers can look forward to a host of entertaining situations, playful banter, and colorful culinary journeys across the ancient capital in the upcoming episodes.

Quoc Thien and Minh Hang join the cast as guest stars for the Hue leg

Source: 1Production