Revealing the story of journalist Lai Van Sam having his foot trampled by a cow

A date with youth: Four warm, fun and surprising journeys

Overcoming a series of challenges for the crew during more than 3 months of implementation Having an appointment with youth, The general feeling of those accompanying the “super cool squad” is warmth, fun and many surprises. Together with the characters, they went on 3 long trips in Hoi An, Hanoi and Ha Giang, interspersed with a few small dates such as in Ho Chi Minh City or a golf course near Hanoi.

In Hoi An, while friends and grandparents become close, share their lives, worries and have challenges to reveal their personalities, abilities and passions, the production team also understands each other better. Coming to the Hanoi leg, the challenges began to reach their physical limits (forest cycling, cross-country sports) and emotions extended to the community (about the elderly, about separation…) .

Although the Ho Chi Minh City leg is very short, it is a story about the passion for continued dedication of the elderly and their willingness to be together and support each other. In Ha Giang, grandparents become a bridge between generations to share culture, traditions, love for the country and inspire the next generation with the will to constantly rise up in life.

More than 20 challenges and secrets revealed

On average, each episode will have 2 challenges, meaning the number of challenges exceeds 20 throughout the journey. Initially, the team relied on research about what older people could do, perhaps regretting that they had never done it and depending on the destination. Later, through private interviews, the crew understood more and decided to take on new challenges.

The most labor-intensive challenges are probably the activities in Ha Giang: From folk dance competitions, cultural experiences, going to Meo Vac market to sell cows or organizing donations, repairing school buildings… The group encountered many difficulties when traveling. Due to the remote location, there was contribution and support from the government, localities and army forces.

The title of “challenge king” of the program probably belongs to journalist Lai Van Sam when he was listed by the program’s general director: Does not know how to drive, does not know how to ski Kyak; Do not lead buffaloes or cows; don’t know how to go to the market, don’t know how to bargain; don’t know how to wash vegetables, don’t know how to cook rice; don’t know how to sell, don’t know how to assemble electronics, don’t play with computers of all kinds and countless other things that shouldn’t be done. But it is that list of “don’t know” things that has created an attractive “big brother” for the audience in each broadcast episode, winning many hearts from the audience.

Journalist Lai Van Sam had an incident… a cow stepped on his feet and his feet were swollen

That is the health of 5 super cool grandparents. During the journey, each person has a personal assistant and an editor from the crew to closely follow and take care of them. Even though journalist Lai Van Sam had not yet recovered from his illness, he still participated, diplomat Lai Ngoc Doan once had a fever, and People’s Artist Hong Van suffered from drunkenness and mild poisoning when he was not used to food and drinks. But it wasn’t until the end of the last day of filming that the whole crew dared to “breathe a sigh of relief”.

In each episode there are exciting and thrilling moments, but behind the scenes, director Lai Bac Hai Dang shared: “There have never been any challenges that made the whole crew’s heart pound, because I don’t allow any risks.” any”. However, there were also surprises when journalist Lai Van Sam had his swollen foot stepped on by a cow, or the time diplomat Lai Ngoc Doan fell in a field. Luckily, both of them only had mild injuries and did not affect their health.

Because of ensuring the health and safety of the characters, the crew often has to… “grind their teeth and ignore it”. Some challenges have been considered such as skydiving, buffalo riding and… secrets; In fact, the location and challenges were surveyed and enough ideas were created for the whole season 2, but everyone considered it and decided not to implement it.

Create an emotional impression thanks to private space

Almost every episode, Have an appointment with youth all have an emotional mark, through conversations by the fire, home-cooked dinners, afternoon tea or minutes of singing together. Creating a context and atmosphere to be able to really talk honestly and comfortably, less affected by external circumstances, cameras, and crew is a mandatory requirement to create real emotions. That also suggests to the implementation team that if they want to share with their parents, grandparents or children, we must have enough privacy, enough “chill” space and have someone to inspire us.

Before joining Have an appointment with youth, most of the members of the “super cool squad” only know each other and have few opportunities to bond. While participating in the program, the 6 people became very special friends, caring and truly understanding each other. Journalist Lai Van Sam is closer to his friend, wanting to invite him out to eat, drink, and experience things to see each other more. Artist Thanh Thuy and her daughter talked and worked together for the first time, compromising many differences…

Closing the 10-episode broadcast journey, journalist Lai Bac Hai Dang shared his feelings with the members of the crew: “As a descendant of the characters, as an audience of the show, love, tolerance, and new ways of thinking are what I learned from the aunts and uncles in the program. And one thing I probably have to continue to get older to have enough capacity and confidence is Be determined with your goal and be flexible in how you achieve it, as long as you are always a kind and good person. And happiness is only complete when you feel happy and the people around you are also happy. get happiness.

Time travel to love more than the present moment

The 6 main characters of the program: Journalist Lai Van Sam, diplomat Lai Ngoc Doan, artists Kim Tu Long, Hong Van, Thanh Thuy, Hong Dao and the crew did “never before” things. During the production process, the television makers listened to the confidences of each character, touched their memories, and saw the youth of the grandparents’ generation. Director Le My Cuong shared: “Collect every remaining moment over the years, continue writing the unfinished stories of the characters, connect and package them into 10 broadcast episodes. That’s how we do it.” create I have an appointment with youth.”

Therefore, the show is not simply a sweet diary recording the blossoming years of the “super cool squad” but also becomes a time travel for television audiences and the show’s creators.

“The car ride from youth” has helped us appreciate more the moments, choices, and every road we have gone through; to cherish and love the present moment more and continue steadfastly to create a future full of hope.

Believe more in your own youth

Before entering the journey with the program, MC Khanh Vy was quite worried and nervous. Partly because Have an appointment with youth is a new format, on the other hand, this is an opportunity for Khanh Vy to work and interact with the “banyan trees” she admires. Through each recording session in the North – Central – South, the female MC felt a fresh, enthusiastic, healing, and warm source of life energy. “When I look at my aunt and uncle, I feel like I see my parents. And when I go home and am next to my parents, I also remember the image of my aunt and uncle. I think that is the magic of sincere love, from the heart.” for each other,” MC Khanh Vy shared.

After the program, Khanh Vy has a completely new perspective on youth. For this 20-year-old girl, youth is no longer just youth, or limited to a number of years, but youth is a spirit of daring to think, daring to do, daring to experience, and enjoying every minute. seconds no matter what stage of life you are in. “I witnessed and felt my youth from the past to the present, present in every smile and journey. That makes me believe more in my own youth from the present to the future.” “, the female MC expressed.