In 1996–1997, VTV Television Magazine proposed holding a vote for Best Television Drama and Best Television Actor/Actress. “It’s been almost 30 years now, and looking back, it was a poll with a truly nationwide reach”, recalled journalist Nguyen Manh Hung.
“At that time, Television Magazine was the bridge connecting TV audiences with TV workers. We felt there should be a way for drama producers and viewers to connect through voting. In the first round, viewers selected the top ten favorite dramas out of 300 episodes aired during 1996–1997. In the second round, they voted for their single favorite drama from the top 10, as well as their favorite male and female actors”, journalist Nguyen Kim Trach recounted .
According to Nguyen Manh Hung, the team counting the ballots numbered up to 20 people. The organizers received a large number of votes stored in 16 locked metal boxes. “At that time, we hadn’t thought of giving trophies or certificates to mark the occasion. Since it was the first contest of its kind, we had no precedent to follow”, Nguyen Kim Trach noted.
That year, People’s Artist Lan Huong won Favorite Actress. She recalled that the award ceremony was very modest, yet it brought her immense happiness. “At that moment, I just wanted to hug every viewer who had voted for me back then”, she said.
Following the vote, media outlets nationwide responded positively to the organization of the event. Journalist Nguyen Manh Hung reflected that the competition highlighted excellent dramas and reflected the evolving cultural landscape and the rising public awareness during the country’s development. Today, VTV holds the VTV Awards, which have multiple categories, a natural progression in the development of television content.
