The Vietnam Television (VTV) is investigating 'The 7th Wish' programme after it was found one of the episodes, about a street singer couple, was untrue.
The reality show "The 7th Wish", which is broadcast by VTV3, helps make people's wishes come true. The show's director, Lai Bac Hai Dang, admitted on October 8, 2014, that one emotional episode was halted because it was found the story of one of the characters contained falsehoods.
But the episode still went to air on January 10. Apparently the idea for the episode came from a VTV contributor. Head secretary of VTV, Truong Ha Nam, said an investigation is underway.
The problematic episode featured street singer couple of Nguyen Nhu Dao and Nguyen Nhat Thanh. It attracted considerable sympathy from viewers.
In the episode storyline, Thanh is the only son of a good family in Quang Xuong Commune, Thanh Hoa Province, and graduated Vietnam National Academy of Music. Despite family prejudice, he fell in love and married with a poor blind girl who also loves singing.
They named their daughter Sao Mai, after the top music competition 'Sao Mai Diem Hen', hoping she would one day be on stage. 'The 7th Wish' helped the couple compete on 'Sao Mai Diem Hen.'
Thanh and Dao on VTV3
After the episode was broadcast, a reader of Vietnamnet News, who allegedly lived in the same commune as Thanh, came forward and alleged some of the facts in the story were untrue. "I'm sure that he didn't graduate secondary school," the reader commented.
At Quang Xuong Commune, Thanh's father said Thanh's real name is Nguyen Ba Thanh. He has already married, has two children, and dropped out of school at the age of 15. Thanh often goes fishing with his father to make money.
Thanh's father said he never met anyone from Vietnam Television nor had anyone approached him to verify the facts behind the story before the episode went to air.
Dao's father said he first met Thanh in 2012 and was surprised when Thanh wanted to take care of his blind daughter. He was happy when Dao gave birth to a daughter one year later. There is no record that Dao and Thanh registered their marriage.
He said a crew from VTV came to take shots of Thanh and Dao's daily lives about five months ago. He said Thanh had admitted he was already married and has two children. After that, Thanh severed all ties with Dao's family.
Dao's family does not blame Thanh, but wants him to take responsibility for the care of their daughter.
