A scene from the movie Mua Do (Red Rain) which will represent Vietnam to vie for the 98th Oscar. — Courtesy of People’s Army Cinema
HANOI: The record-breaking war epic Mua Do (Red Rain) has been selected to represent Vietnam in the Best International Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards in 2026.
On Sept 30, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism confirmed the decision to submit the film, directed by Dang Thai Huyen and produced by the People’s Army Cinema, to the preliminary round. The ministry said the submission reflects Vietnam’s determination to participate more actively in global cinema.
Earlier, on June 13, the ministry established the National Council for Film Selection to nominate a film for the preliminary round of the Oscars. The council consists of five members, including respected managers, artists, directors, producers and screenwriters, and is chaired by Head of the Department of Cinema Tran Cuong.
Mua Do received four out of five votes, becoming Việt Nam’s official representative in the Oscar preliminary round.
The Department of Cinema commented: “Mua Do is set against the backdrop of the revolutionary war, vividly and movingly recreating the nation’s heroic history while honouring the courage and sacrifice of soldiers. The film impresses with its deeply human storytelling, meticulously crafted visuals, evocative music and the compelling performances of its cast.”
‘Mua Do’ received four out of five votes from the National Council for Film Selection, becoming Vietnam’s official entry in the Oscar preliminary round.
Director Dang Thai Huyen, who has long been devoted to war-themed cinema, skilfully balances an epic spirit with a modern and relatable perspective, making the film resonate with domestic audiences while also connecting with international viewers.
According to the decision of the ministry, the People’s Army Cinema will coordinate with the Department of Cinema to complete the application and submit film copies with English subtitles to the Academy Awards organisers before the deadline.
Adapted from the novel by Chu Lai, who also penned the screenplay, the film draws inspiration from the 81-day battle to defend the Quang Tri Citadel in 1972.
Over the past 30 years, several Vietnamese films have been submitted for consideration in the Best International Feature Film category at the Oscars, including Mui Du Du Xanh (The Scent of Green Papaya, 1993), Ao Lua Ha Dong (The White Silk Dress, 2006), Toi Thay Hoa Vang Tren Co Xanh (Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass, 2016) and Hai Phuong (Furie, 2019).
According to the Department of Cinema, Mua Do continues this journey with new expectations, not only to promote the image of Vietnam’s land, people and history but also to elevate the standing of Vietnamese cinema on the global cinematic map.
Adapted from the novel by Chu Lai, who also wrote the screenplay, the film draws inspiration from the 81-day battle to defend the Quang Trị Citadel in 1972.
'Mua Do' is the Vietnam’s highest-grossing domestic film of all time with the VNĐ700 billion (nearly US$26.5 million) in revenue.
Set during a pivotal moment when the liberation forces of the Vietnam People’s Army reclaimed Quang Tri Province – once the temporary dividing line between North and South – the story depicts the counteroffensive launched by the army of the Republic of Vietnam, backed by US military aid, in an effort to retake the citadel and influence peace negotiations.
The film also offers a humanistic view of soldiers from the Republic of Vietnam, backed by the US, portraying them as individuals with families awaiting their return.
Mua Do has also stormed into the history books as Vietnam’s highest-grossing domestic film of all time, with VNĐ700 billion (nearly US$26.5 million) in revenue. — Vietnam News/ANN
