Filming for the historical film project Tây Sơn Thất Hổ Tướng (The Seven Valiant Generals of the Tay Son Dynasty) is scheduled to officially begin on May 20 at a newly built studio inside the Rosa Alba Hầm Hô tourist area in Bình Phú Commune, Gia Lai Province.
Ahead of production, reporters from Gia Lai Newspaper and Radio & Television spoke with Phan Phúc, Deputy Director of Temc Cinema Co., Ltd. in Ho Chi Minh City and founder of the project, about the ambitions behind the film and its broader cultural vision.
* After a long period of preparation, what are your expectations as filming is about to begin?
Mr. Phan Phúc, founder of the Tây Sơn thất hổ tướng project, speaks at the launch ceremony for the production team and cast in mid-April 2026. Photo: Provided by the Organizers
- The project has received considerable attention and support from local authorities, investors, partners, and history enthusiasts across Vietnam, particularly those interested in the Tây Sơn era.
Our team is fully aware of the responsibility involved in creating a serious and meaningful production. We hope the film can vividly and authentically recreate a heroic chapter of Vietnamese history on the very land associated with the Tây Sơn peasant movement.
This is not merely an entertainment project. It is also an effort to promote the nation’s historical and cultural values to contemporary audiences.
We expect the film to contribute to local cultural and tourism activities in the coming years, especially during National Tourism Year - Gia Lai 2026.
In the longer term, we hope the project can help open a new direction for the film industry by connecting cinema with cultural tourism in the homeland of the Tây Sơn tam kiệt. When film, history, and tourism are closely linked, it creates a stronger opportunity to promote the region and its people.
* Why did your team decide to focus on the “Seven Tiger Generals” instead of Emperor Quang Trung, as many previous productions have done?
- Emperor Quang Trung - Nguyễn Huệ was a brilliant military strategist whose victories became part of Vietnam’s history. However, behind those achievements stood many talented generals who helped build the strength of the Tây Sơn movement.
We chose to tell the story of the “Seven Tiger Generals” because it offers a broader and richer narrative space. Each general carries a distinct personality, destiny, and martial talent.
For example, the famous general Lý Văn Bưu was known not only for training horses but also for his exceptional archery skills. That diversity allows the film to explore a wider range of characters and emotions.
More importantly, through these stories, we want to highlight the spirit of unity, loyalty, and solidarity among the heroes who contributed to the nation-building process during that period. Those values remain among the most significant legacies of the Tây Sơn movement.
* What impact do you expect from building the film set at the Rosa Alba Hầm Hô tourist area?
The entrance to the insurgent army’s camp at the film set built in the Hầm Hô Rosa Alba tourist area (Bình Phú commune). Photo: Provided by the Organizers
- The decision to choose Rosa Alba Hầm Hô as the main filming location was carefully considered.
The area offers landscapes that match the film’s requirements and is closely connected to historical sites and stories linked to the Tây Sơn movement.
The set is being developed not only for the production of Tây Sơn Thất Hổ Tướng but also with the goal of becoming a long-term cultural tourism destination.
A number of historical features are being reconstructed, including insurgent camps, training grounds, execution grounds, prisons, secret chambers, and horse stables. All have been carefully researched to recreate the atmosphere of the period.
We hope that after the film is released, visitors will be able to tour and experience the set firsthand. Film tourism has already proven successful in many countries and is also gaining momentum in several parts of Vietnam.
With proper investment, we believe the Tây Sơn Thất Hổ Tướng set could become a new tourism product for Gia Lai and help stimulate related services.
The three project founders (from left): Phan Phúc, Võ Đức, Đỗ Khôi, together with artists and guests at the launch event for the Tây Sơn thất hổ tướng film crew. Photo: Provided by the Organizers
* How will the film help bring the story of the Tây Sơn era to modern audiences?
- We believe history must be told through the language of modern cinema while still preserving its original spirit.
Our team has spent significant time researching historical documents and consulting experts to refine the screenplay. Costumes, armor, weapons, and settings have all been carefully designed to ensure both authenticity and visual appeal.
The film features well-known actors including Doãn Quốc Đam, Lê Hạ Anh, and Hiếu Nguyễn, alongside collaborations with units specializing in traditional costumes and martial arts such as Vạn Thiên Y, Chiêu Minh Các, and Đại Việt Võ Bị.
We hope audiences will not only enjoy the film’s battle scenes and action sequences, but also gain a deeper sense of the martial spirit, courage, and cultural identity of people during the Tây Sơn era.
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