Jean-Michel Dufaux continues to introduce Asia to his friend Benoit Roberge. After Thailand last year in Thai towerthe two men leave their suitcases in Vietnam, an increasingly less well-kept secret among travelers interested in the world’s most populous continent.
Regulars of the Évasion channel, the two animators will make us discover a more modern country than can be imagined in Tadam Vietnam, a new appointment that starts this Monday. It’s more the images of the horrific war between Vietnam and the United States that come to mind when thinking about this state of 97 million people, so there’s a good chance we can change all that in our minds.
As can be seen in the first episode in Ho Chi Minh City, there are so many people everywhere that it can be dangerous to cross the street at a pedestrian crossing. Especially with a 12-hour shift in the body and after 24 hours “in prison”, in the air and at airports. “It’s a pain worth it,” Jean-Michel Dufaux told QMI Agency.
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“I started traveling to Asia in 1998,” he continued. It is a continent that fascinates me and that I love very much. It’s like another planet on our planet. It’s a complete change of scene and all the speakers are different. You are constantly in demand; the colors, the smells, the world, the bubbling, there is peace in the rubble. Thailand was his “first crush,” but he discovered Vietnam in 2010 and has returned five times since then.
Jean-Michel guides Benoit to the main must-see sites that are off the beaten track and not to be missed. “We wanted a balance between the essentials and my favourites,” said Jean-Michel.
“It’s like not hosting, I just had to be myself and have fun,” said Benoit, who didn’t always know what to expect from more spontaneity. “I’m just reacting like I did at Europe Express.” Benoit recalls a country where friendliness is as important as safety.
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Speaking of Europe Express, their first duo show from 2003-2004: the two men somehow have a wink to this other series of Evasion and their friendship thanks to Tadam Vietnam. At that time, the two of them had set out and traveled through the old countries. Two decades later, they have a small team and no longer sleep in dirty hotels. “In summer there are very nice hotels in Vietnam for less than Victoriaville!” Benoit laughed.
In Tadam Vietnam, the two accomplices treat each other to the succulent food, especially on the street where they are never disappointed. Their complicity is palpable and the humor is always there, with enough information to get us interested in Vietnam, both traditional and modern. “The show looks like a journey you would take without a camera,” said Jean-Michel.
We love director Ian-Mathieu Ouellet’s beautiful landscapes, rhythm, music and nervous cinematography.
The seven episodes of Tadam Vietnam are produced by Zone3 in association with Quebecor Content and will air every Monday at 9pm on Zeste from June 19th.