One of the biggest sources of debate is that Tran Thanh invited faces with little or no acting experience such as singers Phao, LyLy, Van Mai Huong and model Vinh Dam, while only actor Quoc Anh was a professional face starring in his film.
This decision was assessed by some audiences as "dangerous" when the majority of stars are amateur artists, easily leading to uneven acting quality in a Tet movie - a time when audiences place high expectations on each work.
The debate became even more lively when Vinh Dam - one of the male leads of the film - faced fierce reactions due to the noise related to past statements. The male model born in 2004 was once criticized for some statements considered offensive to the LGBTQ+ community and forced to publicly apologize. When this information was discussed again by the audience after Vinh Dam was confirmed to participate in "Tho oi!!", many opinions expressed reservations that inviting him to play the main role could affect viewers' sympathy.
Before the pressure of public opinion, Vinh Dam once again apologized for the controversial statements in the past, admitting that it was a mistake of youth, due to lack of calmness and experience. He expressed his desire to be forgiven by the audience and given himself the opportunity to prove his ability in the present as well as in the upcoming role.
For his part, Tran Thanh also spoke up to explain the choice of cast for "Tho oi!!". The director said that all actors went through a serious casting round and were chosen because they were more suitable for the role than because of fame or experience. He emphasized the criteria of "picking in" and expressed his hope that the audience would accept his new approach to cinema, instead of just looking at it through side discussions.
In addition, many comments on social networks said that "Tho oi!!" is a test for Tran Thanh in the context that he has had successes in many previous projects.
While some support the bold idea and believe that the director knows how to lead the story to surprise the audience, another part expresses skepticism about the emotional control and seriousness in acting of the "non-professional" star cast.
These controversies partly create heat for "Tho oi!!" on the "race" of 2026 Tet movies - a time when Vietnamese cinematic works all want to affirm their position in the hearts of the audience. No matter how fierce the debate is, the official answer for the film will only be available when "Tho oi!!" is officially released and evaluated by the actual feedback of viewers and box office revenue.
