Vietnam picks 10th-century historical drama to chase Oscar glory

The historical drama was chosen following a meeting of the National Film Selection Council for Vietnam’s submission to the preliminary round of the 99th Academy Awards.

Producers must submit the film’s digital cinema package and a disc containing English subtitles to the Academy by 5:00 pm on October 1.

Directed by Nguyen Phan Quang Binh, Guardian Warriors: Mystery of King Dinh’s Tomb is a historical action drama set during the final years of the Dinh Dynasty, which ruled the country for 13 years (968–980).

The story follows seven warriors tasked with protecting the secret of King Dinh Tien Hoang’s burial site.

To mislead grave seekers, 99 coffins are sent in different directions, creating a web of mystery and danger.

The cast includes Tuan Tran, Tran Thien Tu, Quach Ngoc Ngoan, Johnny Tri Nguyen, Hua Vi Van, Do Thi Hai Yen, and veteran actor Tu Long.

The film blends myth, action, adventure, and romance to bring Vietnam’s ancient history to life.

Before its Oscar submission, the film was screened at the 51st Toronto International Film Festival in the Gala Presentations section and is scheduled to appear at the Busan International Film Festival in the ‘A Window on Asian Cinema’ program.

Despite international recognition, the film faced challenges at home.

According to Box Office Vietnam, as of September 26, Guardian Warriors: Mystery of King Dinh’s Tomb earned just over VND38 billion (US$1.5 million) in domestic ticket sales.

Audience feedback led producers to re-edit the film, shortening its runtime from 155 minutes to 135 minutes to improve pacing.