Vietnamese film makes groundbreaking AI lead swap after beauty queen Thuy Tien’s arrest

On Monday, Chot Don! (Deal!) held its media premiere in Ho Chi Minh City, revealing the unprecedented decision to digitally recreate a main character with AI for Vietnam’s film industry.

The movie follows Hoang Linh, played by Thuy Tien, an ambitious young CEO in the live-stream sales industry whose biggest success is a sales session generating revenues in the hundreds of billions of dong. (VND100 billion = US$3.8 million)

Tien participated in promoting the film in 2024 before controversy erupted and she was arrested in May 2025.

Thuy Tien, a 27-year-old resident of Ho Chi Minh City, was charged under Article 198, Clause 2 of the Penal Code for deceiving customers in connection with her involvement in Chi Em Rot Group JSC (CER Group), which sold Kera Supergreens Gummies products.

Authorities confirmed she held a 30-percent stake in CER Group, while other shareholders owned the remaining 70 percent.

According to investigators, CER Group had earned nearly VND18 billion ($693,400) in revenue from over 30,000 customers.

Based on her equity share, Tien pocketed close to VND7 billion ($270,000).

Investigators said that after launching Kera, Tien, along with influencers Nguyen Thi Thai Hang, known as ‘Hang Du Muc,' and Pham Quang Linh, known as ‘Quang Linh Vlogs,' exaggerated the gummy’s health benefits.

Tien, a former hotel management student at Hoa Sen University in Ho Chi Minh City, rose to international fame after winning the Miss Grand International 2021 title.

A tough project

At the premiere, Deal! director Bao Nhan described the production as “a very difficult project” for himself and co-director Nam Cito.

Meanwhile, Nam Cito revealed that the idea to use artificial intelligence to replace Thuy Tien’s face came from the film’s executive producer Dinh Thanh Huong.

The directors were initially hesitant, fearing the AI-generated images would look “fake and soulless.”

However, after reviewing the first test results from the technology provider, they found the approach feasible.

The producers did not disclose the exact cost of the AI replacement but said it was not cheap.

Huong added that the project nearly collapsed due to the enormous challenges.

Marketing had to be rushed, and the film was forced to break new ground in using AI despite no one in the team wanting to.

“It truly took a lot of sweat, effort, and tears,” she said.

According to a legal representative, the film replaced Thuy Tien’s face and physical features that would allow audiences to recognize her, essentially a 'full set' replacement.

Legal concerns

At the premiere, a reporter asked whether using AI to replace Thuy Tien’s image could cause legal problems for the producers.

“When the producers decided to convert Thuy Tien’s image using AI technology, we considered all legal factors, especially those related to the contracts signed with her,” the film’s legal representative responded.

Under the contracts governed by the Civil Code and the Law on Cinematography, the producers have full authority to use part or all of Thuy Tien’s image, or not use it at all, in any circumstance, the representative added.

In addition, the contracts signed with Thuy Tien includes clauses on upholding her reputation and professional ethics.

“In this case, it is Thuy Tien who is in breach of contract with the producers, not the other way around,” the representative said.

“I am certain Thuy Tien has no legal grounds to file a complaint against the producers; if anything, it would be the reverse.”