The Lucky Hat

The Lucky Hat
Second logo of the show, used from 2012 to 2014.
Vietnamese	Chiếc nón kỳ diệu
Genre	Game show
Created by	Merv Griffin
Based on	Wheel of Fortune Wheel 2000
Presented by	Lại Văn Sâm Trịnh Long Vũ Phan Tuấn Tú Lưu Minh Vũ Danh Tùng Bùi Đức Bảo
Starring	Phạm Thu Hằng Mai Hương Hương Giang Nguyễn Hồng Nhung Phương Thảo
Voices of	Võ Thuận Sơn
Country of origin	Vietnam
Original language	Vietnamese
No. of episodes	811
Production
Production location	Studio S9 in Vietnam Television
Running time	60 minutes (including commercial)
Production companies	Vietnam Television Vietba Media Sony Pictures Television
Original release
Network	VTV3
Release	May 12, 2001 (2001-5-12) – December 24, 2016 (2016-12-24)

Chiếc nón kỳ diệu (lit. 'The Lucky Hat') is a Vietnamese game show based on the American game show Wheel of Fortune (also based on its children spin-off Wheel 2000 from 2007 to 2009), which was aired on VTV3 from 2001 to 2016, a total of 811 episodes were broadcast.

Format

Three contestants at a time compete by spinning a flat wheel ("cone-shaped wheel" from 2001 to 2006, then from 2012 to 2014) to determine a value or event, and then by guessing letters concealed in a puzzle to earn points. Similar to the unlicensed Russian version, all of the puzzles in a show revolve around a specific theme, and the puzzle is an answer to a question given beforehand as an additional clue.

From 2007 to 2009, since the show was changed to Wheel 2000 format, round categories were chosen by the contestants from a possible three, and new categories replaced those chosen in each round.

Another feature of the show was a limit of turns per player, the reason why Thêm Lượt (Free Spin) existed as a space. A turn was forfeited when calling an incorrect letter. If all turns run out, nobody is declared winner, but the audience has the right to solve the puzzle and win a gift. This making that one of the few versions to have a possibility to have a game with no winners.

Between the third and bonus rounds, a round with the audience was played. A gift was awarded to the person who made a correct guess.

Toss-up Rounds

From 2009 to 2011, then from Summer 2012 to 2016, the game began with the first two Toss-Ups, each worth 200 in 2009 to 2010, 300 in 2010 to 2011, 500 and 1,000 points respectively since 2012.

During the Toss-up puzzles, no background music was played like the American version. Instead, after each letter appeared, a chain of chimes consist of 5 dings will be played (How Mess). It wasn't until 2012, and only that year when they started using the first 7 seconds of the American's Toss-up music, which loops with the "5 dings per letter".

Unlike Wheel of Fortune, a player could ring in during a Toss-Up after all the letters have been revealed. No penalties are given if the players guesses incorrectly, in fact, they may ring in again after their first ring.

2012 format

In early 2012, the show changed to the new format based on the Russian version. In this format, first, second and third round are played by different groups. Winner of each group plays final round with other another ones in final group, and the winner of the final round would be advanced to the Bonus Round. If no final round winner, the episode will be ended soon without Bonus Round. This format was scrapped later on.

So far, this is the only time that the show uses a different format from an unlicensed version of Wheel of Fortune.

Bonus Round

• During the first three years, the bonus round contestant had 30 seconds to solve the puzzle. To choose the prize, contestant must spin the big wheel (similar to the Australian version) to choose one of four prizes, such as computer, washing machine, television and the motorbike (which was the biggest prize during this time).
• From 2004 to 2007, contestant had 30 seconds to study the puzzle before being asked for an answer, which must have been said within 30 seconds. Also, instead of spin the big wheel, contestant must choose one out of four envelopes, similar to the American Bonus Round rules used from 1989 to 2001.
• From 2007 to 2011, the rules was changed once again, in which contestant had only 10 seconds to study the puzzle before being asked for an answer, which must have been said within 10 seconds. To choose the prize:
  • From 2007 to 2009 (when the show was changed to the Wheel 2000 format), contestant still choose one out of five envelopes, similar to the 2004 to 2007 rule. In 2007, the show still use the prize for the Bonus Round, but since 2008, the prize was replaced by the cash. The biggest prize during this time was 40,000,000đ cash amounts.
  • From 2009 to 2011 (when the show changed back to the original format), the Bonus Round used a small wheel similar to the American one, except it was cone-shaped. But unlike the US version, the wheel use the white cards instead of the envelopes. Contestant must spun this small wheel with cash amounts of 5,000,000đ, 10,000,000đ, 15,000,000đ, 20,000,000đ, 25,000,000đ and 30,000,000đ (which was still the biggest prize until the show ended in 2016).
• Starting from 2012, the rules was changed once again, in which contestant have 30 seconds to study the puzzle before being asked for an answer, which must have been said within 10 seconds. Similar to the bonus round during the first three years, contestant must spin the big wheel to choose the prize. The bonus wheel have only four cash amounts, due to 15,000,000đ and 25,000,000đ was gone from this bonus wheel.
• If no correct answer is given by the contestant, any member from the audience may solve the puzzle and win a small gift is solved correctly.

Wheel components

Unlike Wheel of Fortune, as the title of the show suggests, the Wheel was at times shaped like a cone in a way to resemble Nón lá, which was a traditional Vietnamese hat. From 2007 to 2009, then again in 2009 to 2011, and for a third time in 2014, the Wheel was flat like in most other versions of Wheel of Fortune (including the American one).

Similar to the original UK version, the Vietnamese Wheel used points as values on their wedges, later to be converted into money prizes (for instance, if a player landed on 800, they will gain 800 points which will be converted to 800,000đ at the end of the game).

The Vietnamese Wheel also featured many spaces that similar to the unlicensed Russian version along with several spaces from the American version, such as Nhân Đôi (Double), Chia Đôi (Half), May Mắn (+) and Phần Thưởng (Prize). From 2007 to 2009, several spaces from Wheel 2000 version are also used, such as Gấp Đôi 500 (Double Up 500) and Physical Games.

2001

According to the first host of the show, Lại Văn Sâm, the first Wheel design used in the first episode in 2001 was flatted and all wedges were painted red and black, making it looked like a roulette wheel that used in casino. This Wheel design, along with studio design and the costume that host Lại Văn Sâm wore earned the show controversy due to many Vietnamese viewers undesirably seeing the show as "casino-themed". Due to this, the show was temporarily put on hiatus until it returned with new studio and Wheel design.

2001–2007

From the later episodes in 2001 to 2007, the Wheel's wedges were smaller and entirely red with white numbers (from 2004 to 2006 and 2006 to 2007; in 2001 to 2003 the numbers were yellow). The large beige center was cone-shaped, hence the name of the show, until changed to flat wheel in late 2006. The Wheel was originally consist of 72 pegs, with three pegs per wedge, except for 2002 to 2003 when there were two pegs per wedge. Also, the wheel have 17 point values from 100 to 900 points, but lacking the 200 points wedge.

2007–2009

From 2007 to 2009, the Wheel have a new design similar to the wheel used in Wheel 2000, in which all wedges are became multicolored instead of red only and the numbers became white. Also, starting from 2007, there was only one peg each in this wheel. Several changes of this wheel such as the addition of 200 points wedge and several special wedges from Wheel 2000, but lacking the Thêm Lượt (Free Spin) wedge.

2009–2011

From 2009 to 2011, the Wheel have another new design similar to most other versions of Wheel of Fortune (including the American one). Due to this, all special wedges from 2007 to 2009 wheel were removed, and the Thêm Lượt (Free Spin) wedge was returned after three years hitatus.

2012–2016

From 2012 to 2014, the Wheel have another new design, in which it was changed back to cone-shaped wheel but still retained multicolored wedges, which a shadow effect was added to the numbers. From Summer 2014 to 2016, the wheel was flat again. Some changes of this wheel such as the addition of two new highest values wedges (1000 and 2000 points) and Mystery Wedges, as well as the Gấp Đôi (Double) wedge was changed as Nhân Đôi.

Special wedges

Special spaces on the wheel include:

• Mất Điểm (Bankrupt): Unlike the US version, if this was landed on, contestant lost only all points instead of lost all points and prizes.
• Mất Lượt (Lose a Turn): If this was landed on, contestant lose a turn.
• Thêm Lượt (Free Spin): If this was landed on, the contestant had to call a correct letter to earn a Free Spin. Calling an incorrect letter costed the player his/her turn.
• Nhân Đôi (Double)/Chia Đôi (Half): If a correct letter was given, Nhân Đôi doubles the contestant's score. Chia đổi splits his/her score in half, but s/he still had to call a correct letter to keep his/her turn. Nhân Đôi was also known as Gấp Đôi from around 2001 to 2011.
• May Mắn (+): Introduced most likely when the show debuted in 2001. If a contestant landed on it, s/he could choose a blank space to reveal a letter in it, with no change in score. In at least one episode (early 2012), this space was known to have been covered by a black-numbered 800. This space was very similar to the + space in the unlicensed Russian version.
• Ô Bí Mật (Mystery Wedge): They are basically Mystery Wedges that hid a Bankrupt or 3,000,000đ. Only used during Round 2. If a contestant landed on it, s/he had a choice of choosing a letter for 1,000 points or flipping it. Even if a Bankrupt was revealed, the contestant still kept his/her turn.
• Phần Thưởng (Prize): Originally, when this was landed on, the contestant chose one of two boxes; one containing a white square, the other containing a black square. If they opened the box and found a white one, the player won a bonus. After a hiatus, it returned with new rules, in which contestant chose one of three prizes (formerly five prizes from 2001 to 2007).
• Gấp Đôi 500 Điểm (Double Up 500): Used only from 2007 to 2009, when the show was based on Wheel 2000. This wedge awarded double its value per letter if a contestant correctly answered a trivia question.
• Physical Games: Used only in 2007 season, when the show was based on Wheel 2000. It is a special wedge on which a contestant could choose to play a pre-determined stunt to earn up to three extra letters (the spaces were otherwise giant 300-point spaces).