Love in Vietnam Review: Beautiful Locations Can’t Save This Predictable Romance
This Indian-Vietnamese production brings together two film industries for a romantic story. Releasing September 12, 2025, it features Shantanu Maheshwari and Avneet Kaur opposite Vietnamese actress Khả Ngân. Filmmaker Rahat Shah Kazmi draws inspiration from the literary work Madonna in a Fur Coat.
The movie breaks ground by becoming the first Indian production to secure 10,000 Chinese screens. Set against Vietnam’s backdrop, it weaves a complicated romantic situation involving three people. The film tries connecting two different cultures using emotions and relationships as common ground.
Plot Summary
Manav comes from Punjab with ambitions of making it as a singer. His uncle has different plans, sending him to Vietnam for agricultural studies. Simi, his friend since childhood, travels with him while keeping her romantic feelings hidden inside.
Vietnam brings Linh, an artist, into Manav’s life, sparking an unexpected connection. They grow close despite speaking different languages and coming from separate worlds. The situation turns messy when Linh vanishes one day, creating questions that go unanswered for years.
Acting Quality
Shantanu handles Manav’s confusion and conflict fairly well. I noticed his commitment in scenes requiring emotional vulnerability, where his expressions do the talking. His character feels relatable even when the writing doesn’t give him enough room to grow naturally.
Avneet brings layers to Simi that could have been one-dimensional otherwise. She balances hurt feelings with genuine care for Manav convincingly. I found her performance strongest when showing what words can’t say, the pain of loving someone who looks elsewhere.
Khả Ngân makes Linh memorable despite appearing briefly. Her performance doesn’t rely on dialogue but on presence and emotion visible through her eyes. The character’s mystery lingers even after she’s gone, though I wanted more time with her story.
Supporting players including Raj Babbar fill their roles without standing out. They serve the main story but don’t add much depth or memorable moments themselves.
Strengths Worth Mentioning
The visual work deserves applause for capturing Vietnam’s beauty authentically. From crowded urban areas to quiet rural spots, everything looks carefully composed. The camera doesn’t just record locations, it uses them to reflect what characters feel inside.
Musical choices work surprisingly well, mixing sounds from both countries naturally. Songs don’t interrupt the flow but add to emotional moments meaningfully. I appreciated how the music itself represents the cultural meeting that drives the story forward.
Vietnam appears as more than exotic decoration here. The film shows respect for local customs, daily routines, and artistic expressions. You sense the makers actually cared about presenting the culture honestly rather than using it as colorful wallpaper.
The opening portions keep you interested with a nice mix of light and serious moments. When the leads share screen time, some scenes genuinely work, particularly those showing how people connect beyond words and shared languages.
Problem Areas
The writing takes familiar paths instead of finding fresh territory. I recognized these story beats from countless similar films, which dulls the impact. Major turning points happen because the script demands them, not because characters earn them through their actions and choices.
Things slow down considerably in the later sections. Linh leaving should hit hard emotionally but feels sudden instead. Then years pass in a blink without showing us how time changed anyone, making it tough to stay invested in their lives.
Why characters do things often remains fuzzy. Manav’s decisions sometimes puzzle me because they fit plot requirements rather than who he actually is. The three-way romantic situation never digs into the messy feelings it should, treating complex emotions too simply.
Conversations range from genuinely moving to unnecessarily heavy. Some lines land awkwardly, especially during big dramatic moments. The runtime stretches beyond what the story needs, with sequences that could easily be cut without losing anything important.
Reception Details
Critics and viewers landed on different sides regarding this film. IMDb shows 6.1 stars from users, suggesting people found some value but weren’t blown away. Many commented positively about the locations and actors trying their best with the material.
Rotten Tomatoes critics responded less favorably, pointing out familiar patterns and dramatic moments that don’t ring true. They acknowledged the pretty pictures but felt the central relationship never convinces you it’s real or worth caring deeply about.
Indian film writers split their opinions. Some praised the Chinese distribution achievement and effort to build cultural connections through cinema. Others expressed disappointment, feeling the execution didn’t match the promising concept or impressive visuals.
Audience responses vary noticeably. Followers of the main actors found things to enjoy in their performances and chemistry. Others thought it functioned better as a travel video than an engaging love story. The beautiful settings got universal appreciation even from disappointed viewers.
My Take
Love in Vietnam wants to do something meaningful but can’t quite pull it off. It delivers gorgeous imagery and earnest performances from leads who clearly care. The musical elements create some affecting moments.
But storytelling weaknesses, expected developments, and uneven pacing prevent it from reaching its goals. The emotion doesn’t go deep enough to make you truly feel for these people. If you follow these actors, there’s enough here to see their abilities developing. Those who enjoy location-driven romances might appreciate the Vietnamese scenery and cultural glimpses.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5
