The actor earned the honor for his role as a doctor in "The Outlaw Doctor." Wearing a traditional ao dai on stage, Lien called the award "beyond my imagination" and thanked the organizers for the recognition.

Vietnamese actor Lien Binh Phat speaks after receiving Best Leading Actor in a Television Series at Taiwan’s Golden Bell Awards, Oct. 18, 2025.

Colleagues and friends—including actress Hong Anh and director Phan Gia Nhat Linh—flooded his social media with congratulations, hailing the milestone as a first for a Vietnamese actor at the prestigious Taiwanese awards.

"The Outlaw Doctor" follows Vietnamese physician Pham Van Ninh (Lien) as he moves to Taiwan to care for his ailing mother.

Unable to practice legally, he takes odd jobs at a hospital while secretly offering medical help to those in need.

He crosses paths with Taiwanese doctor Cheng Wan Ping (played by Taiwanese actress Ning Chang), and the two grow close through their shared commitment to saving lives.

A Vietnam–Taiwan co-production, the series tackles social realism and crime, with filming in both territories. Lien has described the project as a turning point in his career, saying he even turned down another offer to take the role.

At 35, Lien rose to prominence with films such as "Song Lang" (The Tap Box), "Ngoi Nha Buom Buom" (Butterfly House), and Quy Co Thua Ke (The Heiress).

He received the Tokyo Gemstone Award for promising actors at the Tokyo International Film Festival and was named Asia’s New Star at Asian Stars: Up Next (organized by Variety and the International Film Festival & Awards Macao) in 2019.

In 2021, he appeared in "Come and Go," directed by Malaysian filmmaker Lim Kah Wai and released in Japan.

His stints on "Running Man Vietnam" from 2020 to 2021 broadened his popularity. Most recently, he starred in "Quan Ky Nam" (Ky Nam Inn), Vietnamese director Leon Le’s film set in 1980s Ho Chi Minh City.

Founded in 1965, the Golden Bell Awards rank among Taiwan’s three top entertainment honors, alongside the Golden Melody Awards for music and the Golden Horse Awards for film.

Vietnam War film 'Red Rain' entered in 2026 Oscar race

“Mua Do” (Red Rain), a film about the 1972 Second Battle of Quang Tri during the Vietnam War, is the country’s entry for the best foreign film award at the Oscars.

Vietnam War film 'Red Rain' becomes nation’s biggest box office hit with 8.1 million viewers

Vietnam War film “Mua Do” (Red Rain) has broken every box office record in the country, attracting 8.1 million viewers and grossing VND710 billion ($28 million) by Saturday, making it the most-watched Vietnamese film of all time.

Romantic film "Love in Vietnam" premieres in India

Inspired by the renowned Turkish novel "Madonna in a Fur Coat", the film portrays the tender love story of Manav (Shantanu Maheshwari), a young man aspiring to become a singer who is sent to study in Vietnam. There, he is enchanted by the self-portrait of Linh (Kha Ngan), a painter and dancer, setting the stage for a poignant romance.

 

Vietnam War film 'Red Rain' brings record number of visitors to Quang Tri ancient citadel

The national relic site of Quang Tri Ancient Citadel in the central province of Quang Tri saw a record number of visitors during the National Day (Sept. 2) holiday, following the success of war film "Mua Do" (Red Rain).

Free film screenings mark Vietnam’s 80th National Day

The film screening programme runs from August 28 to September 5 at Vietnam Exposition Centre in Hanoi’s Dong Anh commune.

 

Quang Tri showcases tourism potential through Bollywood film project

Welcoming the crew on the morning of July 30, Dang Dong Ha, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, emphasised that the film offers a valuable opportunity to promote Quang Tri’s tourism potential, particularly to Indian visitors, but also to a broader global audience.