Vietnamese vlogger who teaches African communities how to grow wet rice

On June 3 Le Thi Thu Hang, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and chairwoman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese, welcomed YouTuber Linh and his charity group in Hanoi as they returned to Vietnam to take part in some activities.

Hang commended them for showcasing the beauty of Vietnam and its people through their work in Africa.

In 2016 Linh, originally from Nghi Loc in central Nghe An province, ventured to Angola in central Africa as a construction worker through a labor export program after completing high school.

Over time he saved up enough to open an ice factory in the capital Luanda.

Some locals from remote areas became workers at his factory, including Matiloi from Sanzala village in Huambo Province, 600km away.

During a visit to Sanzala, Linh observed the challenging living conditions of locals. Moved by their plight, he used his own funds to provide free meals, distribute rice and necessities, and offer support to the community.

He even considered selling his old car to further assist those in need.

"In Angola, the disparity between the rich and poor is vast. People in remote villages live in poverty, many don't even have beds and live in homes with thatched roofs," the 27-year-old tells VnExpress.

"Despite their hardship, they exude a carefree and joyful spirit, focusing on sustenance and happiness rather than material wealth."

During his time in Angola, he launched his YouTube channel, Quang Linh Vlogs, where he shares his experiences and volunteer work in Africa. It has garnered significant attention from and popularity among the public.

Linh (in red) at a gift distribution event in Angola in September 2022. Photo courtesy of Quang Linh Vlogs

As the ice factory thrived and the YouTube channel became profitable, Linh assembled Team Africa, a charity group of nine, comprising four Vietnamese and five Angolans.

They started larger-scale charity projects to benefit local communities. Identifying the lack of clean water in Sanzala village, the team funded a well drilling project.

Similarly, after discovering the lack of electricity, they installed a solar power system and provided electricity to every household.

Linh reminisces: "When we lit up light bulbs in the village, residents of all ages gathered, and they were moved to tears of joy. It was a moment of immense happiness."

He says in those rural areas, families tend to have many children who often miss out on education and instead stay at home and work.

Over a two-year period Linh and his team built and renovated schools, actively engaging with families to send over 5,000 children to school.

One key initiative that Linh told Hang about was teaching Angolans how to grow wet rice and harvest their first crop.

After doing charity works in eight rural mountain villages, Linh recognized the necessity for long-term sustenance there and decided to teach locals agriculture to sustain themselves.

"The climate here is harsh, with six months of rain and six months of drought. The people had limited agricultural knowledge. They only planted corn and soybeans during the rainy season and stored them for consumption during the dry season. However, during prolonged droughts, the stored food would become insufficient, leading to frequent shortages and hunger."

During the dry season, when the villagers had nothing to do, Linh and his teammates showed them how to build ditches to get water from springs for irrigation as a first step to imparting traditional Vietnamese agricultural techniques to ensure food supply throughout the year.

Canals dug by Team Africa and local villagers to channel water from streams for crop irrigation. Photo courtesy of Quang Linh Vlogs

In 2022, after visiting Vietnam after six years abroad, Linh took back six boxes of rice seeds for experimental cultivation in Angola.

He says: "Not every part of Angola is suitable for wet rice cultivation, as only one out of the five regions possesses ample water resources and flat lands. Since the land there is conducive to growing other crops, helping the locals cultivate rice successfully gives me immense pride," expressed Linh.

In April this year Linh and his team successfully harvested the first crop of wet rice in Angola.

"From now on the villagers will have rice!" he exclaimed joyfully on harvest day.

Buoyed by this achievement, Linh resolved to invest in 14 hectares of barren land and seedlings.

He hired more workers and imported lawn mowers from Vietnam to establish a farm for agricultural produce and livestock.

Some Vietnamese agricultural experts also visited the country to provide technical assistance to the group.

The farms yield a range of agricultural products like corn, sugarcane, vegetables, livestock, poultry, and fish to create livelihoods for many locals.

The group also trains locals in selling the products to generate incomes and thus improve their overall quality of life.

Matiloi, during a visit to Vietnam with his son Loi Con and Linh's group, said: "Previously our diet mainly comprised maize and cassava. Linh has introduced a variety of Vietnamese crops and fruits to our once barren village. The village now has beautiful homes and a variety of foods."

Linh (second from the left) harvests rice alongside locals in Angola. Photo courtesy of Quang Linh Vlogs

Linh's YouTube channel currently has four million subscribers.

Its revenues along with proceeds from community-supported business endeavors have been used to benefit communities in both Angola and Vietnam.

Following the Covid-19 outbreak Linh and Team Africa have frequently returned to Vietnam and engaged in numerous social projects to assist disadvantaged populations in the country.

During their recent meeting Hang expressed the hope their efforts would continue to grow and contribute to building a strong and united Vietnamese community in Angola.

Looking ahead Linh aims to further promote rice cultivation and impart farming techniques to the Angolan people. "My ultimate aspiration is to establish the largest farm in the region, encompassing diverse agricultural products, livestock and a sustainable agricultural model in the once-barren land," Linh says.

Matiloi says: "Linh has been an incredible source of support for us. We are eager to learn more from the Vietnamese community and wish for their continued presence here."

 

 

Vietnamese vlogger who teaches African communities how to grow wet rice

Những cánh đồng lúa nước của Team châu Phi ở Angola