This article tells the tragic story of Bui Tuan Lam, a noodle seller in Vietnam who made a parody of Salt Bae. He was sentenced to 5 years in prison for allegedly carrying out anti-state propaganda. Read on to find out more about the controversy, public reaction, and lessons learned from this case.
How a viral video led to a prison sentence for mocking a powerful minister
Salt Bae is a famous Turkish chef who became an internet sensation for his flamboyant way of sprinkling salt on his steaks. His signature move has been imitated by many celebrities and ordinary people around the world. But in Vietnam, one noodle seller who tried to copy Salt Bae's style ended up in jail for five and a half years.
Bui Tuan Lam, also known as 'Bae Daun Bawang' (Spring Onion Bae), posted a video on Facebook in November 2021, showing him sprinkling spring onions on a bowl of beef noodles with a dramatic flair. He captioned the video with "I am Spring Onion Bae, not Salt Bae".
The video was meant to be a parody of another viral video that showed Salt Bae serving a gold-plated steak to Vietnam's Minister of Public Security, General To Lam, at his expensive restaurant in London. The minister was in the UK for the COP26 climate summit and his lavish dinner sparked outrage among many Vietnamese netizens who questioned his source of income and his integrity.
Six days after posting his video, Bui Tuan Lam was summoned by the police for questioning. He later posted another photo on Facebook showing him being interrogated by two uniformed officers. He also said he received a second summons from the police.
The police accused him of spreading anti-state propaganda and violating Article 117 of Vietnam's Penal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. They claimed that his video was intended to mock and defame the minister and the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam.
Bui Tuan Lam denied the charges and said he only wanted to make fun of himself and entertain his friends. He said he had no political motives and he respected the authorities. He also apologized to the minister and deleted his video.
However, his apology was not enough to save him from prosecution. On May 27, 2023, he was convicted and sentenced to five and a half years in prison by a court in Ho Chi Minh City. The court said he had "seriously violated the dignity and honor of the minister" and "damaged the prestige of the party and the state".
His lawyer said he would appeal the verdict and called it "unfair and unjust". He said his client was only exercising his right to freedom of expression and did not intend to harm anyone.
Human rights groups and activists also condemned the sentence and called for his immediate release. They said it was another example of Vietnam's crackdown on dissent and online speech. They said Vietnam was using vague and harsh laws to silence its critics and stifle any form of opposition.
According to Amnesty International, Vietnam has arrested at least 170 prisoners of conscience as of May 2021, many of them for posting online content that challenges the government's policies or exposes corruption and human rights abuses.
Bui Tuan Lam's case has also drawn international attention and sympathy. Many people have expressed their support for him on social media using hashtags such as #FreeBaeDaunBawang and #JusticeForBuiTuanLam. Some have also created memes and videos that parody Salt Bae and the minister in solidarity with him.
Meanwhile, Salt Bae himself has not commented on the controversy or the fate of his Vietnamese imitator. His restaurant chain, Nusr-et, continues to operate in several countries and attract wealthy customers who are willing to pay for his extravagant steaks.
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