Quang Linh Vlogs: From a young person inspiring a beautiful life to a criminal
Before being detained, Quang Linh Vlogs was known as an inspirational person, rising from difficulties and bringing positive values to the community.
The Ministry of Public Security's Investigation Police Agency has just prosecuted and temporarily detained Quang Linh Vlogs, Hang Du Muc and 3 other defendants for showing signs of crime of producing fake food products and deceiving customers, according to the provisions of Articles 193 and 198 of the Penal Code.
Before his image collapsed due to the Kera vegetable candy scandal and being prosecuted, Quang Linh Vlogs had a large number of fans, creating a large positive influence on social networks through volunteer activities in Africa, thereby building the image of a young person who is enthusiastic and dedicated to the community.
From "African hero"...
Quang Linh Vlogs full name Pham Quang Linh, born in 1997 in Nghe An. Before becoming famous, he had a long difficult time. In 2016, after graduating from high school, he went to work abroad in Luanda - the capital of Angola, an African country, working in the construction industry.
After that, he switched to producing ice to sell to fishermen and people in Luanda city. By 2018, Quang Linh had some capital to do business in clothes, shoes, etc.
Also during his days living in Angola, he created the YouTube channel "Quang Linh Vlogs - African Life" with the purpose of recording his daily life and preserving memories. Unexpectedly, the videos immediately attracted a large audience thanks to their authentic, simple images and unique stories.
Quang Linh's series of videos about life in Africa stands out among channels telling stories about the lives of international students and overseas Vietnamese in Europe, America, Australia, Korea, Japan, etc. After only one year, the young man's channel achieved the YouTube gold button.
During his time living in Angola, Quang Linh carried out many projects to help improve the lives of local people.
In addition to his generosity in helping the local people, Quang Linh is also praised for being very considerate when taking care of food and accommodation for his colleagues. YouTuber Pham once invested 4.3 billion VND to buy 14,000 hectares of land, seeds, hire workers... to build a livestock and crop farm in Africa. He devoted a lot of effort to the farm, even bringing lawn mowers from Vietnam to clean and cultivate faster.
Quang Linh also often looks for plots of land a few hundred square meters in size to buy or give a part to his employees, helping them settle down and make a living. He is affectionately called "African real estate tycoon".
Thanks to these contributions, Quang Linh not only helps improve the quality of life of Angolan people but also contributes to promoting the image of Vietnamese people in the international arena.
For his fellow countrymen, during the time when the Central region was devastated by storm Noru (storm number 4), he and the African team supported the Central region in general and Nghe An province in particular with 200 million VND to overcome the consequences of natural disasters. Not only that, this YouTuber also worked with Miss Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien to carry out the "School Project", building schools for poor children so that children in the highlands can have a proper learning environment.
In October 2024, Quang Linh Vlogs became the representative of the Angolan expatriate bloc to attend the 10th National Congress of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, term 2024 - 2029. He was elected by the consultative congress as a member of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, term X.
Attending the congress, Quang Linh said he wanted to contribute to promoting the spirit of solidarity and contributing youth to the development of the country. He advised young people to do what they feel is good and spread it to many people while they are still young.
Thanks to his meaningful work, Quang Linh is praised as an inspirational example for the younger generation, spreading humanistic values, volunteerism, especially compassion to help life and people.
Idol collapsed and was arrested and prosecuted
At the end of 2023, Quang Linh decided to return to Vietnam. His activities in the country focus on business, livestreaming sales and collaborating with many TikTokers.
Quang Linh established the following enterprises: Chi Em Rot Group Joint Stock Company (CER Group), Quang Linh Vlogs Store Company Limited, Quang Linh Group Company Limited and Pharco Vietnam Joint Stock Company.
His online sales sessions sometimes have hundreds of thousands of viewers. To attract buyers, the male YouTuber constantly makes jokes such as wearing strange clothes, cross-dressing, performing comedy skits... Netizens talk a lot about Quang Linh's changes, many people express their dislike, even feel uncomfortable and disappointed when they no longer see in him the sincerity and friendliness of the past.
However, the majority of the audience still loves and supports Quang Linh because of the good things he has done as well as his positive influence on the community, especially the youth.
The audience was disappointed and turned their backs on this YouTuber when the scandal about advertising Kera vegetable candy broke out. This candy was launched by his company in late 2024. After that, Quang Linh Vlogs and Hang Du Muc organized livestreams to advertise it. His statement that "a candy is equivalent to a plate of boiled vegetables" during a livestream selling the product made many people angry, thinking it was an exaggerated advertisement.
On March 4, a consumer posted a video of Kera vegetable candy being tested at the National Institute for Quality Measurement; the results showed that 30 candies (equivalent to one box) contained only 0.51 grams of fiber. A wave of criticism was directed at Quang Linh and Miss Thuy Tien (who often appeared with the Chi Em Rot team to promote the product) for false advertising.
Shortly after, Quang Linh Vlogs posted an apology on Facebook, admitting to conveying inaccurate information that caused misunderstandings to customers but denying that he had intentionally exaggerated the product's advertising. He continued to affirm that this product was "for people who are lazy to eat vegetables, cannot eat vegetables, or are picky about vegetables". This apology was met with fierce controversy.
On March 14, representatives of CER Group including Le Tuan Linh, Hang Du Muc, Quang Linh Vlogs held a press conference to apologize and clarify information related to the vegetable candy product. Here, Quang Linh admitted to "advertising with the wrong term" and said he would stop livestreaming and return to Africa.
On March 24, the Inspectorate of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Food Safety announced the results of the inspection and testing of Kera vegetable candy and issued a decision to fine the Basket Sisters Group Joint Stock Company VND 125 million.
After that, the Department of Radio, Television and Electronic Information issued 2 decisions to fine Quang Linh Vlogs and Hang Du Muc 70 million VND each for violations in advertising activities. They were fined because they were the owners of the livestream session (online sales).
On April 4, CER Group was fined VND80 million for providing inaccurate information to consumers and failing to notify about sponsorship of influencers in advertising activities.
In particular, Major General Nguyen Quoc Toan, Chief of the Office of the Ministry of Public Security, said that the Investigation Police Agency has prosecuted the case of Manufacturing Counterfeit Goods occurring at Asia Life Company and Chi Em Rot Group Joint Stock Company occurring in Ho Chi Minh City and Dak Lak and prosecuted 5 defendants, including Quang Linh Vlogs and Hang Du Muc.
During the investigation, the Ministry of Public Security determined that the defendants showed signs of crimes of Producing counterfeit food products and Deceiving customers.
On the evening of April 4, in an interview, Mr. Vu Van Tien, Head of the Propaganda Department of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF), said that the Standing Committee of the VFF Central Committee has issued a decision to remove Pham Quang Linh, a Vietnamese citizen in Angola, from the 10th term of the VFF Central Committee for the 2024-2029 term.
From a young man who inspired a beautiful life, Quang Linh Vlogs' temporary detention has disappointed many people. The image of a gentle young man, devoted to the community and spreading love has now gone up in smoke, just like the saying "buying a reputation for thirty thousand, selling a reputation for three coins".
