Meet the man who showcases his mom’s cooking at the Forbes Under 30 Summit Asia 2025

At the summit, the 29-year-old Vietnamese met with outstanding individuals under 30 from across the continent who are featured on Forbes’ “30 Under 30 Asia” list.

“Dong Van Hung is the YouTuber behind the ‘Am Thuc Me Lam’ (My Mother's Cooking) channel, boasting over 1 million subscribers and introducing a global audience to Vietnamese rural cuisine,” Forbes wrote in Hung's profile for the 30 Under 30 Asia list in Media, Marketing & Advertising 2024.

“He launched the channel in early 2019 and unexpectedly attracted many viewers, reaching 100,000 subscribers in three months and gaining the Silver Play Button.

“Each video portrays the genuine experiences of Hung and his mother as they prepare meals, tend to their garden, and share the simplicity of living in the countryside.”

Where it all began

Speaking with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, Hung said he wanted to share the story of “Am Thuc Me Lam” as proof that no matter where you start, if you do things with love and kindness, you can touch people’s hearts.

“I hope our story will inspire young people to live authentically and reconnect with their roots,” Hung said.

Born and raised in a farming family in the northern province of Thai Nguyen, Hung was brought up by his mother and grandmother.

Hung’s passion for photography began in middle school, when he would borrow his cousin’s phone to capture scenes of rural life while herding cows.

After finishing high school, he worked in a factory in Bac Ninh Province, hoping to save enough money to buy a camera.

Later, Hung moved to Hanoi and started from scratch as a freelance photographer.

“After more than three years working in Hanoi and getting by on quick, simple meals, I always missed the rustic flavors of my mom’s cooking,” Hung said.

“Each time I returned home, the familiar countryside scenery and the humble family meals of my childhood seemed to pull me back to my roots,” he recalled.

“That’s how ‘Am Thuc Me Lam’gradually came to life.”

At first, Hung simply wanted to capture everyday moments of his mother, the woman who had worked hard all her life to raise him, as keepsakes.

The meals she cooked, from braised fish with pepper to crab soup with pickled Vietnamese eggplants, were not only delicious but also filled with love and warmth.

In his first vlog, Hung filmed with a simple camera and basic lighting, while his mother cooked as she always did, natural and sincere in front of the lens.

To complete each vlog, Dong Van Hung often draws inspiration from the seasons, local ingredients, or dishes tied to his childhood memories.

At the time, they only wanted to preserve those everyday moments as memories, without any big expectations.

“The pre-production process is simple, mainly choosing ingredients and setting the scene,” Hung shared.

“Filming focuses on capturing my mother’s genuine moments amid the rustic beauty of nature.

“I handle all the post-production myself, from editing to color grading, to preserve the emotions as they are.”

When the first videos were shared, Hung and his mother were surprised by the affection and support they received from viewers.

“Over time, I realized that what we were doing was more than just cooking. It was about telling a story of family, homeland, and kindness,” Hung recalled.

“That love is what's allowed ‘Am Thuc Me Lam’ to grow.”

According to Hung, the most labor-intensive vlogs are those that capture the entire process, for instance, from planting a seed and tending the crops to harvesting and bringing them into the kitchen.

Created with heart

After nearly seven years of content creation, Hung released his first book, Xay Kenh De Doi Doi (Building a Channel to Change Your Life), which sums up his journey from the early days of uncertainty to becoming widely recognized by the public.

The book is not just a personal story but also a message to young people who are still finding their way in the world of content creation, Hung said.

“You don’t have to be exceptionally talented or wealthy to start,” he shared.

“Begin with what’s closest to your heart, stay consistent every day, and you’ll create something special.”

The book, written after Hung was named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Asia list in 2024, serves as a practical guide for beginners, offering insights into developing ideas, creating content, defining a personal style, building a community, and lessons learned from real experiences.

“I hope the book will inspire young people to believe that as long as they are brave enough to start and put their heart into it, anyone can change their life,” Hung said.