Vietnam Noodle Vendor Jailed for 5 Years After Viral ‘Salt Bae’ Parody

A Vietnamese flag flying atop Lung Cu flag tower in Dong Van district, northern province of Ha Giang, Vietnam, in an undated file photo. Hoang Dinh Nam/AFP via Getty Images

A Vietnamese noodle vendor was sentenced to five years and six months in prison after an online video of him mimicking the signature move of Turkish chef Nusret Gokce—popularly known as “Salt Bae”—went viral.

Bui Tuan Lam, 39, became famous in November 2021 after posting a parody video of himself imitating the chef celebrity by sprinkling spring onion on noodle soup and calling himself “Green Onion Bae.”