In hundreds of videos, the Uong Bi, Quang Ninh woman has repeatedly astonished restaurant owners and fellow diners by single-handedly devouring 5 servings at a time.

Initially, many restaurant owners were skeptical, but their doubt quickly turned to amazement as they witnessed stacks of empty plates.

"That's just for a filmed meal. At home, I still eat rice, but I don't count the bowls," Linh said. She insists she never wastes food and that if she were only pretending to eat, viewers would notice.

Vu Tu Linh, weighing 49 kg and standing 1.62 m tall, eats 4-6 times more than the average adult. Photo: Provided by subject.

Vu Tu Linh graduated with an accounting degree and worked as a supermarket manager in Quang Ninh, but found the job tedious. Passionate about food, and having eaten a large pizza and drunk 9 500 ml bottles of soda in one sitting back in 2017, she decided to try making videos.

In 6/2023, Linh switched to making mukbang-style videos – showcasing eating in front of a camera. "I realized mukbang suits me. It satisfies my love of food and creates content that many people are interested in," Linh explains.

Despite her large appetite, Linh doesn't intend to cultivate a "competitive eating" image like other vloggers. She focuses on eating cleanly, making the food look appealing, and savoring each bite. Initially, she filmed herself, but now employs a cameraman to capture authentic footage and the reactions of those around her.

Linh produces 2-3 videos per week, visiting restaurants in Quang Ninh and neighboring provinces, as well as filming at home. Her meal portions are substantial, averaging 4-6 servings of noodle soup, or taking on "mega" challenges like eating a 2 kg meat-filled pastry or 3 kg of beef in one sitting.

When filming at home, large portions are artfully arranged. She eats while chatting and interacting with her audience.

Despite her impressive appetite, Tu Linh maintains a slender physique without dieting or exercise. Photo: Provided by subject.

As a full-time content creator, she eats constantly, yet followers of Tu Linh’s channel are surprised by her slender figure. She attributes this to her metabolism, explaining that she has always eaten large amounts without gaining weight and has never experienced digestive problems. However, she undergoes a general health check-up every three months as a precaution. "Compared to 5-10 years ago, I eat much less now," she says.

To address accusations of "chewing without swallowing" like some other TikTokers, Linh has posted unedited videos as proof. However, she believes the reactions of restaurant owners are the most compelling evidence.

"Northern vendors are very straightforward. If I were faking it, they would immediately notice and react," she explains.

Linh's personal channel has nearly 745,000 followers, with many videos reaching millions, even tens of millions of views. Despite her large following, she is selective about advertising offers, only promoting food she genuinely enjoys and refusing to endorse weight-loss products. If she doesn't like a restaurant's food, she chooses not to post about it rather than leave a negative review.

Do Hai, owner of a beef noodle restaurant in Quang Ninh, still marvels at Linh’s visit in early 2025. "Her appetite is incredible. Since opening, I've never seen anyone so small eat four large bowls of noodles," he says.

Dr. Nguyen Trong Hung from the National Institute of Nutrition says cases like Linh’s, eating a lot without gaining weight, are not unusual, as individual metabolisms and absorption rates vary. Some people eat a lot and don't gain weight, while others "gain weight just by breathing." He emphasizes the importance of medical check-ups to determine the cause and strongly advises against "imitating excessive eating without understanding your own body."

"Only through medical examination can we accurately determine if there are any metabolic disorders and if the diet is balanced before consuming food," Dr. Hung states.

Regarding the mukbang trend, Dr. Hung notes its potential negative impacts. Consuming excessive amounts of spicy, oily, sugary, and salty foods can lead to serious health issues like digestive disorders, overweight, obesity, and other chronic diseases.

"This continued behavior will cause illness, create a negative image of eating, encourage unhealthy habits, and negatively affect viewers' psychology," he concludes.

Quynh Nguyen