Meet the 'Vietnamese Mbappe' who owns a humble eatery

In early June 2026, a video of a customer playfully ordering food from Hung went viral on social media, quickly amassing over 1.3 million views.

Thanh runs his eatery at Mep Market in Tu Ky Commune, Hai Phong. Viewers of the viral video were quick to point out his uncanny similarities to the France national team striker, noting his facial features, skin tone, and signature buzz cut.

Whenever he posts videos wearing the number 9 jersey, they regularly generate millions of interactions online.

The resemblance between Nguyen van Thanh (L) and Kylian Mbappe. Photos by May Don, Mbappe's Instagram

Mbappe is widely considered one of the best players of all time. Born in 1998, the French superstar is celebrated for his explosive pace and goal-scoring prowess. He possesses immense global brand value and a massive fan base, with a legacy cemented by a 2018 World Cup trophy and the 2022 World Cup top scorer award.

Thanh opened his restaurant in early 2025 alongside his 33-year-old friend, Nguyen Cong Tuan. They serve traditional Vietnamese dishes from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., while spending their days catering local events. Before entering the food business, Thanh worked abroad and later ran a wedding photography studio in Vietnam.

According to Thanh, his sudden viral fame started purely by chance. In the summer of 2025, he cut his hair short to cope with the heat. While acquaintances had told him he resembled Mbppe since 2021, he had never paid much attention to it.

It wasn't until he saw side-by-side photo collages created by his friends after the haircut that he truly noticed the similarities.

His wife, Bui Huong, was also surprised and amused. "Seeing him with that haircut made me laugh. Life seems happier now, so I didn't advise him to change his hairstyle," she said.

Social media fame has changed Thanh's daily life. Strangers frequently recognize him on the street and stop to take photos with him. Children in his village often call out the French player's name in unison as they walk past his shop.

Although he is personally an Arsenal fan, Thanh admits he is highly impressed by Mbappe's playing style. The "Vietnamese Mbappe" nickname, once unfamiliar, is now something he embraces. He always makes sure to smile and greet anyone who calls out the moniker.

The online buzz has also led to a significant surge in customers. Food lovers and curious people from neighboring areas like Hanoi, Nam Dinh and Bac Giang now flock to the eatery just to see the owner in person.

Despite being a social media phenomenon, Thanh continues to reject media and commercial advertising collaborations so he can focus entirely on his restaurant.

"I hope my videos bring laughter to people, and the most meaningful thing is to retain customers with the quality of the food, not my appearance," he said.

The restaurant's exploding popularity has temporarily sidelined the founders' original business plans. Initially, they intended to create cooking videos combined with introducing and selling regional agricultural specialties. Their current schedule is simply too packed to launch that project.

However, they are still finding time for creative fun. During the 2026 World Cup, the two friends spent about 15 minutes each afternoon to film short comedy sketches themed around "Mbappe's life in Vietnam."

To protect their health and maintain a good work-life balance, the owners have refused to extend their operating hours for fans wanting to watch late-night World Cup matches at the eatery.

Thanh hopes to stabilize personnel at the eatery. Once things settle down, he plans to revisit his dream of promoting local agricultural products, such as crab paste and mung bean cakes, to help people in his community increase their income.