Vietnam’s ‘Rice ATMs’ Combat Hunger During COVID-19 Crisis

Innovation Meets Compassion in Hanoi

In 2020, as Vietnam battled COVID-19 with strict social isolation measures, an inspiring story of grassroots ingenuity emerged. With over 1,000 residents losing jobs daily in Hanoi alone, entrepreneur Hoang Tuan Anh launched Rice ATMs – vending machines dispensing free rice to those in need.

How It Works →

These high-tech dispensers, set up in Cau Giay and Bac Tu Liem districts, deliver 3kg of rice per person. Each machine can distribute 3-4 metric tonnes DAILY – enough to feed a small village! The touchless design ensured safety during the pandemic’s peak.

More Than Just Food

'We wanted dignity first, charity second,' said Hoang. The ATM concept preserved recipients’ pride while addressing urgent food shortages. By April 2020, Vietnam had contained COVID-19 to 268 cases with ZERO deaths, partly thanks to community-driven solutions like this.

Reference(s):

Story of Fighting COVID-19: "Rice ATMs" for Vietnam's underprivileged

cgtn.com