Farmer Nguyen Tan Bich was born and grew up in Quang Ngai Province but he now lives in Hoa Hai Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District, Da Nang.  He is well-known for one particular invention, and as a result he is called ‘King of the Solar Cooker’.  His invention has won the trust of rural residents in many localities nationwide.

After a prolonged period of research, Mr Bich debuted his parabolic solar cooker in 1997.  In 2000, the Da Nang University of Technology helped Mr Bich to develop his invention.  He moved to Da Nang and opened his own company called ‘Viet Nam Solar Serve’ and he was the director.  The company is now located in the new Dong Hai Residential Area in Ngu Hanh Son District.

Nguyen Tan Bich and his parabolic solar cooker

His invention took 2^nd prize at the 2009 Viet Nam Fund for Supporting Technological Creations (VIFOTEC) Awards.  In 2011, the Centre for Social Initiatives Promotion (CSIP) helped him to further promote his product.

In 2013, his product received Global Energy and SEED awards – the international award for entrepreneurs with initiatives in environment and society from the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP).

Early in 2014, Mr Bich’s company introduced a new product called the 3G Cooker.  Fueled by pellets made from wood pulp, dried leaves, or rice husks and straw, this advanced cooker is ideally suited to people living in rural and mountainous areas.

To date, around 2,000 3G cookers have been sold in the central region due to their great benefits for users and for the surrounding environment.  This cooker has won the trust of rural users thanks to its fuel-saving ability, better combustion of fuels, and high-temperature thermal energy storage system.  Most notably, this cooker doesn’t produce any smoke when in use which helps to protect the health of its users.

Testing the 3G cookers

Mr Bich recently revealed that his company has received many orders from some domestic and international social organisations.  In particular, World Vision International Viet Nam in Ha Noi ordered 3G cookers to give to 480 ethnic minority families in the North Tra My and Phuoc Son districts in Quang Nam Province for the Tet Festival 2015.

His company has also received orders from customers in Japan and South Korea to supply to local residents.

Mr Bich is next going to develop a new product called a wood pellet fireplace which will be sold in the domestic and overseas markets.