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Hope & Belief

His drug abuse started when he was 12 years old and because of sharing needles he contracted HIV.

After overcoming his addiction he decided to start living a normal and productive life agian. This essay was made to show that even though people have HIV, they can still lead a normal life.

Many people in Vietnam think this is not possible and that once you have HIV your life is over.

Mr. Viet’s daily life was documented to be an inspiration to people that just found out they have HIV.

Location: Hai Phong, Vietnam

Category: Vietnam NGO Photography Story

Client: CESVI Vietnam

Ehrin Macksey Photography and Film.

Photographer and Videographer Ehrin Macksey is available for Corporate Photography, Travel Photography, Editorial Photography, Commercial Photography and Videography assignments in Vietnam, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Southeast Asia.

Please feel free to contact him to discuss your next photography or video project in Vietnam or Southeast Asia.

  • Mr. Viet pauses for a moment and looks at himself in the mirror as he prepares to go do his morning exercise. At the age of 12 Mr. Viet started to experiment with drugs. He grew up in the port city of Hai Phong, Vietnam where HIV and Drugs are readily available.

    Mr. Viet pauses for a moment and looks at himself in the mirror as he prepares to go do his morning exercise. At the age of 12 Mr. Viet started to experiment with drugs. He grew up in the port city of Hai Phong, Vietnam where HIV and Drugs are readily available.

  • Mr. Viet believes that exercise helps keep his body strong. He says that he wants to make sure that he has every advantage to stay healthy while he has HIV. Mr. Viet traveled to Hong Kong in the mid-nineties and sold and ran drugs there until he was deported.

    Mr. Viet believes that exercise helps keep his body strong. He says that he wants to make sure that he has every advantage to stay healthy while he has HIV. Mr. Viet traveled to Hong Kong in the mid-nineties and sold and ran drugs there until he was deported.

  • With the city of Hai Phong in the distance Mr. Viet stretches out his body in front of a lake near his house. After finding out he had HIV Mr. Viet tried to kill himself a couple of times. Each time he tried somehow he was saved. On his last failed attempt, he decided that it wasn't his time to go. The next morning he signed up to a rehab center.

    With the city of Hai Phong in the distance Mr. Viet stretches out his body in front of a lake near his house. After finding out he had HIV Mr. Viet tried to kill himself a couple of times. Each time he tried somehow he was saved. On his last failed attempt, he decided that it wasn't his time to go. The next morning he signed up to a rehab center.

  • Mr. Viet talks to a customer on the phone in his office. Behind him is a photo of him and his new wife. Even though he has HIV, Mr. Viet has found love and acceptance again and got married 9 months ago.

    Mr. Viet talks to a customer on the phone in his office. Behind him is a photo of him and his new wife. Even though he has HIV, Mr. Viet has found love and acceptance again and got married 9 months ago.

  • Mr. Viet keeps his mind busy and his life full after he quit using drugs. He now owns a drinking water company that is growing so rapidly he doesn't have enough staff to help him and often finds himself picking up the slack.

    Mr. Viet keeps his mind busy and his life full after he quit using drugs. He now owns a drinking water company that is growing so rapidly he doesn't have enough staff to help him and often finds himself picking up the slack.

  • Mr. Viets company is very busy and he sometimes has to go make deliveries to his customers when all of his drivers are busy. He likes doing deliveries every now and then as it gives him a chance to get out of the office and meet his customers.

    Mr. Viets company is very busy and he sometimes has to go make deliveries to his customers when all of his drivers are busy. He likes doing deliveries every now and then as it gives him a chance to get out of the office and meet his customers.

  • When he has some free time he often invites some of his friends to come over to eat, drink, sing and play music. He loves playing music and has even recorded a couple of educational songs to tell drug users not to use used needles.

    When he has some free time he often invites some of his friends to come over to eat, drink, sing and play music. He loves playing music and has even recorded a couple of educational songs to tell drug users not to use used needles.

  • When he was in rehab, Mr. Viet didn't have much except for his guitar. This particular song he is playing meant a lot to him when he was incarcerated. He says the song represented much about his current life and struggles at that time.

    When he was in rehab, Mr. Viet didn't have much except for his guitar. This particular song he is playing meant a lot to him when he was incarcerated. He says the song represented much about his current life and struggles at that time.

  • Like most Vietnamese, Mr. Viet goes once a month to pray at his parents tomb. His parents tried to help him many times with his drug addiction and did not discriminate against him when he had HIV.

    Like most Vietnamese, Mr. Viet goes once a month to pray at his parents tomb. His parents tried to help him many times with his drug addiction and did not discriminate against him when he had HIV.

  • In 2004, Mr. Viet's parents came to visit him at the rehab center. At that time, he was very sick as his HIV had turned in to AIDS. His parents thought he was going to die, so they built a tomb for him next to theirs. Mr. Viet persevered the first stage of the virus and started to take anti-viral medication and got better. Now all that the tomb has is an empty space for his gravestone.

    In 2004, Mr. Viet's parents came to visit him at the rehab center. At that time, he was very sick as his HIV had turned in to AIDS. His parents thought he was going to die, so they built a tomb for him next to theirs. Mr. Viet persevered the first stage of the virus and started to take anti-viral medication and got better. Now all that the tomb has is an empty space for his gravestone.

  • Mr. Viet prays in front of his parents tomb and leaves money, fruit and burns incense to send to them in their after life. He says he wants to make sure they are very comfortable where they are because they were good parents.

    Mr. Viet prays in front of his parents tomb and leaves money, fruit and burns incense to send to them in their after life. He says he wants to make sure they are very comfortable where they are because they were good parents.

  • Mr. Viet pauses at his desk in the middle of his work day at his company. On the opposite side of the room is a poster that reads,

    Mr. Viet pauses at his desk in the middle of his work day at his company. On the opposite side of the room is a poster that reads, "HIV/AIDS use clean needles so you don't get infected." Mr. Viet contracted HIV from sharing a needle.

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