HIV in Viet Nam: One woman’s journey from isolation to advocacy

In 1990, Viet Nam reported its first case of HIV. Thirty-five years later, the country has made dramatic progress in reducing the toll and supporting people living with HIV and AIDS to lead healthy, active lives. Pham Thi Hue, who tested positive in 1999 and went on to become an advocate and leader – in Viet Nam and abroad – shares with the World Health Organization (WHO) how Viet Nam’s dramatic shift in dealing with HIV changed her life.

Pham Thi Hue faced many turning points that brought her from despair to hope. Photo: WHO / Loan Tran

I have been living with HIV for 26 years. I was just 20 years old— such a beautiful age. When I got married, I was already infected but didn’t know. At 21, when I gave birth and had to undergo surgery, the doctors ran tests. I overheard the doctor telling the nurse: “The mother tested positive.” I didn’t know what it meant.

Later, when people mentioned HIV, I had no idea what it was. Growing up in the countryside, I didn’t know. I only knew about SIDA (AIDS)—that it was a disease that meant death. So, I was terrified and thought I was about to die.

After surgery, they moved me to the hallway and completely isolated me. That was when I started to feel the horror of the situation. It was so lonely. I lay there with just a white sheet. The next day, my family felt sorry for me and bought a gown because the hospital refused to lend me one.

When I returned home, my family was scared too – they feared I would infect others. So, my family rented a separate place for my husband and me near the hospital.

Within 24 hours, the whole village knew I had SIDA. Someone from the hospital spread the word. My landlady asked us to leave because they feared I would die there and no one would rent the room afterward.

It felt like being cornered with no way out. When you have nothing left to lose, you just keep living – if you’re not dead yet, you live.

In the early days, stigma and discrimination made life seem unbearable, said Pham Thi Hue. Photo: WHO / Loan Tran

But when the despair became overwhelming, with no escape, I thought about ending my life.

I thought, “If I’m going to die anyway, better die soon to avoid suffering and stop being a burden to my family.”

Before dying, I wanted my family to have one good meal together. My baby was about one or two months old. I cooked rice, bought poison and mixed it into soup. The plan was for my child to drink first, then my husband and me.

When I was about to give the soup to my child, he cried loudly – his crying woke me up. I looked at my beautiful baby and thought, “Why should I end his life?” So, I poured the soup away.

That was the first time death missed me by an inch.

A turning point for Pham Thi Hue was support from family and friends. Credit: WHO / Loan Tran

We moved to another rented room in Hai Phong, far away, but after about a month, people found out again and asked us to leave. We had no money and nowhere to go.

I felt hopeless again and thought about dying once more. Life was unbearable. Everywhere, people whispered and stared like I was something horrible.

My mother-in-law saw how hard life was and decided to bring us back home.

That was the first turning point. Living with family didn’t erase the stigma – they were still afraid – but at least I was in their arms. That gave me some strength and hope. I thought, “I’ll live as long as God allows.”

Pham Thi Hue made the courageous decision to go on living, take care of her health and support other people living with HIV. Credit: WHO / Loan Tran 

When my child was about one year old, I tried suicide again. There were many reasons – stigma and also my husband’s drug use. Life was too overwhelming.

One afternoon, while everyone was upstairs, I locked myself in the kitchen, cut an electric wire and grabbed it. The shock threw me to the floor.

When I woke up, I thought, “Why does the underworld look like my kitchen?” I realized I was still alive.

That moment changed me. I decided I had to live and face everything.

Speaking to others about HIV helped Pham Thi Hue find hope and strength. Credit: WHO / Loan Tran

I started joining social activities. The first step was through women at the Hai Phong Health Department and the Women’s Union. They connected me to the Hai Au Club, funded by the Health Department. The club had drug users, sex workers and people living with HIV. That was the first time I learned what HIV really was. They explained HIV does not spread through casual contact or sharing meals. That gave me hope and strength.

It was life changing.

After learning the truth, I fought back. I showed people documents proving HIV doesn’t spread through casual contact. I convinced my family first, then neighbours. Slowly, they understood.

I began doing community outreach, speaking at neighbourhood meetings and women’s groups. That became my work.

It also gave me a lot of strength when my son was found to be HIV-free.

Sharing the truth about HIV has been a guiding light for Pham Thi Hue. Credit: WHO / Loan Tran

Now, things are completely different.

In 2003, I founded the Hoa Phượng Đỏ in Hai Phong. When I appeared on TV to share my story, it was shocking. Some women even came to my home, hugged me and cried because they had just found out they were HIV positive. Many were isolated from their families and desperate.

Now, we have HIV networks, internet access and information everywhere. Health facilities have trained staff and community supporters to provide counseling and help with treatment adherence. There are policies and programmes to support people living with HIV. Things have changed dramatically.

Looking back now, what I realized is that if you keep living in the dark, you will never find the light, and no one can save you except yourself. You have to take the initiative to save yourself.

For those who do not have HIV, you should access information about preventing HIV.

My message to people living with HIV today is, don’t lose hope. HIV is no longer a death sentence. With treatment and support, you can live a healthy, meaningful life. Taking medication and having insurance are the two things I want to convey to everyone. Seek information, connect with the community and never isolate yourself.