While parts of Vietnam flourish, circumstance and geography hinder many from breaking the debilitating cycle of hardship. 

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The burden of poverty falls hardest on the children of poorest families. While education is revered in Vietnam it is not free, and for some families, completion of secondary school is beyond their financial means. 

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For the mothers of poor families, the constant struggle to create opportunities for their children often ends in heartbreak. The desire to succeed exists but the basic resources- food, clothing, tuition fees-do not. 

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Circumstance forces children into the fields, onto the streets, and into the factories where they must tackle basic labor in order to earn what is often less than needed to keep their families afloat. Here they face the threat of injury and exploitation. Without viable opportunities, the cycle of poverty continues.