Love is Hard. HIV Prevention is Easy.

Client

US CDC, PEPFAR, HAIVN, VAAC, MoH

Year

2021

Scope

Brand Design Communications Exhibition Design

Location

Vietnam

Industry

Public Health

Love Is Hard, HIV Prevention Is Easy

Love is hard. The rest is easy.

We contrasted the ups and downs of love with the mundane simplicity of HIV prevention. (It's just a pill.)

In 2020, we started to gather inspiration for this year's HIV awareness campaign.
We asked the mostly LGBTQI+ community to send us their real stories about love.
We expected 100. We received over 1500 real stories.
We read each one and compiled 1096 complete stories into 3 volumes.
(Download Vol 1, Vol 2Vol 3)

Love Is Hard, HIV Prevention Is Easy

Love is hard. The rest is easy.

We contrasted the ups and downs of love with the mundane simplicity of HIV prevention. (It's just a pill.)

In 2020, we started to gather inspiration for this year's HIV awareness campaign.
We asked the mostly LGBTQI+ community to send us their real stories about love.
We expected 100. We received over 1500 real stories.
We read each one and compiled 1096 complete stories into 3 volumes.
(Download Vol 1, Vol 2Vol 3)

Music Video

After a series of teasers on World Aids Day, we commissioned 2 Vietnamese artists (newcomer Mike Pham and veteran LGBTQ rap star Kimmese) to write a campaign song inspired by our love stories.

Titled "Love is Hard", the music film reached over 1M+ views on YouTube and spawned covers and choreography videos. The music video aims to dramatize the trials and tribulations of love, and contrast it with the simplicity of drinking a pill to prevent HIV.




Music Video

After a series of teasers on World Aids Day, we commissioned 2 Vietnamese artists (newcomer Mike Pham and veteran LGBTQ rap star Kimmese) to write a campaign song inspired by our love stories.

Titled "Love is Hard", the music film reached over 1M+ views on YouTube and spawned covers and choreography videos. The music video aims to dramatize the trials and tribulations of love, and contrast it with the simplicity of drinking a pill to prevent HIV.




TEAM

Client: US CDC, PEPFAR, HAIVN, VAAC, Bộ Y Tế

Lead Strategy & Creative Agency: The Lab Saigon
PR Agency: Vero
Media Agency: iProspect

Creative Director: Tuan Le
Account Director: Phuong Anh Nguyen
Account Manager: Huyen Vo 
Account Executives: Duy Lam, Anh Nguyen, Khoa Do
Strategists: Ly Tong, Tuan Dao
Copywriters: Huynh Vinh Son, Mien Pham, Tuan Le
Art Direction: Rèo Là Tui
Creatives: Andree Nguyen, Tran N Nguyen, Khe Nguyen, Trang Dinh, Tuan Anh Ha, Kai Nguyen, Bao Anh Bui, Hung Le , Xuan Phan, Vu Nguyen
Portfolio Documentation: Andree Nguyen, Kai Nguyen, Loc Huynh, Trang Nguyen

Producers: Hanh Le, Tin Do
Animation: Arnold, Callimotion
Website Development: DigiTop


Music Video and Photography Production House: Booncha Studio
Executive Producers: Tram Pham, Paul Vi Minh
Singers and Songwriters: Mike Phạm, Kimmese
Mixing & Mastering: bui.linh.bui (Saigon Root Music)

Director and Editor: Khánh Nguyễn
Director of Photography: Trương Trọng Tân
Producer: Khôi Nguyễn
Assistant Director: Chop TN
Production Assistant: Tiên Nguyễn
Set Designers: Reo Le, Thủy Trúc
Props: Nguyễn Thanh Hồng
Wardrobe: Điền Huyền Linh
Wardrobe Assistant: Phùng Nguyễn Ngọc Hiếu
Make Up Artist: Trang EMJ
Assistant Make Up Artist: Hiếu (Nguyệt Minh)
Equipment: PS Vietnam
Gaffer: Nguyễn Minh Phụng
Camera Operators: Trần Văn Hải, Nguyễn Thành Đô, Phan Văn Xuân
Focus Puller: Ya Ua
Actors: Henry Nguyen & Minh Nhựt
Casting Agency: Sunny Casting

Catering: Lâm Catering

Locations: CTY Shooting & The Factory

Special thanks to Tùng Thanh Lê and ARRI Asia, Studio De Egg & Ươm Art Hub


"Museum of Heartbreak" Exhibition:
Producer: Như Trần
Exhibition Designer: Nhat Q. Vo
Artists: Ngo Dinh Bao Chau, Kai Ng & Thu Uyen, Vo Thuy Tien, Beautiful Noise Collective, Lê Thanh Tùng, Nhi Le, Nam Thi, Mat Bet, Lac Hoang, Fustic. Studio
Volunteers: Alex Mai, Minh Nguyệt Nguyễn, Thư Thư, Minh Hằng, Bích Tuyền, Chi Berly, Phạm Linh, Minh Hằng
Location: The Factory Contemporary Arts Centre
Media Partners: Vero, iProspect, L’Officiel, Vietcetera
Mini-Documentary: Deadend Vietnam, Dao Nhat Tan, Margie Nguyen, Phuong Anh

PR Agency: Vero
Media Agency: iProspect

Thank you to our partners and sponsors: Meta, Durex, Grab, Seeson, Cổ Động, Coco Sin, Tired City, Bakes

Frequently Asked Questions

A

2 Le Ngo Cat, Xuan Hoa Ward, HCMC

E

team@thelabsaigon.com

Frequently Asked Questions

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2 Le Ngo Cat, Xuan Hoa Ward, HCMC

E

team@thelabsaigon.com

2025 © The Lab Co., Ltd.

Frequently Asked Questions

A

2 Le Ngo Cat, Xuan Hoa Ward, HCMC

E

team@thelabsaigon.com

2025 © The Lab Co., Ltd.