These images were created while working with Child Surgery Vietnam, an NGO that provides life-changing medical operations for children in the remote provinces of northern Vietnam.

Most of the young patients suffer from cleft lips and open palates, conditions that can severely affect their health, speech, confidence, and future prospects. Others face even more serious challenges, such as clubfoot, burn wounds, or other congenital conditions.

I accompanied a dedicated team of surgeons and doctors on two medical missions to Dien Bien, one of Vietnam’s most remote areas, as part of a documentary photography project. Families often traveled long distances to bring their children to the hospital, where each child was examined. Those approved were given a number and a scheduled date for surgery.

I was granted rare access to the operating room, documenting the delicate procedures while standing just beside the doctors — capturing the intensity of the surgery while remaining invisible to the medical team.

After their operations, the children moved to recovery rooms, where I focused on documentary-style photography that revealed moments of healing, relief, and quiet resilience. On the second mission, I also photographed the return of several patients for follow-up surgeries, highlighting not only medical progress but also the continuity of care.

For me as a photographer documenting NGO projects, this assignment was not just about creating images — it was about telling humanitarian stories of hope, courage, and transformation, and about giving visibility to the incredible work of medical volunteers and child health initiatives that change lives.