The HIV prevalence rate among men who have sex with men (MSM) has increased rapidly in Vietnam over the last few years. On June 22, USAID’s Healthy Markets activity brought together leaders from the Vietnam Administration for HIV/AIDS Control (VAAC) and civil society groups for MSM as part of a collaborative process to develop the country’s first National HIV Prevention Guidelines for MSM. The meeting enabled MSM-led groups to share results and recommendations from the use of information and communication technologies to reach key populations with HIV-related goods and services.

So what? Bringing those who are most affected by HIV - who are also most often marginalized groups, like MSM - and the government together to develop these guidelines is an important step in developing effective domestic HIV policy and programs, which will help Vietnam achieve HIV epidemic control.