Life isn't always what we expect it to be

East of Berlin is an inside look at a day in the life of a Vietnamese immigrant trying to survive on the streets of Berlin.

Hien had big dreams of creating a better life for himself when he arrived in Germany, but quickly found out that he was not welcome. Without a way to earn a living, he is forced to sell cigarettes on the black market. While on the streets, Hien tries to do a good deed, but puts himself and his cousin in danger. Life lessons come at a higher price when you are down and out.

Immigrants from Vietnam often pay big money to get into Germany, only to find that it's not what they had hoped for. Once there, they have no way of returning home and are forced to repay an insurmountable amount of money. They are the largest Asian population in Germany and the second largest immigrant population.