D.F (left), a US patient, at a follow-up examination with Do Lenh Hung, head of the department of urethral reconstructive surgery. (Photo: VNA)
Thanks to its highly qualified personnel and application of advanced medical techniques, Binh Dan Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City has become an increasingly popular destination for international patients.
Associate Professor Dr Tran Vinh Hung, the hospital's director, said that between 2023 and 2025, the hospital carried out 1,096 surgeries for patients from 26 countries and territories, including those from Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, India, Cambodia, and China. It also provides care to a significant number of overseas Vietnamese returning for surgical treatment.
Renowned for its expertise in complex surgeries, the hospital has attracted foreign patients seeking treatment for conditions such as kidney and urinary tract stones, urological and gastrointestinal cancers, and male reproductive disorders. Most procedures are performed using advanced techniques, including laparoscopy and robotic surgery. The hospital is also a preferred centre for urethral reconstruction, microsurgical infertility treatment, and other men’s health procedures. Many patients are referred by friends, former patients, or regional medical professionals.
A recent case has further underscored the hospital’s growing international reputation. A 47-year-old American citizen travelled to the hospital for consultation and treatment of urethral stricture—a condition that had significantly affected his quality of life following an accident 15 years ago. He had endured worsening symptoms over the years, including difficulty urinating, urinary retention, and frequent infections. Despite undergoing treatment and six failed surgeries at top medical centres in the US, Thailand, and Singapore, his condition remained unresolved.
In April, he sought treatment at hospital. Then Dr Do Lenh Hung, Head of the Urethral Reconstructive Surgery Department, led a surgical team to perform urethral reconstruction on May 17. Despite the complications caused by previous procedures and extensive tissue damage, the two-hour surgery was successful. Post-operative evaluations showed that urinary flow was restored, there was no leakage, and imaging confirmed a fully functional urethra. Three weeks after surgery, the patient’s urinary function had fully recovered.
According to Hung, global success rates for urethral reconstruction remain relatively low—typically between 56% and 73% even at major surgical centres in developed countries. However, Binh Dan Hospital has recently reported a success rate of 98% for this procedure. These results were presented by Professor Joel Gelman from the University of California, Irvine, at international medical forums, reinforcing the hospital’s reputation as a trusted destination for patients across the region.
In addition to serving international patients, the hospital actively participates in global medical collaboration. Its surgeons have conducted live surgical demonstrations in India, transferred urethral reconstruction techniques to colleagues in Thailand and Malaysia, performed laparoscopic nephrectomies in Indonesia, and provided robotic colorectal cancer surgery training in the Philippines. Doctors from the US and Australia have also travelled to the hospital to receive training in laparoscopic and urethral reconstruction techniques.
“As part of Ho Chi Minh City’s strategy to become a regional hub for advanced medical care, Binh Dan Hospital remains focused on developing high-quality personnel, applying state-of-the-art techniques, facilitating technology transfer, and promoting international cooperation in surgery,” Hung said./.