While the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday offers a chance for many people to reunite with their families in their hometown and celebrate the arrival of spring, for overseas Vietnamese, it also provides an opportunity to receive effective medical care at affordable rates in Vietnam.

In the days leading up to Tet, the University Medical Center under the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City has seen a significant influx of overseas Vietnamese patients seeking respiratory examinations. 

Among them, many expressed immense joy and relief upon receiving treatment after years of grappling with their conditions abroad.

Reflecting on his experience of respiratory examination within the U.S. healthcare system, N.T.V., 46, complained, “In the U.S., scheduling an appointment with a family doctor typically entails a month-long wait.

“After five to six visits, if issues persist, there’s a chance of a referral to a specialist. 

“In Vietnam, I can undergo examination with specialists immediately on my first visit, and I have the freedom to choose doctors according to my preference.”

Overseas Vietnamese also encounter language barriers during medical examinations in other countries. 

Many elderly Vietnamese patients in the U.S., unfamiliar with English, must rely on interpreters, often feeling embarrassed to disclose their medical conditions to strangers.

V. noted that despite undergoing numerous examinations with his family doctor in the U.S., he never received a clear explanation of his condition, often being prescribed a blue inhaler for his breathing difficulties.

Several other overseas Vietnamese patients recounted being diagnosed with asthma without undergoing respiratory tests, instead being prescribed inhaled corticosteroids commonly used for mild asthma treatment.

During emergencies, they are provided with additional inhalers and backup oxygen tanks. 

They can only count on relatives for transportation to medical facilities in the event of acute asthma attacks, posing significant risks to their lives.

In Vietnam, in situations similar to V.'s, doctors conduct inquiries into medical and family histories, current medications, exacerbation history, triggers for shortness of breath, and current symptoms.

Subsequently, patients undergo a clinical examination, X-rays, and spirometry to confirm diagnosis.

Prescriptions are then tailored to each patient’s diagnosis.

In the U.S., only a limited number of family doctors possess the necessary equipment to conduct spirometry, necessitating patients to seek specialized facilities for this procedure.

Most overseas Vietnamese patients have reported that the results from their follow-up examinations in Vietnam after four weeks indicate a significant decrease in respiratory symptoms.

The positive results even prompted one patient to consider arranging their permanent return to Vietnam.

In addition, dental treatments and beauty services such as skincare and cosmetic surgery are highly favored among overseas Vietnamese when they return to their homeland.

Tran Cao Binh, director of Hanoi Central Dental Hospital, noted a sharp increase in foreigners and overseas Vietnamese seeking dental care in Vietnam post-COVID-19.

Binh attributes this surge to the substantially lower cost of dental treatments in Vietnam, which can be five to 10 times cheaper than in foreign countries, with certain services being up to 20 times cheaper, while in terms of technology and medical expertise, Vietnam’s standards are on par with other nations.

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