Vietnam rises as medical hub with breakthrough fetal heart surgery
Vietnam is fast becoming a regional centre for advanced medical care after doctors in Ho Chi Minh City performed a successful heart procedure on an unborn baby from Singapore.
It marked the country’s ninth fetal cardiac intervention, but the first involving a foreign patient.
The mother, a 41-year-old Singaporean, had been referred to Vietnam after specialists in her home country found her baby had a serious heart defect that could lead to stillbirth.
Since Singapore did not offer the complex procedure, she was sent to Tu Du Hospital and Children’s Hospital 1.
The first attempt on May 22 was called off due to the baby’s early stage of development and low weight. Doctors described the decision to pause as extremely difficult.
But after more preparation, the team made a second attempt, which was successful.
The baby’s family said they were overwhelmed with gratitude, and the mother praised the medical team for their care and support despite language barriers.
Her husband described the outcome as a “miracle", Tuoitre News reports.
Vietnam’s success in this high-risk case has drawn attention from across the region, showing how the country is building a reputation for expertise in fetal medicine.
As a result of the successes, leading Singaporean hospitals now trust Vietnamese teams with cases that require the most delicate surgeries.
The country has also seen a rise in foreign patients coming for in vitro fertilisation and laparoscopic procedures, especially in oncology and reproductive health.
Doctors say Vietnam now leads Southeast Asia in IVF techniques and trains medical staff from countries like Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.
A new fetal medicine centre is also being set up in northern Vietnam to expand services across the country.
The health ministry has approved the plan, and doctors are already receiving training in treating conditions like heart defects, twin-to-twin transfusion, and other complications before birth.
