The charity supported Lucy to make her dream of volunteering in a hospital in Vietnam a reality.  When she returned, she wrote us this amazing report and has since become a valued Trustee and volunteer of the charity.

VIETNAM MEDICAL EXPERIENCE 2025

My experience during a 5 week medical placement in a public hospital in Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam

Across the 5 week experience, I was placed in multiple departments with one week in each:

A&E, ENT, Trauma and Orthopaedics, Intensive Care and Traditional Medicine.

Though I was disappointed with the company I travelled with due to poor organisation and some placements being with non-English speaking staff, it was still a lifechanging experience. The medicine I got to witness was very different to what I expected; with the modern city contrasting completely with medical practice seen throughout the hospital. 

A&E demonstrated the challenge that services face, with road traffic accidents, infectious diseases and injuries secondary to poor health and safety practices being extremely common. During my placement on the Ear, Nose and Throat unit, I witnessed the entire department clear to allow a V.I.P patient attend their appointment highlighting the interplay between politics, Governmental officials and medical services. I also saw the consequence of self-piercing the skin in unsanitary conditions with young patients being admitted for intensive antibiotic treatment in an attempt to save the dying cartilage of the ear. During this placement, I also got to attend surgery and saw some of the alternative surgical practices used, such as minimal footwear, filming of patients and tying patients to the hospital beds in the recovery room postoperatively. 

During Trauma and Orthopaedics, I saw patients with severe gout, arthritis and diabetic ulcers. I saw surgical debridement and vacuum-sealed wound dressings used, with the medical students getting involved in wound closure and dressings for many patients with minor injuries. 

My time in intensive care was far more emotional than I expected. Patients were kept with minimal sedation, drawn on during examinations and overseen by an extremely understaffed team of nurses. It is common practice in Vietnam for families to not be allowed to visit patients in intensive care, meaning the corridor outside the department was often filled with devastated family members grieving from a distance. This contrasts completely to what I would expect to see in the UK, where families are very much included in the medical care of patients, particularly in ICU.

Perhaps the most eye-opening experience was my time in Traditional Medicine. Acupuncture, herbal teas and foot soaks are commonly used within this department. Unfortunately however, this ward was often filled with older people who had reached the limits of modern medical treatments, for example patients recovering from a stroke were being treated with herbal foot baths, rather than by a specialised stroke team! Though this was interesting, I did find myself frustrated for the patients, as I know that in the UK there would be much more we could do to improve their quality of life.

Not only did the trip support my development as a medical student, but it was also immensely challenging for me as a young person. I was forced to become more confident, particularly when solo travelling across a brand new country. By having such a vast variety of experiences, I had no choice but to come out of the trip a whole different person! Once again, I am extremely grateful to the charity for the support in making this trip a reality.

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