State-of-the-Art Medical Facility Set to Launch in Ninh Binh
Over $200 Million Project Commences Operation, Aims to End Overcrowding in Hanoi
The second facility of the Vietnam – Germany Friendship Hospital, located in Ninh Binh, is preparing to commence operations starting in late December, following a delay of over a decade. With a total investment exceeding 5,000 billion VND (approximately 210 million USD) for the first phase, which includes 1,000 patient beds, this healthcare center features one of the highest per-bed investments in the country, surpassing 5 billion VND per bed.
The hospital is constructed on a 20-hectare site, featuring high ceilings, an airy environment, and the installation of a “very new” system of medical devices. Hospital leadership has noted this facility as one of Vietnam’s leading modern healthcare centers. A subsequent phase is planned to invest an additional 1,000 billion VND to acquire specialized equipment currently unavailable at the main Hanoi facility.
Operational Plan and Quality Standardization
Despite the significant physical investment, the hospital director has asserted that the success of the new facility hinges entirely on the quality of treatment and service delivery, cautioning that patients would otherwise continue to travel to Hanoi.
Personnel resources are secured, with 450 doctors and medical staff, who have undergone 6-7 years of specialized training, being deployed to Ninh Binh permanently. The guiding principle is to maintain the distinct, high-level surgical expertise and brand reputation of Viet Duc consistently across both locations.
To ensure successful adaptation and efficient resource use, Facility 2 is scheduled to begin with 300 beds, representing 30% of its designed capacity. Full operational status and direct patient treatment are targeted for no later than the first quarter of 2026. The nature of surgical specialization necessitates the completion of rigorous sterile requirements and operating room quality checks before the doors open to the public.
Significant Relief for the Hanoi Facility
The successful and stable operation of the Ninh Binh facility, maintaining quality standards equivalent to those in Hanoi, is expected to fully resolve the long-standing overcrowding issue at the main facility. Estimates indicate that 30% to 35% of all patients currently treated in Hanoi originate from Ninh Binh and surrounding provinces, a figure that directly correlates with the number of patients currently forced to share beds or use stretchers due to capacity constraints.
Currently, the Ministry of Health is proposing that the government consider a specialized operational mechanism for hospitals that maintain dual facilities in separate provinces. A critical hurdle to address is the standardization of medical service pricing between the two facilities, as prices in Ninh Binh currently require approval from the Provincial People’s Committee.
