Vietnamese Hospitals.
A few now.
I have been to a few hospitals in my 20 years plus in Vietnam.
Most of the time I have stayed in private hospitals or paid for single rooms.
However this time I didn’t have much choice. This is because this hospital was close and my airways had collapsed and I needed treatment immediately.
I also wanted to experience a normal persons hospital as I will write a blog about it for my Vietnamese ESL website.
1940 Hospitals
The hospitals in Vietnam are great if you have money. lol. They are cheap though. My recent visit was about $600. This included medicine, doctors and bed.
As I said, the hospitals here are great if you have money. I remember one of the first times I went to a hospital in Vietnam and there was a man walking around with his finger ( detached) in his palm and looking for money or a kind doctor.
Even when I went for cancer surgery and spent a couple of weeks it only cost me $15,000 or so.
My recent stay.
It is a bit different if you try to do it on the cheap.I initially went just for a check up but was admitted immediately because of my collapsed airway. My blood/oxygen level was less than 80%, so not good.
Once I got into the room, I found out I was the youngest there. I was sharing with 3 other patients and assorted hangers on. Being the youngest almost made me want to stay. lol, NO.
The rooms are somewhat like I imagine 1940’s room would be like. White rooms, high ceiling, a bit dirty and grimy but with air conditioners and a mattress that was 2 inches thick at most.
Once again if you stay in a room with A/C you pay more. And foreigners pay pretty much double more than Vietnamese.
Hospital service
Or lack of. lol. I had doctors and nurses, but don’t expect much. The nurses take blood and hand out medicine, and that’s about it.
I was given nebulizer meds, but they didn’t have enough machines and you had to go look for one around the ward if you want to take your meds. Great huh. lol.
You also do not get meals in this hospital. (The others I did) and you need someone to stay with you ( night included, patients all have someone stay with them.) So my wife slept on a pull out chair next to my bed. So a room for 4, is a I a room for 8. lol.
Fellow patients
We had a big fat Vietnamese man in the corner opposite me who snored, farted and fell out of bed regularly. I think he had sleep apnea. He would be sitting up eating then fall asleep. lol. Also please never take a man to hospital wear a male diaper that swings low. Haha.
The man next to me was asleep most of the time. His wife looked after him and she spoke English. It seems she, he and thei daughter were all meant to go to Australia in 2 weeks. Not sure if that’s going to happen. But I might have picked up a class of professional adults( always working).
And the last man had his own fridge next to his bed. Not sure how long he had been there or how long he was staying, but he was SICK.
My foot
Discharging myself.
After 2 nights I had enough and told the doctors I was going home. They started to say I needed more tests etc, But that was b/s because they had already tested my blood/ oxygen levels and I was ok. Most hospitals here try to get foreigners to stay as long as possible for the money. I am sure the head doctors have a commission structure. lol.
Anyway I was adamant and told them I was leaving at 11am with or without their ok. Doctors think they are “gods” in Vietnam and the patients normally “kowtow” them so they are not used tI people telling them what to do. lol.
To cut a long story short. I was out at 11am. Lol. Now at home and feeling better each day.
Thank You
And last but not least, thanks for all the prayers and wishes from my friends at Wealthy Affiliate.
In a nutshell, get travel insurance if you come to Vietnam, or you may end up in the 1940’s
Stevoi
Recent Comments
33
Good Morning Stevoi,
That is good news, and I can imagine you are grateful to be back in the "normal" world.
Doctors being paid and thinking they are God is a phenomenon worldwide. That is why it is so important to be informed about your own condition so you know what to expect.
Greetings from the south of Spain.
Taetske
Hi Taetske
I always check my condition, how to get better etc and meds. I find the level of care is not the same these days.
Steve
Thanks for sharing your hospital experience, Stevoi! I sm sure there are hospitals like that all over the world. Unfortunately money talks.
Glad to hear you are feeling better!
Yep, your right. And I’m sure there are a lot of worse ones too.
Thanks for your comments.
Steve
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Sounds better than a public hospital I once visited in Brazil Stevoi....
I was there less than five minutes and decided to go to a private one...
Even there... the doctor realised I was a foreigner without insurance at that time and wanted to remove my appendix!!
I knew what was wrong with me, so politely declined and went to an even more expensive one for treatment!
Take care buddy!!
👍🤣
Whats wrong with ya...Lol. Take out the appendix, remove an arm...what a family story..Lol.
Stevoi.
🤣🤣🤣