The story comes from a more than 12-minute video in which Susan Lindgren recounts her visit to the hospital.

Earlier, she had noticed black spots appearing in one eye - a symptom she found online could be linked to retinal tears or detachment. Concerned about the seriousness of the condition, she mentally prepared for potentially high medical expenses, similar to those in Western countries.

On the recommendation of friends, Lindgren visited Da Nang Eye Hospital on a Friday evening. Despite being outside regular hours, she was still given an initial check-up and advised to return early the following week for a more thorough examination.

When she came back on Monday morning, the hospital was crowded. Staff suggested she return in the afternoon to reduce waiting time.

At around 2 p.m., she returned and quickly went through the examination process. After paying VND45,000 (US$1.80), she received a full specialist check-up and consultation with experienced doctors.

During the examination, one doctor even invited a colleague to review her case, ensuring a more accurate conclusion and helping reassure the patient.

No extra charges for foreign patients

The results showed no serious issues. Her symptoms were attributed to normal aging changes following previous vision correction surgery. She was advised to return for a follow-up after two weeks.

“I felt worried and kept asking if I was really okay. They smiled and reassured me. Having two doctors examine me was even better than relying on just one,” Lindgren said in the video.

What surprised her most was that after completing the entire process, she was not asked to pay any additional fees.

“I thought I would have to pay hundreds, even thousands of dollars. But here, I received a full examination for just VND45,000. Everything was so easy - no need for prior appointments, no waiting for weeks, no complicated scheduling,” she shared.

Her story quickly gained traction online, with many viewers seeing it as evidence of both the professional quality and affordability of Vietnam’s public healthcare system.

According to available information, the VND45,000 fee covers standard consultation and medical review services at Da Nang Eye Hospital, applied to cases not covered by health insurance and not classified as premium service.

Hospital representatives confirmed that this pricing is applied uniformly, with no distinction between domestic and foreign patients.

Ho Giap