After nearly a year of slow progress in the United States, a 71-year-old Vietnamese American returned to Vietnam hoping to regain his ability to walk following a stroke. What surprised him most was not the medical technology, but the extensive clinical experience of Vietnamese doctors.

Returning home in search of recovery

Identified only as P.H.D., the patient had spent almost 10 months undergoing treatment and rehabilitation in the United States after suffering a stroke. Despite persistent therapy, recovery remained limited.

The right side of his body had almost completely lost sensation, leaving him dependent on walking aids with little improvement over time.

"I kept exercising, but nothing really changed. I had almost no feeling on the right side of my body. I felt I was unlikely to improve much further if I stayed in the United States, so I decided to return to Vietnam and give it another chance," he said.

At a hospital in Can Tho, MRI scans revealed bleeding in the left thalamic region near the brain's ventricles, explaining the persistent weakness affecting the right side of his body.

Doctors also discovered previously undiagnosed fractures of the lower humerus and the upper ulna and radius in his right arm, injuries sustained during a fall after the stroke.

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P.H.D. said he was surprised by the large number of neurosurgical patients treated each day in Vietnam. Photo: T. Nguyen.

According to Dr. Truong Dan Kha, a specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation, the patient underwent multidisciplinary assessment before receiving surgery to stabilize the fractures.

His rehabilitation program combined personalized physical therapy with hyperbaric oxygen therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation and high-power laser therapy.

After a period of treatment, he was able to walk independently and became more self-sufficient in his daily activities.

Impressed by Vietnamese doctors' experience

For P.H.D., the biggest surprise was the depth of experience among Vietnamese medical teams.

"Hospitals in the United States also have modern equipment, but in Vietnam I saw doctors treating a huge number of stroke patients. Their experience is remarkable. Every day while I was hospitalized, I saw patients undergoing brain surgery, and that gave me greater confidence," he said.
He is not alone.

A 77-year-old Vietnamese Canadian, identified as L.X.C., also returned to Vietnam for rehabilitation after suffering a stroke.

Weighing 109 kilograms, he faced additional mobility challenges because of the strain placed on his knees while one side of his body remained weakened.

Doctors developed an individualized rehabilitation program focusing on muscle strengthening, knee pain management and weight control.

After just one week of therapy, he was able to take his first independent steps and slowly climb stairs. He also reported that chronic knee pain, which had troubled him for years, disappeared during the rehabilitation process.

Clinical experience seen as a key advantage

According to Dr. Tran Chi Cuong, President of the Ho Chi Minh City Society of Neurointervention, Vietnam's training system and medical equipment for neurointervention are now comparable to those found in many developed countries.

He said one of Vietnam's greatest strengths is its large patient volume, which provides physicians with extensive practical experience.

The country's high caseload enables specialists in neurointervention and rehabilitation to continuously refine their skills through daily clinical practice, he said, adding that their expertise is on par with that of colleagues in many developed healthcare systems.

Dr. Cuong also noted that treatment and rehabilitation costs in Vietnam remain significantly lower than those in many countries, making long-term rehabilitation more financially accessible for patients.

Phuong Thuy