As one of the few specialists skilled in both spinal and brain neurosurgery, Dr Tran Luong Anh, Specialist Level II, Head of Neurosurgery and Spine Surgery Department at FV Hospital, holds a surprisingly unconventional belief: a surgeon should know how to restrain the urge to operate.

 The Path to Becoming a Leading Neurosurgeon

Dr Luong Anh initially chose to study education, following in his family’s footsteps. However, his childhood passion for medicine soon made him realise that teaching was not his true calling. He decided to change direction and apply to the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Ho Chi Minh City.

His six years of medical school were demanding, with classes in the mornings and part-time jobs in the afternoons to cover tuition and living costs. After graduating, he joined the Surgery Department at 115 People’s Hospital, where he chose to specialise in neurosurgery.

“In the early 2010s, the Neurosurgery Department at 115 Hospital was relatively large, but facilities were limited. Specialised surgeries were rare — most cases involved traumatic brain injuries from road accidents. Patients often arrived unconscious, bleeding, with severely damaged tissue… At first, I didn’t find neurosurgery particularly appealing,” Dr Luong Anh recalled.

A turning point came when he had the opportunity to work alongside a team of French doctors who visited to share surgical techniques and collaborate on complex operations. “I was truly captivated by their skills – the finesse, the precision, the level of mastery,” he recalled. It was then that he discovered a genuine passion for neurosurgery — a passion that kept him at the hospital until midnight and saw him volunteering for emergency surgeries at one or two in the morning.

In 2011, Dr Luong Anh travelled to France for further training under the France-Vietnam Medical Training Cooperation Programme (FFI). “I gained a whole new perspective… Before that, although my surgical skills were well-developed, I was really just a ‘technician’. During my time in France, I learned how the French approach their work — their logical problem-solving, multidisciplinary collaboration, patient monitoring, and the importance of meticulous planning for each surgical case,” he shared.

Upon his return to Vietnam, he completed his Specialist Level II training. Today, Dr Luong Anh is among the few neurosurgeons proficient in both spinal and cranial surgery. He is not only trusted by his patients, but also held in high regard by his colleagues.

When asked about the most unforgettable surgery of his career, Dr Luong Anh did not recall a dramatic case of saving a patient from the brink of death. Instead, what stayed with him was a situation that placed him in an ethical dilemma: how to honour the patient’s wishes?

A female patient required surgery to remove a large brain tumour, which carried a high risk of bleeding. However, she refused to accept a blood transfusion due to her religious beliefs. Her children urged Dr Luong Anh to proceed with the transfusion if needed – but not to tell their mother. Unwilling to deceive his patient, Dr Luong Anh sought support from his colleagues in Interventional Radiology, who performed a pre-operative embolization to reduce risk of bleeding. Fortunately, the surgery went smoothly, and the patient survived without needing a transfusion.

“A surgeon must resist the urge to always operate.”

With rapid advancements in medicine, many treatment approaches need to evolve. Dr Luong Anh explained that while surgeons naturally enjoy operating, the real challenge lies in resisting the urge to treat every condition with surgery.

“In the past, patients with herniated discs were often recommended for surgery right at the first consultation. But I believe surgery should be reserved for emergencies or when all other options have been exhausted. Conservative treatment should always come first,” he shared.

“This is a gentler, lower-risk approach. Whatever is best for the patient is what we should do,” Dr Luong Anh affirmed.

This mindset aligns perfectly with FV Hospital’s philosophy of putting the patient’s best interests above all else — the very reason Dr Luong Anh chose it as the next chapter in his medical journey.

“At FV, doctors can work with integrity and from the heart. That’s what I value most,” he explained when asked why he chose to join the FV family.

In his role as Head of the Neurosurgery and Spine Surgery Department at FV Hospital, he aims to advance the field of cranial surgery, particularly in complex procedures such as brain tumour removal. He is also deeply committed to mentoring young doctors, nurturing the next generation of neurosurgeons, and fostering talent within the field.

He believes that, despite rapid technological advancements, training young surgeons remains essential to building high-quality, sustainable medical care.

As one of the first Vietnamese neurosurgeons to perform brain surgery with a robotic arm, Dr Luong Anh notes that the surgical robot serves primarily as an assistant — providing enhanced lighting, supporting surgical planning, and enabling access to difficult-to-view angles. “In the event of complications, we still have to rely on the good old ‘manual robot’,” he joked.

To book an appointment with Dr Tran Luong Anh, Specialist Level II for brain and spinal neurological conditions, please contact the Neurosurgery and Spine Surgery Department at FV Hospital via hotline (028) 35 11 33 33.