On the morning of 11 September, as part of the 24th Hospital Management Asia Conference (HMA 2025), FV Hospital’s CEO, Dr Jean-Marcel Guillon, together with hospital leaders recognised by HMA as among the top four “driving the development of Vietnam’s healthcare”, joined a key panel discussion entitled “From Vietnam to the World: Building Centres of Excellence in Healthcare Across Southeast Asia.”

Top four healthcare leaders driving Vietnam’s development at HMA 2025

The discussion explored key priorities for advancing healthcare in Vietnam, including establishing centres of excellence in Southeast Asia, enhancing hospital quality standards, improving patient experience, developing healthcare workforce capacity, and expanding medical tourism.

Prior to this, session moderator, Prof Anupam Sibal (Apollo Hospitals Group), highlighted remarkable achievements of Vietnamese healthcare over the past 50 years since national reunification, noting significant reductions in neonatal and maternal mortality, and a 12% annual growth rate in medical tourism, with over 300,000 international medical visitors, generating approximately USD 2 billion in revenue.

With more than 40 years of international medical experience, including 25 years leading FV Hospital, one of Vietnam’s first wholly foreign-owned hospitals, Dr Guillon shared valuable insights into FV’s development journey within the broader context of Vietnam’s healthcare transformation. He highlighted the sector’s significant progress which has been marked by the rise of modern hospitals, patient-centred care models, and a highly skilled medical workforce.

Dr Guillon stated that FV has adhered to the philosophy of “patient-centred care” for more than 20 years

Dr Guillon recalled that over 20 years ago, what once seemed like an almost “unrealistic” idea became reality when he and his colleagues founded FV Hospital with the vision of creating an international-standard healthcare environment for Vietnamese patients. He expressed his delight at witnessing the dramatic transformation of Vietnam’s healthcare system – from limited infrastructure in the late 1990s to today’s landscape of modern hospitals offering comprehensive services. “When I first came to Vietnam, the concept of patient-centred care was virtually unheard of. FV was built to promote this philosophy, and it is heartening to see many hospitals now embracing the same approach,” he shared.

In its 22 years of operation, FV has treated over five million patients, 80% of whom are Vietnamese. The hospital is now focusing on developing specialised centres of excellence in Oncology, Cardiology, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Orthopaedics, Neurosurgery, and Refractive Surgery. FV continues to uphold its patient-centred philosophy while advancing the “Patients as Partners” model in healthcare delivery.

Looking ahead, Dr Guillon believes that Vietnam is well positioned to develop “medical tourism”, given its strengths in quality, medical expertise, affordable costs, short waiting times, and trust from international patients. However, he emphasised that the sector needs strong governmental support to build appropriate policy frameworks, streamline administrative and legal processes, and enhance national branding by linking healthcare with tourism.

“Vietnam possesses all the foundations to become a trusted medical destination in Southeast Asia: affordable costs, timely services, advanced technology, skilled doctors, and patient-centred experiences. The key now lies in a national strategy with close collaboration between hospitals and the Government to fully realise this potential,” he stated.

FV Hospital – a trusted destination for international patients

For many years, FV Hospital has been a preferred choice for international patients seeking high-quality healthcare in Vietnam. The hospital frequently welcomes patients from across Southeast Asia, as well as from Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Canada, and the United States, for specialised treatments in Oncology, Cardiology, Orthopaedics, and Pain Management.

FV’s clinical care and treatment protocols are aligned with international guidelines and have been accredited by Joint Commission International (JCI) for over a decade. Combined with a modern healthcare environment, FV’s costs are 50% lower than hospitals of the same standard in Southeast Asia. This not only attracts international patients but also gives Vietnamese patients access to high-quality treatment at home, without the need to travel abroad.

The positive experiences of these patients have strengthened FV’s reputation as a leading international hospital in Vietnam, while also highlighting the potential of medical tourism driven by service quality, advanced medical technology, and a dedicated, highly skilled workforce. This underscores FV’s commitment to enhancing Vietnam’s healthcare development through international collaboration and promoting the country as a trusted regional healthcare destination.