Health Emergencies in Vietnam - What to Do?

Vietnam takes strong measures against COVID-19

No matter where we are and what we do, health is always our top priority, especially in this pandemic. If you are in Vietnam during COVID-19, don’t stop reading as our blog will provide you with must-know information about health emergencies in Vietnam and tips on staying healthy in Vietnam.

An Overview of Health Emergencies in Vietnam

A health emergency is a situation that is, based on advice from a medical professional or a notice from a public health authority, people in an area are or may be exposed to danger from disease, virus, or other agents that may be detrimental to human health. Some examples are Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Avian Flu (H5N1), and the most recently, coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19).

In Vietnam, the Ministry of Health has made an effort to support all individuals living in Vietnam to fight against the coronavirus. There is a website launched to share information about the disease, an online form created to declare health condition, and an application (BlueZone) used to detect infected or those having been in close contact with people having COVID-19.

If you own a phone number in Vietnam, you also receive a bunch of messages from the Ministry of Health, providing you with steps to protect yourself and places you should not go. It is clear that health emergencies in Vietnam are now under good control, and you can have faith in the government.

Who to Call In Case of Health Emergencies in Vietnam

During COVID-19, the Ministry of Health has made an effort to support all individuals living in Vietnam to fight against the disease. Apart from the emergency number of the ambulance (115), there are many emergency hotlines that you can call for advice and support for cases related to COVID-19.

You can call the Ministry of Health via 1900 3228 or 1900 9095. The telephone charge is free. Otherwise, you can contact the hotline of 22 hospitals below:

In the North

• Bach Mai Hospital: 096 985 1616
• Central Tropical Hospital: 096 924 1616
• Hospital E: 091 216 8887
• Central Children's Hospital: 037 288 4712
• Central Lung Hospital: 096 794 1616
• Hanoi Saint Paul Hospital: 090 413 8502 (Associate Professor, Doctor Tran Ngoc Son)
• Vinmec Hanoi Hospital: 093 447 2768 (on duty, doctor Nguyen Thanh Trung - deputy director)
• Uong Bi Vietnam - Sweden Hospital: 096 668 1313
• Thai Nguyen Central General Hospital: 091 339 4495
• Thai Binh Provincial Hospital: 098 950 6515
• Lang Son Provincial Hospital: 039 680 2226 (travel to the medical facility)

In Central Vietnam

• Hue Central Hospital: 096 530 1212
• Danang Hospital: 090 358 3881
• Khanh Hoa Tropical Hospital: 091 346 4257
• Khanh Hoa Provincial Hospital: 096 537 1515

In the South

• Cho Ray Hospital: 096 987 1010
• Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases: 096 734 1010
• Children's Hospital 1: 1900 2249 - 091 311 7965
• Children's Hospital 2: 079 842 9841
• Can Tho Central General Hospital: 090 773 6736
• Dong Nai General Hospital: 081 963 4807

See also: An Overview of Healthcare in Vietnam.

What to Do In Case of Health Emergencies in Vietnam

“Prevention is better than cure” - we bet you have heard this sentence before but rarely do we think and act accordingly. For instance, you may have sleep deprivation or tiredness, but you tend to forget them as soon as you feel energetic and healthy again. However, COVID-19 has reminded people about the costly price to pay if they do not maintain a healthy lifestyle, so let’s take a look at some ways to protect you and your family.

Wear masks in public places

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after visiting a public area or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing

Keep 2 meters away from strangers

Always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or use the inside of your elbow when you cough or sneeze

Monitor your health by being careful with symptoms and measure your body temperature frequently

For more tips, read:

How to Stay Healthy During Quarantine

What to Know When Traveling in Vietnam during COVID-19

What to Do If You Get Sick in Vietnam

Hospitals Providing COVID-19 Tests and Testing Fee

If you think that you may have COVID-19, there are 30 screening centers throughout Vietnam to get you tested. See the list of COVID-19 screening centers in Vietnam.

In addition to the list, Ho Chi Minh City now has more centers that are eligible for performing the test, including:

• University Medical Center HCMC (215 Hong Bang Street, Ward 11, District 5)
• Thong Nhat Hospital (1 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Ward 7, Tan Binh District)
• 175 Military Hospital (786 Nguyen Kiem Street, Ward 3, Go Vap District)
• 7A Military Hospital (466 Nguyen Trai Street, Ward 8, District 5)
• Children's Hospital 1 (341 Su Van Hanh Street, Ward 10, District 10)
• City Children's Hospital (15 Vo Tran Chi Street, Tan Kien Ward, Binh Chanh District)
• Center for Disease Control (61 Au Duong Lan Street, Ward 3, District 8)
• FV Hospital (6 Nguyen Luong Bang Street, Tan Phu Ward, District 7)

All foreigners entering Vietnam are required to purchase international health insurances that are eligible for payment for medical examination and treatment in Vietnam, following their period of stay in the country.

At the same time, all entries into Vietnam must comply with the testing order for COVID-19 and pay the medical facility's testing fee at the current rates for medical services: VND 734,000 (Real-time PCR) and (or) VND 238,000 (quick test kit). The test result is a must for entering and exiting Vietnam.

If infected, the treatment cost for Vietnamese nationals will be covered by the state's fund, while foreign nationals must pay for the fee themselves.

Hospital Etiquettes during COVID-19

In case you must go to a hospital, whether for COVID-19 testing or other health emergencies in Vietnam, you must wear a face mask and go through these steps:

• At the gate, there is a specific entrance for people having COVID-19 symptoms or contact with those potentially having COVID-19. If you are in this group, choose this entrance and follow the notice boards along the way.
• The hospital staff (or sometimes the security) will measure your body temperature. In case it is higher than normal (37 Celsius degree), you will have to wait a while and be measured again. If your body temperature does not decrease, you may have to go to a quarantined room.
• There are bottles of hand sanitizer on the check-in table or where you measure your body temperature. Make sure you clean your hands properly in advance.
• You will then have to fill in the health declaration form. Some hospitals provide you with paper forms, while others may use the electrical ones.
• If you're not at the hospital for COVID-19, when you have finished all the aforementioned steps, you can have your check-up but remember to keep a safe distance of at least 2 meters from other patients.

For those who are required to stay in the hospital, you and your caregivers must comply with these rules:

• If you are staying in an intensive care unit, emergency department, infectious department, department of tropical diseases (such as COVID-19) or you are a patient with designated primary care, your family and caregivers cannot visit you.
• The number of family members taking care of you must be minimized. In case of extreme need, let only one fixed family member support you, and he or she must take all safety measures against the SARS-Cov-2.

Summary of Health Emergencies in Vietnam

Staying healthy during COVID-19 is a challenging yet critical task! As the number of deaths and infected people is increasing rapidly, please remember to protect yourself under any circumstances. We are aware that you would like to discover the S-shaped country and immerse yourself in the vibrancy here. However, carefully select recreational activities that are suitable during the pandemic to protect you and your loved ones.