Vinmec Healthcare System
Redefining Vietnam’s Place in Global Healthcare
In this interview, Prof. Tran Trung Dung, MD, PhD, CEO of Vinmec Healthcare System, shares how Vinmec stands as both a clinical powerhouse and a symbol of forward-looking medicine - all driven by one enduring goal: better outcomes for every patient.
You’ve spent 25 years in orthopaedics, spanning complex tumour surgery, sports medicine, and now system leadership. What first drew you to healthcare, and what still keeps you inspired?
For my generation, orthopaedics was never considered a “popular” specialty, and perhaps that’s exactly what drew me in. In the early 2000s, Vietnam lacked specialists in this field, but that also meant endless opportunities to learn, explore, and contribute. I’ve always been fascinated by knowledge, and I realised early on that the musculoskeletal system is the foundation of human freedom. It’s what allows us to move, to work, to live fully. Helping someone walk again or return to their sport is, in a way, helping them return to life itself. I knew then that this would be the medicine of the future, and it has defined my entire career.
What has kept me inspired all these years are my patients and my students. Seeing a patient recover after a complex bone tumor surgery, or simply taking their first steps again, makes every effort worthwhile. And when I see my students grow, not only in skill but also in ethics and compassion. I feel like I’m continuing something far greater than a profession: a journey of nurturing those who help others heal.
Was there a moment that made you feel deeply connected to this profession?
I’ll never forget little Minh Duc, a bone cancer patient whose mother refused to give up. Every hospital had recommended amputation, but she only asked one thing: “Can my son ever walk again?”
That question became our mission. Together with our engineers and surgeons, we created Vietnam’s first 3D-printed total femur for the world’s youngest patient. When he finally stood up, his mother cried, and so did we.
Dedicated professionals shaping the future of medicine through care, collaboration, and continuous learning.
How do you define leadership in healthcare today?
Leadership in healthcare isn’t just about making decisions. It’s about nurturing people so they can heal others. Above all, it means building a value-based healthcare system where every effort serves one purpose: doing what’s best for the patient.
For me, leadership today lies in three pillars.
First is passing the torch, training a new generation of doctors who are not only skilled but also compassionate, carrying Vinmec’s DNA where humanity comes first. A doctor can only truly heal when they themselves are fulfilled, supported, and growing in a trusting, humane environment.
Second is building a positive healthcare culture, where even non-clinical teams feel valued and proud of their contribution, because in healthcare, no one works “behind the scenes.”
And third is driving continuous innovation to better serve human health, advancing early prevention, effective treatment, and healthy longevity. To me, longevity isn’t just about living longer; it’s about living well, with purpose and joy. That’s the very essence of the Value-Based Care model Vinmec is pursuing.
Today, Vinmec operates nine hospitals and six clinics across Vietnam. Each is led by a medical director who is not only an expert but also a cultural anchor, embodying and spreading Vinmec’s three core values: talent, ethics, and empathy.
A true healthcare leader must look beyond operations, they must cultivate culture, develop people, and prepare the next generation. That’s why Vinmec remains steadfast on its academic path, integrating research, education, and care, to grow sustainably through knowledge and people.
Clinical Excellence Through Research and Innovation
And how do you bring that philosophy to life across such a large healthcare system like Vinmec?
Our guiding principle is Value-Based Healthcare (VBHC), a philosophy Vinmec has remained deeply committed to. In this model, “value” is defined as the combined effectiveness of clinical outcomes, patient experience, and accessibility, all optimized relative to the cost of care.
On clinical outcomes, we’ve built a quality management system rooted in a culture of safety and continuous improvement. Beyond JCI accreditation, we’re moving toward a Disease Management model that puts patients truly at the centre, measuring success through Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs), how patients themselves rate their recovery and quality of life.
On patient experience, we track and publish satisfaction scores across multiple touchpoints, from doctors and nurses to support services, ensuring that every encounter builds trust and positive emotion.
On accessibility, we’re expanding nationwide to bridge the healthcare gap between regions, while introducing outreach programs and digital healthcare platforms that bring high-quality care to more people, without borders.
And on cost, we standardise processes, optimise length of stay, and streamline operations, reducing financial burdens while keeping care services at the highest standards.
For us, Value-Based Care isn’t just a philosophy; it’s the method by which we measure, manage, and make decisions every single day.
Vinmec is known for gathering Vietnam’s top medical experts and building a strong, future-focused talent strategy. Could you share Vinmec’s philosophy and direction in developing the next generation of medical leaders?
In healthcare, technology and infrastructure can be purchased, but people must be nurtured. That’s how we build a truly sustainable medical system. At Vinmec, we believe the quality of a healthcare system begins with the quality of its people. We don’t just look for talented doctors; we seek those with a genuine calling to serve and a desire to grow with the organisation.
Our human capital strategy is built on three pillars: academia, succession, and integration.
Academia, because we’ve developed an integrated hospital–university–research institute model where doctors can treat, teach, and conduct research within the same ecosystem.
Succession, because we invest in training and developing the next generation of medical leaders, guided by Vietnam’s “golden generation” of experts in liver transplantation, critical care, orthopaedics, oncology, cardiology, and immunology.
And integration, because we connect with leading medical centres worldwide to create an academic, international environment full of learning and growth opportunities.
Today, Vinmec brings together Vietnam’s top specialists, pioneers in transplantation, intensive care, immunology, stem cells, orthopaedics, and cardiology. But what makes me proudest isn’t their reputation; it’s the culture of sharing knowledge and growing together.
And research clearly plays a big role in that journey. How is Vinmec integrating laboratory research with clinical practice?
Research, to us, isn’t just about scientific publications. It’s about finding answers to the limits of medicine.
At Vinmec’s research centres, in collaboration with VinUniversity, our scientists and clinicians work hand in hand to ensure every study has real clinical value. Here, research doesn’t stay in the lab. It follows the doctor into the operating room and accompanies the patient throughout recovery.
This model has enabled Vinmec to master advanced technologies such as CAR-T and NK cell therapies for cancer, 3D printing for reconstructing bones, chest walls, and joints, and autologous immune-enhancing therapy (AIET), all recognised by leading international medical journals.
Our doctors’ research, from liver transplantation and cardiology to orthopaedics, oncology, and immunology, has also been cited globally. When research and clinical care become one, we’re not only treating patients, we’re shaping the future of Vietnamese medicine.
Advancing Healthcare Through Innovation
Patient recovery — where science meets empathy and healing becomes hope
Building on that foundation, what key initiatives will Vinmec focus on to enhance patient experience and management quality?
A great patient experience doesn’t come from processes. It comes from people who feel valued.
In the coming years, Vinmec will focus on four strategic initiatives to enhance both management quality and patient experience, starting with those who make the system possible.
First, we’re investing in the growth and well-being of our doctors, nurses, and non-clinical teams. When caregivers feel empowered, supported, and inspired, they naturally become ambassadors of great patient care.
Second, we’re developing lifetime health journey programs aligned with our Value-Based Healthcare philosophy. Instead of waiting for illness, we focus on prevention, early screening, and personalised health management, helping people live healthier, longer, and more meaningful lives.
Third, we’re advancing community-integrated healthcare, bringing quality care closer to people through home-based and digital health services in Vinhomes residential areas and partner networks. Hospitals will focus on complex cases, while everyday care reaches patients where they live.
Fourth, we’re accelerating digital transformation with the Vinmec Data Platform, which tracks the entire patient journey from prevention to recovery. AI will help predict complications early and tailor care more precisely, making every clinical decision more scientific and safe.
We’re also expanding our internal 5-star hospital rating system, ensuring transparency and trust across the entire network.
And at the heart of all innovation, we always return to one question: Does this help our patients live better? If the answer is yes, then it’s the right path for Vinmec.
Thank you for this insightful conversation!
