Ho Chi Minh City proposes constructing Vietnam’s first dedicated trauma hospital worth $160mn

The People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City has submitted a proposal to the municipal People’s Council seeking approval for an investment policy to construct a new Trauma Hospital.

According to the proposal, the new hospital will be built in Tan Nhut Commune, an outlying area of the southern metropolis, with the city’s Project Management Board for Civil and Industrial Construction serving as the project developer.

The municipal administration said the primary goal is to establish Vietnam’s first dedicated Trauma Hospital equipped with modern infrastructure and advanced medical technology.

The planned hospital complex will feature a main building with one basement level and 10 above-ground floors.

The facility would serve residents of Ho Chi Minh City and neighboring provinces while significantly reducing pressure on overcrowded inner-city hospitals.

The proposal also highlights plans to develop highly specialized departments supported by advanced medical equipment, enhancing diagnostic and treatment capacity.

In addition to patient care, the hospital is expected to integrate clinical services with scientific research, medical training, and workforce development, creating jobs for skilled healthcare professionals.

The need for the project is underscored by the current conditions at the existing Hospital for Traumatology and Orthopedics, which is described as being under severe strain.

Patients frequently have to lie along corridors, increasing the risk of infection, particularly after surgery.

Facilities are outdated, cramped, and no longer capable of meeting treatment demand.

Compounding the problem, the hospital’s central location near major traffic arteries often leads to congestion during peak hours, delaying emergency transport and reducing the effectiveness of time-critical interventions.

The situation also affects urban aesthetics and traffic safety.

At present, trauma-related departments are scattered across multiple hospitals in the city.

This fragmentation forces patients with multiple injuries to be transferred between facilities, extending the critical ‘golden hour’ for trauma treatment and increasing medical risks.

Under the proposed timeline, construction of the Trauma Hospital would take place between 2026 and 2030.

In 2026, the city plans to conduct site surveys, organize an architectural design competition, and complete regulatory procedures including planning approvals, fire safety assessments, and environmental impact evaluations.

Construction and equipment installation are scheduled for 2027 to 2029, with trial operations and final acceptance planned for 2030.

In related news, the municipal administration also submitted a separate proposal for a 500-bed General Practice Hospital affiliated with Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, with a price tag of more than VND4.7 trillion ($179 million).

The General Practice Hospital, also located in Tan Nhut Commune, aims to address the lack of a standardized teaching hospital for one of Vietnam’s largest medical universities.