Sweden-Vietnam Health Week 2026 to mark 50 years of healthcare partnership

This November, the two countries will mark 50 years of healthcare cooperation with Sweden–Vietnam Health Week 2026, a three-day program exploring how that shared experience can help shape better care for future generations, the Embassy of Sweden in Hanoi said in a press release on October 29.

This is linked to the 50th anniversary of the start of construction of Vietnam–Sweden Hospital in Uong Bi, Quang Ninh in 1976.

Taking place from November 16 to 18 in Hanoi, Bac Ninh, and Ho Chi Minh City, the program will bring together healthcare leaders, hospitals, researchers, universities, and life science companies.

Discussions will focus on digital health, precision medicine, sustainable healthcare, hospital modernization, research collaboration, and the development of healthcare professionals.

The partnership has come a long way since Sweden supported major hospitals, including Vietnam–Sweden Hospital Uong Bi in Quang Ninh and the National Children's Hospital in Hanoi.

Today, cooperation extends to medical research, technology, and healthcare innovation.

The Health Week will look back at what has been achieved while exploring how the two countries can build on that foundation to meet Vietnam’s changing healthcare needs.

“The greatest legacy of 50 years of cooperation is not simply what we have built, but the knowledge, skills, and relationships that continue to grow,” said Johan Ndisi, Ambassador of Sweden to Vietnam.

“As Vietnam’s healthcare system evolves, our task is to build on that foundation and find practical ways to make quality care more accessible and improve people’s lives.”

As Vietnam continues to develop its healthcare system, there is growing scope for closer collaboration between healthcare providers, researchers, and industry.

From digital solutions and medical technology to prevention and healthcare infrastructure, the opportunity lies in combining Swedish expertise with Vietnamese experience and priorities to find solutions that work in practice.

“Vietnam’s ambitions in healthcare create opportunities to combine Swedish innovation and expertise with local knowledge and priorities,” said Marcus Persson, Trade Commissioner and Country Manager of Business Sweden in Vietnam.

“Through closer cooperation between industry, healthcare institutions, and researchers, we can help strengthen capacity, advance digitalization, and develop solutions that respond to real needs in Vietnam’s healthcare system.”

The Health Week will bring together Swedish companies and research institutions working across different parts of healthcare.

The event’s listed partners include AstraZeneca, Diaverum, Ericsson, EviBody, Getinge, Karolinska Institutet (KI), Surgical , Sweco, and Swecare.

Their expertise ranges from pharmaceuticals and specialist care to digital connectivity, preventive health, medical technology, clinical simulation, hospital infrastructure, and research.

The program is organized by the Embassy of Sweden in Hanoi, Business Sweden, and Karolinska Institutet in cooperation with Team Sweden partners and healthcare institutions, researchers, and businesses in both countries.

Beyond marking an important milestone, the Health Week aims to create opportunities for people and institutions to learn from one another, strengthen existing relationships, and develop new areas of cooperation.

The shared ambition is to build on 50 years of experience and ensure that the next chapter delivers practical benefits for healthcare professionals, patients, and their families.