Vietnam’s military hospital sets milestone with 2 emergency helipads

The Ho Chi Minh City-based hospital on Monday celebrated its 50th anniversary (May 26, 1975 - 2025), received the prestigious Ho Chi Minh Order, and inaugurated its 1,000-bed new building and underground parking garage.

According to Major General Tran Quoc Viet, director of Military Hospital 175, the new hospital building and parking garage, initiated in 2016 with a price tag of VND2.5 trillion (US$9.6 million), comprises one basement and nine floors above ground.

The facility includes 47 specialized examination rooms, 18 modern operating rooms, one emergency operating room, three ophthalmic surgery rooms, and three interconnected daycare surgery units, effectively easing medical service congestion for Ho Chi Minh City and neighboring areas.

A key feature of the new building is a rooftop helipad directly connected to an elevator, allowing patients to be transported straight to the emergency and intensive care units in the shortest possible time.

Together with the existing helipad at the hospital’s Orthopedic and Trauma Institute, Military Hospital 175 is now the first and only healthcare facility in Vietnam with two helipads, substantially boosting its disaster-response capabilities.

When fully operational, the 1,000-bed facility is projected to daily serve 5,000-6,000 outpatient visits, treat 1,800-2,000 inpatients, and handle up to 300 emergency cases.

It is recognized as one of the 50 key infrastructure projects set to transform Ho Chi Minh City’s landscape in 2025.

Additionally, the 8,400-square-meter underground parking garage can accommodate nearly 1,000 motorcycles and 600 cars.

This parking facility can be repurposed as a field hospital or an emergency and treatment zone, ensuring readiness for evacuation and isolation in response to natural disasters, calamities, and medical emergencies.

Military Hospital 175 aims to evolve into a modern, specialized military medical complex, achieving regional and international standards.

Addressing the ceremony, Senior Lieutenant General Vu Hai San, Deputy Minister of National Defense, praised hospital staff for their dedication, encouraging continued investment in skilled personnel and fostering a healthy working culture.

He urged the hospital to achieve its goals, including becoming one of six internationally-standardized Vietnamese hospitals, advancing scientific research, and consistently placing patient care at its core.