General Surgery in Ho Chi Minh City

General surgery is a surgical specialty that deals with a wide range of common ailments on almost any part of the body but typically focuses on treating diseases and injuries of the abdomen, including the esophagus, small intestine, large intestine, pancreas, liver, appendix, gallbladder, and bile ducts. It also deals with diseases that involve the breasts, skin, soft tissue, digestive system, and endocrine system glands. 

Despite the term “general,” general surgeons are highly skilled surgeons. They can be found practicing many types of surgery, but they may also specialize in a type of surgery, such as treating cancer, which requires the skill to perform procedures on multiple areas of the body. 

Some common surgeries that are performed by general surgeons are as follows:

• Appendectomy.
• Breast surgery for cancerous and non-cancerous tumors, including breast biopsy, lumpectomy (breast-conserving surgery or partial mastectomy), and mastectomy. 
• Colon and rectal surgery, including colectomy, colostomy, and hemorrhoidectomy.
• Esophageal surgery, including esophagectomy, acid reflux surgery, and excision of an esophageal lesion.
• Gastroenterology procedures, such as gastric bypass surgery, upper GI endoscopy, and liver biopsy.
• Gallbladder removal (cholecystectomy).
• Hernia repair.
• Varicose vein removal.
• Thyroid removal.
• Transplant, such as kidney and liver transplantations.
• Spleen removal.
• Wound repair.

How Long Should I Stay in Ho Chi Minh City?

Your length of stay depends on the type of surgery you underwent. In general, you should wait for at least seven to ten days before you travel home, sometimes extending to 14 days. During your stay, you will need to rest as much as possible and let your body recover. In some cases, your surgeon may schedule a follow-up visit to evaluate your healing and, if needed, remove any stitches.

What's the Expected Recovery Time?

Recovery time can be different from one person to another, depending on the type of surgery you have and your general health. Anytime you have some sort of incision, you will have to wait until that incision has healed completely until you can go back to your full normal routine. Your surgeon will give you an idea of how long your recovery time can take. It can take a few weeks until you are allowed to return to work, and you may need to gradually increase your activity level until you can resume all of your normal activity.

What Aftercare is Required?

To speed your recovery time and avoid complications, it is important to follow the instructions you are given. Even a simple instruction, such as no baths after your surgery, may not seem meaningful, but your surgeon would not instruct it without good reason. You will need to have regular checkups after your surgery, but you can typically choose to have the checkups with your local doctor at home if you cannot make multiple travels to Ho Chi Minh City. 

What's the Success Rate?

With new techniques, advanced technology, and extensive experience of general surgeons, the success and safety rate for general surgery continues to increase. For example, general surgeons can now use laparoscopic techniques or perform robot-assisted surgery to minimize the risk and increase the success rate of surgery. These new techniques are possible thanks to continuous research and advancement in general surgery. Still, no surgical procedure is risk-free. All types of surgery generally carry the risk of bleeding, infection, and damage to other organs. 

Are there Alternatives?

There is typically no alternative to general surgery. However, if your doctor suspects that you need a specific specialist for your disease or injury, they will refer you to the relevant specialist. 

General Surgery in and around Ho Chi Minh City

About Ho Chi Minh

Ho Chi Minh City also referred to by its former name of Saigon, is Vietnam’s largest city. Although it is busy and chaotic, the city is actually teeming with wonderful shops, intriguing history, delicious food, and fantastic nightlife. While many people normally come to the city to explore its temples and museums, there’s also a growing trend of medical tourism. More and more people are coming to the city to take advantage of healthcare. One of the main reasons behind Ho Chi Minh’s emerging popularity in medical tourism is affordable prices. It’s more affordable to have any treatment performed here than in Thailand and Singapore.

Popular Parts of Ho Chi Minh

There are 19 districts in Ho Chi Minh, but the most popular one is District 1 (also known as Saigon District), which serves as the city center. Here, visitors can find bars, restaurants, cafés, and iconic landmarks. Some of the most popular attractions in this district are the Bitexco Tower Skydeck, the Independence Palace, the Notre Dame Cathedral and Post Office, Bui Vien Street, and Nguyen Hue Walking Street. Besides District 1, Chinatown or Cholon is also very popular as it is home to the biggest Chinese community in this country, and Binh Tay Market is its main draw. Full of great food, history, and wonderful sights, this area is an excellent place to wander around and have fun.

Transport in Ho Chi Minh

The main gateway to Ho Chi Minh is the Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport, which is the busiest airport in Vietnam. It serves flights to and from numerous cities in Asia, including Bangkok, Singapore, and Seoul. There are also several low-cost airlines available for budget travelers, such as VietJet Air and Jetstar Pacific Airlines. To get around the city, buses, taxis, Xe Om (motorcycle taxis), Cyclos, and Grab Taxi (similar to Uber) are available. Buses are comfortable, but taxis and Grab Taxi are the easiest way to travel around. Xe Om and Cyclos are affordable, but they tend to be suitable for short-distance trips only. 

Visas in Ho Chi Minh

Vietnam allows citizens of 24 countries, including the UK, Denmark, and Cambodia, to enter and stay in the country for up to 90 days without a visa. Other nationalities need to apply for a visa. The country has an electronic visa system available for citizens of 81 countries. 

Weather in Ho Chi Minh

Ho Chi Minh has a tropical monsoon climate and the average temperatures remain all year round. December to March is the dry season, with the temperatures ranging from 21°C to 34°C. May to September is the wet season, which experiences frequent rain showers. July to November is the peak period for typhoons.

Additional Info

1. Local Currency: The official currency is the Vietnamese Dong (VND). 1 USD is equivalent to 23,270 VND.
2. Money & Payments: ATMs are widespread. Credit cards are accepted at most hotels, but always bring cash with you. Tipping is appreciated, but not expected.
3. Local Language: The official language is Vietnamese. English is widely spoken, particularly in tourist areas.
4. Local Culture and Religion: The constitution provides for freedom of worship. Vietnamese folk religion is a major religion, but many people are not religious. Other religions, such as Buddhism and Christianity, are freely practiced.
5. Public Holidays: New Year’s Day, Tet Holiday, Reunification Day, International Labor Day, and National Day are some of the most celebrated holidays in Ho Chi Minh.