Cho Kiu Yuen and Jiahua Dai

We were inspired to undertake my placement in Vietnam and participate in the Village Healthcare Week, as it sounded like a fantastic opportunity to experience healthcare in a smaller village. The activities included in the village week seemed fun and would allow us to get to live like the local people in the village. 

Our first impression of the clinic in the village was that it was quite small and had fewer patients than the hospital. It also provided traditional treatment for pain and joint issues.

During the village placement, we learned how to use the ECG as it is different from the machines in the UK, and we understood ECG results by determining if they were normal or abnormal. We also learned to identify organs, cysts, and more through ultrasounds. We observed c-sections, as well as assisted in dressing, weighing, and washing newborn babies.

Throughout the placement, we also visited examination rooms to practice manual observations. We had the chance to visit an optician to compare experiences for patients, as well as explore more traditional treatments such as acupuncture.

Every day during the Village Healthcare Week, we visited the hospital in the morning and planned activities for the afternoon. We stayed in a family homestay with a lovely local family that provided delicious traditional food, with three meals a day. We learned about Vietnamese culture and the tradition of burning votive paper in memory of deceased family members - we also had the opportunity to craft a few.

We also got to watch the sunrise at the floating market, which had incredible views. We then went paddleboarding in the lagoon to fish for clams on foot, which was a fun experience!

We had the opportunity to travel to the beach by boat and bike to unwind and swim, which was really relaxing.

We also visited local family homes to meet lovely people and make traditional rice cakes with a grandmother who enjoys hosting visitors - her story touched me emotionally.

Everyone, including our tour guide, was incredibly supportive and ensured we got the most out of this opportunity. Spending time with the homestay family, the tour guide, and fellow housemates, we enjoyed new activities every day alongside amazing food.

The most memorable moments included seeing pregnancy ultrasounds and observing c-sections. We were also involved in dressing and weighing a newborn after a C-section.

The Village Healthcare Experience highlighted the differences between healthcare in Vietnam and back home, particularly in wound care, medications, surgeries, and traditional treatments. In the UK, traditional treatments are rarely used, and wound care follows different protocols. The district hospital has significantly fewer staff compared to hospitals in Hue city, along with fewer resources overall.

To those considering undertaking their placement overseas, I would encourage you to go for it - take part in the Village Healthcare Week to make the most of your experience. You will learn so much about Vietnamese culture - it truly is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. 

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