Vietnam Military Medical University (formerly known as the Vietnam Military Medical School, established on March 10, 1949) is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of National Defense. Throughout its history of construction, development, and maturity, generations of leaders, officers, educators, doctors, staff, students, and soldiers within the entire academy have dedicated their passion, intelligence, and even their blood to cultivate a rich legacy of achievements and traditions that are truly a source of pride.

1. Developmental Phases:

• Vietnam Military Medical School (1949 – 1957);

• Military Medical Officer School (1957 – 1962);

• Military Medical Research Institute (1962 – 1966);

• Military Medical University (1966 – 1981);

• Vietnam Military Medical University (1981 – present).

2. Remarkable Achievements in the Process of Construction, Development, and Maturity:

2.1. In the national liberation, construction, and defense of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam:

Emerging in the early years of the resistance against the French colonial rule, Vietnam Military Medical University (hereafter VMMU) engaged in both combat and education. Faculty and students at the institution persevered through sacrifices and hardships to train over 400 doctors who participated in safeguarding the health of the armed forces and providing medical care to wounded soldiers in campaigns such as the Border Campaign, Northwest Campaign, and the historic Battle of Dien Bien Phu… Their contributions played a significant role in the collective achievements of the nation during the glorious victory of the anti-French resistance.

Education: Following the liberation of Northern Vietnam in 1958, in collaboration with Hanoi Medical University, VMMU initiated the training of the first multi-disciplinary military doctors. Hospital 103 was integrated into the Military Medical Officer School, becoming the practical training hospital of the institution. During the resistance against the United States, amidst the extremely harsh wartime conditions, the faculty, soldiers, teachers, and students of the academy overcame all difficulties and hardships to train over 4,000 university-level doctors and pharmacists for the military. Numerous medical teams from the academy were deployed to various battlefields to treat wounded soldiers. Many comrades were willing to sacrifice their lives to protect the health of their fellow comrades. They exemplified the admirable qualities of Comrade Ho Chi Minh and the military medical profession.

After the reunification of the country, VMMU continued to experience significant growth in both scale and types of training programs. In 1975, the institution introduced Specialist Doctor training (Chuyên khoa I), in 1979, the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) program, and in 1980, Specialized Doctor training (Chuyên khoa II). It was one of the pioneering universities nationwide to implement postgraduate education programs.

Scientific Research: VMMU has successfully completed thousands of valuable scientific research projects. Many of these projects have found wide applications in treating wounded soldiers and patients, including the development of anti-malarial drugs, burn treatments, and treatments for injuries caused by chemical agents.

Medical Treatment: Hospital 103 is a Type A hospital and serves as the military’s ultimate referral hospital. It has excelled in clinical training and is one of the top hospitals in the armed forces, specializing in the treatment of severely wounded soldiers during the national liberation and homeland defense wars.

2.2. In the renovation era:

In response to the demands of building the Military Medical Branch, to meet the objective of constructing a revolutionary, disciplined, and highly skilled military, and to modernize gradually, on December 16, 1981, the Ministry of National Defense decided to establish Vietnam Military Medical University. Over time, VMMU has made significant progress in terms of organizational structure and the quality of its personnel. Presently, VMMU consists of 10 affiliated departments, 2 practical training hospitals (Hospital 103 and the National Burn Institute), a Junior Medical School, 4 student management systems, 7 centers, and nearly 100 departments and faculties. Over 90% of the Academy’s faculty and staff hold postgraduate qualifications, including 156 Ph.D. holders, 5 educators honored with the title “People’s Teacher,” 6 doctors honored with the title “People’s Doctor,” 29 educators recognized as “Outstanding Teachers,” 100 physicians designated as “Outstanding Doctors,” 36 officers engaged in teaching and scientific research awarded the title of “Professor,” and 102 officers appointed as “Associate Professor.”

Currently, the Military Medical Academy carries out three core missions: Education, Scientific Research, and Medical Treatment.

– Bachelor’s degree: Military General Practitioner (6.5 years), Civil General Practitioner (6 years), Military Pharmacist (5.5 years), and Civil Pharmacist (5 years).

– Postgraduate: Doctor of Philosophy, Master’s degree, Doctors with degree as Specialist Level 1 and Specialist, Level II, Resident Doctor.

– Intermediate Professional Education Diploma:  physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and pharmaceutical excipients.

– Military General Practitioners at grassroot level, Bachelor of Nursing, 4- year Bachelor of Technology. Vietnam Military Medical University (VMMU) has recruited students graduating from medical schools and working in hospitals and other basic healthcare institutions of the Army and Ministry of Health. The training courses have made a significant contribution to overcome the shortage of doctors in medical care for the military and for civilians. Particularly, 3.200 medical pharmaceutical staff and around 2.800 doctors studied at VMMU to serve for patients living in remote areas.

– In order to provide human resources for the medical service, VMMU has been training long term Civil General Practitioners with average annual enrollment of from 200 students to 300 students. After graduating, students are expected to work at military and civilian hospitals in the country.

– Thanks to the reputation for training quality, the university was honored to be assigned by the Government to train General Doctors (6-year system) in 2003 for the Central Highlands provinces. The task is not only meaningful for improving the quality of protection and health care for the people of Central Highlands ethnic groups but also is important for the   political- social-security defense. Until now, VMMU has recruited over 600 students from 35 ethnic groups in Central Highlands to study.

2.2.2. Scientific Research:

Scientific research fields: military medicine, basic medicine, clinical medicine and disaster medicine, biotechnology and stem cells, pharmaceutical substances and natural compounds, basic research.

From 1986 to present, VMMU has completed 3,400 projects and nearly 2,000 technical initiatives, including 62 State-level projects; many research topics and initiatives at ministerial and sectoral levels. Most of the topics and initiatives have been accepted by the Scientific Councils and recognized as having a high degree of scientific value. They are also widely applied in practice, such as anesthesia in surgery, the application of receptor technology into the in vitro sperm and burn treatment, etc. In particular, there are scientific studies that are regarded to create great progress in Vietnamese medicine.

–  Technology development: tissue and organ transplant techniques, embryo technology, biotechnology,

– The program “Science – Technology to serve, protect and care for public health” (including 47 topics – State-level projects on Medicine and Pharmacy) was chaired and implemented by VMMU. The program is considered to have strategic significance for the development of the Health Sector and the cause of protecting, caring for and improving people’s health. At the same time, it also brings great economic and social benefits.

– Organ transplant: VMMU has successfully performed the first kidney, liver and heart transplants in humans in Vietnam

– Kidney transplant: in 1992, the first kidney transplant in Vietnam was successfully performed at VMMU. Until now, hundreds of patients have been saved thanks to kidney transplant technology nationwide. After the success of the first kidney transplant, from 1997 to 2003, VMMU was assigned by the Ministry of Health to be the unit in charge of the organ transplant project. VMMU’s organ transplant work was awarded Ho Chi Minh Prize in the field of science and technology by the State in 2005.

– Liver transplant: Leading professors, Military and Civil doctors, foreign experts organized the first successful hliver transplant in Vietnam at VMMU Since January 31th 2004) the technology has been transferred to other medical facilities.

– Heart transplant: inheriting the outcomes of the experimental heart transplant on June 17^th, 2010, VMMU marked a turning point in medical sector by successfully performing the first heart transplant in Vietnam.

Up to now, VMMU has coordinated with 11 hospitals in the country to successfully perform kidney transplants on 300 patients with end-stage kidney failure and 4 hospitals to successfully performed liver transplants on 12 patients with liver and biliary diseases in final phase.

2.2.3. Treatment:

Comprising two hospitals and Military Institute of Clinical Embryology and Histology, VMMU has become one of the facilities that treats many wounded soldiers and patients with severe health conditions in the country. Currently, doctors of VMMU examine over 220,000 people and treat over 30,000 patients every year.

Both hospitals have successfully applied many advanced techniques and modern technology in treatment. Currently, two hospitals are ranked as the first one in burn treatment, occupational diseases, mental health problems. Military Institute of Clinical Embryology and Histology has made great progress, becoming one of prestigious medical facilities with quality and performing effectively assisted reproductive techniques and in vitro fertilization for infertile couples.

2.2.4. International cooperation

In 1954, the Vietnam Military Physician School trained the first military physicians for the Lao People’s Liberation Army. In 1964, doctor training courses were launched for Cambodia. In 1989, The courses for doctors with degree as Specialist Level and Traditional Medicine for Cuba was launched. Until now, VMMU has trained nearly 600 general practitioners in Laos, Cambodia and Cuba; 25 Doctors with degree as Specialist Leve 1 and Level II; 20 Masters, 3 Doctors and nearly 200 physicians and pharmacists at intermediate level. Currently, nearly 100 students from Laos and Cambodia are studying at the VMMU, including undergraduate and graduate levels.

One of the important reasons why VMMU achieves high results in training, scientific research, and treatment is the solidarity and cooperation with medical and pharmaceutical universities and hospitals. institutes, scientific establishments and military and civil scientists. Currently, VMMU has cooperative relationships with all military hospitals, many hospitals of Health sector, the Hanoi Department of Health and most medical pharmaceutical universities in the country. At the same time, there are cooperative relationships between VMMU and with medical- pharmaceutical universities, hospitals, and scientific institutes of 25 countries with advanced medical qualifications in the world.

– Providing training for over 60,000 physicians, including 686 Doctors, over 1,500 Masters, over 4,000 Level I and Level II medical specialists, over 20,000 general doctors, university-leveled pharmacists, Bachelors of engineering and over 34,000 medical – pharmaceutical employees.

– Having completed over 3,400 scientific projects and nearly 2,000 technical initiatives. Specifically, there were over 62 state-level projects, and many those were conducted at ministerial and sectoral levels. Notably, many scientific projects and programs have contributed significantly to the development of Vietnamese Medicine as well as national defense and security.

– Currently 95% of the VMMU’s staff have postgraduate degrees, including 156 Doctors, 8 Professors and 50 Associate Professors.

4. Noble awards and titles conferred by the Party and State:

– Gold Star Medal;

– Ho Chi Minh Medal;

– Hero of the People’s Armed Forces during the Doi Moi period and during the Anti-American Resistance War (be awarded twice);

–  First-class Independent Medal;

–  First-class Military Merit Medal;

– 20 Military Merit Medals, Victory Medals, Labor Medals, Fatherland Defense Medals/Orders of all kinds;

– Two scientific works were awarded the Ho Chi Minh Prize (Vietnam’s highest science and technology award); 2 scientific projects were awarded VIFOTEC Technical Innovation Awards; 3 scientific projects were offered the awards from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO);

– 7 units under VMMU and 16 former military officials were awarded the title “Hero”; hundreds of units were awarded Military Merit Medals, Victory Medals, Labor Medals, and Fatherland Defense Medals/Orders, among others.

– From 1996 – 2007 (13 consecutive years), VMMU was awarded the Certificate of Merit by the Ministry of Education and Training for outstanding achievements in the student scientific research movement.

5. Missions and outcome standards of VMMU:

5.1. Mission:

VMMU is the only undergraduate and postgraduate training institution in medicine and pharmacy directly under the command of Ministry of National Defense with three central political missions. Firstly, it provides training for military medical officers at all levels and uniformed medical staff for the cause of industrialization and modernization of the country, scientific treatment and research, especially in the field of military medicine and pharmacy. Secondly, it constantly strives to become one of Vietnam’s leading medical and pharmaceutical universities as well as a key national educational institution. Thirdly, it strives to become a center for human resource training, scientific research, development and application of advanced techniques in the fields of national and international military medicine and general medicine.

5.2. Outcome standard:

– VMMU typically provides 6-year long-term medical general practitioner training. Specifically, it strives to produce people with medical ethics, basic knowledge and professional skills in medicine to identify, propose and participate in solving problems related to personal and community health. These medical professionals should be capable of conducting scientific research and self-study to improve qualifications, meeting the needs of protecting, caring for and improving people’s health.

– it provides 5-year long-term training of civilian pharmacists at the university level. Specifically, it aims at training people with good ethics, basic scientific understandings and medical-pharmaceutical knowledge, along with basic professional knowledge and skills. These standards should ensure the consultation on reasonable, safe and effective use of drugs as well as production, management and supply of good medicines. Moreover, all graduates should be capable of conducting scientific research and self-study to improve professional qualifications, contributing to meeting the needs of protecting, caring for and improving people’s health.