Le Huu Trac National Burn Hospital (Vietnam Military Medical University) has firmly established itself as the leading burn treatment facility in Vietnam. With continuous innovation and dedication, the hospital has not only strengthened its reputation but also deepened the trust of patients nationwide.

60 years ago, on December 1, 1964, the first Burn Department in the country (the predecessor of Le Huu Trac National Burn Hospital, Vietnam Military Medical University) was established on the basis of the Field Surgery Department of Military Hospital 103. After 6 decades of construction and development, with the direct guidance of the Party Committee, the Board of Directors of the Vietnam Military Medical University, the attention and support in all aspects of the Central Military Commission, the Head of the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Health, other agencies and units, the collective of cadres, doctors, nurses, staff and soldiers of Le Huu Trac National Burn Hospital has always proactively overcome difficulties, successfully completed the tasks assigned by the Party, State and Army, building Le Huu Trac National Burn Hospital strong, comprehensively developing in terms of organization, technical facilities and professional expertise.

From the early days of its establishment, the Burn Department had only 4 burn specialists. Up to now, Le Huu Trac National Burn Hospital has 1 professor, 06 associate professors, 12 doctors; 36 masters, 2 second degree specialists, 2 first degree spcialists, 1 leading burn specialist; 3 technical specialists from the Military Medical Department. Today, Le Huu Trac National Burn Hospital is a spacious and modern medical facility, on par with other countries in the region. Burn treatment, rehabilitation, plastic surgery, cosmetic surgery, and wound healing have been raised to a new level.

Le Huu Trac National Burn Hospital constantly improves the quality of treatment.

According to Major General, Professor, Doctor, Meritorious Medical Practitioner Nguyen Nhu Lam, Director of Le Huu Trac National Burn Hospital, in recent years, the quality of treatment at the Hospital has continuously increased, not only reducing the mortality rate, increasing the ability to save burn patients, but the Hospital has also made many advances in comprehensive patient care, in plastic surgery, cosmetic surgery, reconstruction, and rehabilitation after burns for victims, contributing to improving the quality of life of patients, helping patients reintegrate into the community better. About 1/3 of inpatients currently receive rehabilitation and plastic surgery, cosmetic surgery after burns.

Statistics show that, on average, each year the Hospital has admitted, provided emergency care and treated 7,000 – 9,000 patients with burns and burn sequelae, rehabilitation, acute and chronic wounds. In the past five years, the number of patients coming to the Hospital has tended to increase, including many foreign patients such as patients from China, Russia, Ukraine… Most of the patients treated at Le Huu Trac National Burn Hospital are patients with moderate, severe and very severe burns, burns with many complex complications, special burns such as respiratory and digestive burns and mass burns due to fire and explosion disasters.

Le Huu Trac National Burn Hospital actively participates in social welfare activities.

In particular, the team of doctors and medical staff of Le Huu Trac National Burn Hospital has regularly combined two medical systems: Modern medicine combined with traditional medicine, focusing on local skin replacement drugs and materials. Typically, Maduxin; Becberin; Selaphin; Glodes SH 91; pig skin mesoderm, placental membrane… researched and produced by the Hospital are widely and regularly used, contributing to improving the quality of treatment and reducing costs. The Hospital has successfully researched and produced many products and preparations from cell technology such as cultured allogeneic skin fibroblast sheets, autologous keratinocyte sheets; stem cell products from umbilical cord membrane and from adipose tissue are being tested and will soon be gradually applied to the treatment of burns and chronic wounds.

Along with the regular treatment task, over the years, Le Huu Trac National Burn Hospital has successfully completed the task of directing, guiding, directly organizing emergency, transporting, admitting and successfully treating hundreds of victims of mass burns in fire and explosion disasters assigned by the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Health. In the context of the market economy having significant impacts on medical ethics, the doctors of Le Huu Trac National Hospital always maintain the qualities of military doctors. In 2010, Le Huu Trac National Burn Hospital was voted as one of the 10 community-friendly hospitals in the country.

In addition, scientific research is also one of the strengths of Le Huu Trac National Burn Hospital. Over the past 60 years, the Hospital has completed more than 300 scientific studies and more than 90 technical innovation initiatives, including 15 independent state-level studies, 6 state-level protocols, 25 ministry-level studies of the Ministry of National Defense and Ministry of Health, more than 200 university- level studies of the Vietnam Military Medical University and and hospital-level studies. The research subjects span various fields, including burn treatment, burn aftercare, cosmetic and plastic surgery, wound healing, cell technology, skin replacement materials, and burn medication development. These studies have yielded highly practical results, improving treatment and training efficiency, reducing hospital stays and mortality rates, and lowering costs for patients. Many studies have become doctoral theses, master’s theses, and second degree specialist theses. Some hospital-level topics have been upgraded to ministerial and state-level topics. The research results of these studies have brought about general effectiveness for the burn specialty of the entire army and the entire country, becoming achievements of the country’s health sector.

Le Huu Trac National Burn Hospital also promotes international cooperation. Up to now, the Hospital has had a long-term and effective tradition of cooperation with scientists from advanced countries such as Nippon University, Japan; Concord Hospital, Australia; US Navy; National University of Singapore; Russia; Germany; China, Korea, etc. The Hospital has 9 staff members who are members of the World Burn Association, the European Burn Association and the Asia-Pacific Burn Association.

Le Huu Trac National Burn Hospital regularly promotes cooperation with medical facilities.

In recognition of the achievements of Le Huu Trac National Burn Hospital, the Party and State have awarded Le Huu Trac National Burn Hospital many noble awards and titles such as: 02 titles of Hero of the People’s Armed Forces; First Class Independence Order; 02 Third Class Military Exploit Orders; 05 First, Second, Third Class Feat Orders; 04 First, Second, Third Class Labor Orders and many other noble awards… In particular, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of its tradition, Le Huu Trac National Burn Hospital was honored to receive the Second Class Labor Order awarded by the Party and State, for its outstanding achievements in emergency care, treatment, scientific research, line guidance, and domestic and international cooperation.

With a long, glorious tradition and valuable experiences accumulated over 60 years of construction, development and growth, the collective of cadres, doctors, nurses, employees and soldiers of Le Huu Trac National Burn Hospital vows to remain committed to unity, innovation, and excellence. They pledge to think boldly, act decisively, embrace responsibility, and rise to challenges in service of the greater good. By leveraging their collective expertise and the dedication of their highly skilled and compassionate medical staff, they continue to uphold the noble qualities of “Uncle Ho’s soldiers”. With unwavering determination, they strive to excel in all tasks, contributing significantly to the nation’s development and defense. Their efforts reflect the trust and admiration of the Party, State, Army, and people—a legacy affirmed by the hospital’s recognition as a twice-honored Hero of the People’s Armed Forces./.

News: Ha Cuong, Translated by Minh Khoa