The Full Story of the German Man “Shocked” by a Public Hospital in Da Nang A detailed real-life experience from Gunner – the German form...

The Full Story of the German Man “Shocked” by a Public Hospital in Da Nang

A detailed real-life experience from Gunner – the German former nurse living in Vietnam.

Dear young friends, I am Mộng Thy. Today I want to share in detail and in a relatable way the journey of Gunner – a 47-year-old German man who used to work as a nurse in the United States and is now living in Da Nang. When his wife needed a chest X-ray, instead of choosing an expensive private international hospital like Vinmec or Hoan My, they decided to try Hospital 199 (Ministry of Public Security) – a public hospital. What Gunner experienced left him “shocked” in the most positive way and made his video go viral on social media. Let’s explore the whole story together!

The Journey to the Hospital and Super-Fast Procedures

Gunner and his wife booked an appointment via email in the morning and received an immediate reply for 1:30 PM – right after the lunch break, so the hospital was not too crowded. Just a few minutes by motorbike from the An Thong area, they arrived. Registration at the international patient support area (Medical Tourism Unit) took only 5 minutes. Gunner was impressed that they could simply take a number, sit and wait, and the staff handled everything quickly.

Surprises About Cost and Speed of Service

His wife had her chest X-ray done in just 2 minutes and received the results after about 15 minutes. The total cost was only 4.18 USD (over 109,000 VND). When the doctor noticed a small finding that needed further checking, Gunner thought they would have to schedule another day. But surprisingly, he was told they could do the CT scan of the lungs right away. The cost for the CT scan was about 31 USD (over 800,000 VND). The entire process from arrival to returning home took less than 2 hours – something Gunner said was “unimaginable” compared to the US or Germany, where you often wait for months and pay astronomical amounts.

Gunner was even allowed to photograph the full price list for international patients without insurance. He kept repeating in his video: “I can’t believe it! This is the price of half a Starbucks coffee!”

Real-Life Details Inside the Hospital

While waiting, Gunner observed that the hospital mainly served local people: elderly patients, families bringing relatives for check-ups. He realized this was a genuine public hospital, not one designed only for tourists. He praised the spacious environment with an outdoor seating area featuring a statue of Uncle Ho, and especially the incredibly cheap cafeteria (coffee from just 15,000 VND, Mi Quang noodles at 30,000 VND).

Regarding cleanliness, Gunner rated the overall facility as clean with a pleasant smell. However, he also noted one unpleasant incident while his wife waited for the CT scan: the pillow on the table had fluids from a previous emergency case. As a former nurse, Gunner said this was unacceptable, but the staff handled his feedback immediately. He still concluded that the overall experience was “very positive,” with friendly staff and smooth procedures.

Comparison with Private Hospitals and Lessons Learned

Gunner directly compared it with Vinmec and Hoan My: the public hospital does not offer full concierge service, documents are mainly in Vietnamese (though interpreters are available), but it excels in speed, low cost, and easy access. He advised coming after lunch or early morning to avoid crowds.

Gunner’s story is not just a personal sharing but also opens a new perspective for us on Vietnam’s medical tourism potential and public healthcare system. For young people passionate about medicine, health-tech startups, or tourism, this is vivid proof that Vietnam is making remarkable progress.

Young friends, what do you think about this experience? Have you ever had a check-up at a public hospital? Or do you have any ideas to improve healthcare services for both Vietnamese people and foreigners? Please share honestly in the comments below. Let’s build a healthier and friendlier Vietnam together!

Mộng Thy - Companion of the Youth