FV achieves 100 da Vinci Xi robotic surgeries, attracting international patients to Vietnam

With the da Vinci Xi system and a team of surgeons trained to international standards, FV offers patients in Vietnam greater access to advanced robotic surgery while attracting patients from overseas to seek treatment in Vietnam.

Technology Supporting Surgeons in Complex Procedures

With an investment of more than US$3 million, the da Vinci Xi robotic surgical system began operating in early 2026, laying the foundation for the establishment of the FV da Vinci Robotic Surgery Centre in March 2026. The Centre performs robotic surgery across several specialties, including gastrointestinal and hepatopancreatobiliary surgery, urology, thoracic surgery and gynaecology.

The da Vinci Xi provides magnified 3D HD endoscopic imaging at up to 10 times magnification, enabling surgeons to clearly visualise anatomical structures in deep and confined spaces. Its four robotic arms feature wristed instruments with a wide range of movement, combined with tremor filtration and motion scaling technologies to support precise surgical manoeuvres. Firefly fluorescence imaging also helps visualise certain blood vessels and assess tissue perfusion in appropriate cases.

A robotic surgical procedure at the FV da Vinci Robotic Surgery Centre.

The use of robotic surgery at FV has delivered impressive results. FV data show that blood loss was less than 10 ml in more than 35% of robotic surgical procedures. Most patients undergoing robotic surgery are discharged earlier than those undergoing conventional laparoscopic surgery, with some able to return home after just one day. The data also demonstrate how the da Vinci Xi has enabled surgeons to perform complex major operations, including lymph node dissections and tumour removal in challenging anatomical locations.

One notable case involved a 53-year-old Vietnamese man diagnosed with both oesophageal cancer and poorly differentiated gastric cancer, an aggressive form of cancer. He also had a history of multiple traumatic injuries, had previously undergone pancreaticojejunostomy and had undergone several major operations. These previous surgeries had resulted in extensive adhesions throughout the abdominal cavity, a retracted mesentery, and a severely angulated and distorted colon that differed considerably from normal anatomy. After chemotherapy in Singapore, the patient returned to Vietnam and chose to undergo surgery at FV. With the assistance of the da Vinci Xi, the surgical team performed an oesophagectomy and total gastrectomy with lymph node dissection, followed by reconstruction of the oesophagus using the colon, involving multiple complex anastomoses within the abdominal cavity. The patient has since made a remarkable recovery and returned to his normal daily activities.

Another case involved a Cambodian woman with thyroid cancer that had spread to deep lymph nodes in both sides of the mediastinum. Rather than undergoing two separate operations, she underwent a single robotic procedure at FV to remove suspected metastatic lymph nodes on both sides of the chest. She was discharged just two days later.

Investing in Surgical Expertise and Sharing Training Opportunities

Alongside its investment in technology, FV prioritises the development of its surgical team through advanced training and international professional exchange. The hospital organises continuing medical education (CME) programmes, providing opportunities for doctors to update their knowledge of minimally invasive surgical techniques and robotic applications in treatment.

In May 2026, FV collaborated with the University Medical Centre Ho Chi Minh City to perform live da Vinci Xi robotic gastrectomies as part of the 6th International Gastric Cancer Focus Group (HIGCF 2026) Conference. The programme featured robotic surgery experts from Fujita Health University in Japan, alongside numerous specialists from Vietnam and abroad. The initiative provided doctors with opportunities to observe surgical techniques in practice and exchange clinical expertise directly from the operating theatre.

FV also provides opportunities for experienced doctors from other healthcare institutions to undertake training, obtain robotic surgery certification and gain hands-on experience at the hospital.

Dr Le Ngoc Diep, Specialist Level II – Head of the Endoscopy Department at Tu Du Hospital and a collaborating specialist with the FV da Vinci Robotic Surgery Centre, prepares for a robotic procedure at FV.

International Patients Choose FV, Giving Vietnamese Patients More Treatment Options at Home

Patients undergoing robotic surgery at FV come from various countries, including Cambodia, the UK, the US, Switzerland and the Netherlands.

To support international patients, FV provides dedicated assistance throughout the treatment journey and has a direct billing network with more than 100 local and international insurance providers, including Allianz Worldwide Care and APRIL. The insurance team helps patients verify their benefits, liaise with insurers and arrange direct billing. Where direct billing is approved, patients do not need to pay the covered expenses upfront and subsequently submit a claim for reimbursement.

For Vietnamese patients, robotic surgery at FV provides greater access to advanced surgical techniques within the country, reducing the need to travel abroad for treatment and helping save on travel and accommodation costs.

FV also offers a range of financial support options, including FV insurance packages with benefits of up to VND 700 million, interest-free instalment plans through more than 30 banks, and partial financial assistance for selected cancer medicines.

Expanding into New Surgical Specialties

Achieving 100 procedures marks an early milestone in the development of the FV da Vinci Robotic Surgery Centre. The hospital continues to invest in the technology and expand its applications into new fields, including breast cancer and head and neck cancer surgery.

Reflecting on advances in robotic surgery, Dr Doan Ngoc Giao, PhD – Head of the FV da Vinci Robotic Surgery Centre, said: “For us, the value of robotic surgery lies not in using advanced technology for its own sake, but in its ability to help surgeons perform complex procedures with greater precision, thereby opening up more treatment opportunities for patients. Technology only has real value when it is used for the right indications and delivers tangible benefits to patients.

”For more information about robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery, please contact FV Hospital, 6 Nguyen Luong Bang Street, Tan My Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Tel: (028) 3511 3333, or visit the FV Hospital website.