On May 6, Hu Youde, Director of the Department of General Surgery and Party Branch Secretary at Vietnam’s Thong Nhat Hospital, led a delegation on a visit to Zhejiang University Fourth Hospital. The visit focused on modern hospital management, discipline development, and cutting-edge surgical techniques. Through on-site exchanges, the Vietnamese delegation hoped to gain a deeper understanding of Zhejiang University Fourth Hospital’s advanced experience in hospital development, minimally invasive surgical systems, and talent cultivation.
Tang Zhe, Vice President of Zhejiang University Fourth Hospital, presented the book *Eight Key Tasks for New Hospital Construction* to the Vietnamese delegation on behalf of the hospital. The book systematically summarizes the hospital’s practical experience in new hospital construction and operational management.
01 On-site Visit
Praise for the Construction of Zhejiang University Fourth Hospital’s Modern Smart HospitalThe delegation toured various areas of Zhejiang University Fourth Hospital, including the International Healthcare Center, the International Medical Department, the Hall of Renowned Physicians, the Outpatient Lobby, the Pharmacy Department, and the Laboratory Department.
During the tour, Director Hu Youde was particularly impressed by the International Health Center’s capsule endoscopes, intelligent patient guidance system, and automated blood sample labeling system, noting that “Vietnam currently lacks such convenient and efficient equipment.” He also expressed high praise for the hospital’s smart facilities, such as the self-service registration kiosks and rail-guided carts, repeatedly commending Zhejiang University Fourth Hospital as a modern hospital of international caliber and expressing his hope to establish a long-term and stable partnership in the future.
02 Surgical Observation—A Firsthand Look at Cutting-Edge Minimally Invasive Techniques
That afternoon, the Vietnamese delegation visited the operating rooms and endoscopy center to observe high-level surgical demonstrations from three major departments at the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University.
Tang Zhe, Vice President of Zhejiang University Fourth Hospital and Director of the General Surgery Center, performed multiple minimally invasive surgeries for liver cancer, including laparoscopic procedures and radiofrequency ablation, precisely demonstrating the standardized application of minimally invasive techniques in the treatment of hepatobiliary tumors. Zheng Yichun, Vice President of Zhejiang University Fourth Hospital and Director of the Urology Center, performed multiple Da Vinci robotic surgeries for the resection of kidney and prostate cancers, highlighting the outstanding advantages of robotic surgery in terms of precision and minimally invasive techniques. Yu Weihua, Associate Chief Physician of the Department of Gastroenterology, demonstrated endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), showcasing the mature techniques for endoscopic treatment of early-stage gastrointestinal tumors.
The delegation highly praised the hospital’s precise, minimally invasive, and standardized surgical techniques and operational procedures.
03 Roundtable Discussion—Deepening Cooperation and Promoting the Sharing of High-Quality Resources
During the symposium, the two sides engaged in in-depth discussions on topics such as hospital management, disciplinary development, and international training.
Tang Zhe, Vice President of the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, provided a comprehensive overview of the hospital’s development history, disciplinary structure, and major achievements in recent years. As a young hospital with high standards and an international orientation, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University has benchmarked itself against world-class institutions since its inception, continuously promoting the deep integration of medical services, teaching, and scientific research innovation.
Notably, Tang Zhe was invited multiple times last year to countries such as Bangladesh and Uzbekistan to deliver academic lectures and conduct surgical demonstrations, bringing China’s advanced minimally invasive liver cancer techniques to countries along the Belt and Road. The “Ablation Training Course” he spearheaded has attracted doctors from multiple countries to participate, establishing a mature integrated training system combining “theoretical instruction, simulation training, and surgical observation.”
Subsequently, Li Ning, Deputy Director of the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, delivered a special presentation on the development of the Respiratory Medicine Center, diagnostic and therapeutic technologies, and the department’s capabilities. Nguyen Thi Cao Suong, Director of External Affairs and International Cooperation at Vietnam’s Thong Nhat Hospital, shared the hospital’s development history, medical specialties, and progress in international cooperation.
In his remarks, Dr. Hu Youde, Director of the Department of General Surgery at Vietnam’s Reunification Hospital, stated that through this on-site visit and academic exchange, the Vietnamese delegation was “deeply impressed and inspired” by Zhejiang University Fourth Hospital’s modern management model, smart facilities, and high-level minimally invasive surgical techniques.
He specifically noted that Vietnam’s Thong Nhat Hospital eagerly hopes to establish a deep cooperative relationship with Zhejiang University Fourth Hospital. He sincerely invited Vice President Tang Zhe’s team to visit Vietnam to conduct surgical demonstrations and academic lectures. Additionally, he expressed the hope of sending Vietnamese doctors to China for systematic training in advanced medical technologies and service philosophies, with the aim of tangibly improving diagnostic and treatment standards in relevant fields in Vietnam. He looks forward to both parties continuing to deepen cooperation in areas such as clinical technical exchange and talent development, jointly advancing the development of the healthcare sector.
This Sino-Vietnamese technical exchange has built a bridge for practical communication between the two parties. The visit by the Vietnamese delegation was not only an in-depth technical learning journey but also marked the entry of cooperation between the two hospitals into a phase of substantive advancement. The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University will continue to expand international medical cooperation with countries along the “Belt and Road” route. With a more open attitude, more sophisticated technology, and higher-quality services, it will promote the joint development of healthcare in China and Vietnam, contributing more of the “Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University’s strength” to enhancing the health and well-being of the people of both nations.