A 19-year-old British tourist who died after an accident during a trip to Vietnam has saved three lives through organ donation, marking the first case of a foreign donor in the country, doctors said.
Her liver was transplanted to a 53-year-old man suffering from acute liver failure linked to hepatitis B and cirrhosis. Her two kidneys were given to a 35-year-old man and a 41-year-old woman, both of whom had undergone years of dialysis while awaiting transplants.
In early April, during a trip to Vietnam, the young woman was involved in a serious accident. Despite the doctors’ efforts, her injuries were too severe to overcome. On April 2, 2026, she was declared brain dead at Viet Duc University Hospital.
Her parents said they chose to donate her organs to help others in the country she had selected for her first solo trip, according to the Vietnamplus news site.
Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan also sent a letter expressing profound gratitude to the donor’s family.
Capturing around 10,000 photos for highland children
“Ky yeu tren ban”, a humanitarian project led by photographer Luu Minh Khuong, 32, and his friends, has preserved childhood memories and brought hope to thousands of children in remote highland areas.
Driven by regret over not having enough photo paper to give every child a picture during a 2019 trip, he vowed to return and provide free portraits for all students in these remote areas.
Over the past seven years, the effort has grown from a self-funded project into a large volunteer initiative, drawing thousands of participants. Braving difficult mountain terrain, the group has delivered more than 10,000 framed portraits to students and elderly residents across Dien Bien, Cao Bang, Bac Kan and Ha Giang.
The project carries deep humanitarian significance, as for many highland residents and children, these are the first and possibly only photographs they will ever have, according to the VnExpress news site.
Vietnam artisan turns thorny bamboo into one-of-a-kind creations
A Vietnamese craftsman has gained attention for transforming thorny bamboo into intricate models of insects and mythical creatures.
Le Ngoc Du, 39, from Tay Ninh Province, began working with bamboo during the Covid-19 pandemic after leaving his job as a hairdresser. He chose thorny bamboo for its durability and natural forms that resemble animal features such as legs and antennae.
Du said he preserves most of the bamboo’s original shape, making only minimal adjustments to refine details. Finding suitable materials can take months or even years, while assembling a model may take several hours to two days.
Because each piece depends on bamboo’s natural structure, no two works are identical. One of his most notable creations, a Long Ma inspired by the Cao Dai Temple in Tay Ninh, took nearly two years to complete.
His work has attracted interest from collectors at home and abroad, though production remains limited, according to the Thanh Nien news site.
Vietnamese doctor saves Japanese passenger on flight
A Japanese woman who fainted on a flight from HCMC to Japan early on April 5 was stabilized before landing, thanks to the prompt assistance of a Vietnamese doctor onboard.
Dr. Nguyen Hoang Duy Tien, 32, of Can Tho Central General Hospital, responded to an in-flight call for medical help about 30 minutes before landing, he told the VnExpress news site.
The patient was found pale and unresponsive. Using a blood pressure monitor available onboard, Dr. Tien determined her blood pressure had dropped to around 70/40 mmHg, a dangerously low level that could lead to shock or even cardiac arrest if not treated promptly.
With limited medical equipment, he used the aircraft’s emergency kit to administer intravenous fluids. Despite the confined cabin space and light turbulence, he successfully established an intravenous line.
After about 10 minutes, the patient regained consciousness and her condition improved. Upon landing, she was handed over to a ground emergency team for further treatment.
