HCMC – A new robotic surgery center was launched on March 12 in HCMC to expand access to procedures using the Da Vinci Xi Surgical System, as demand for robotic-assisted operations grows in Vietnam.
FV Hospital invested more than US$3 million in the system and established the FV da Vinci Robotic Surgery Center to standardize clinical procedures and develop robotic surgery in a structured manner.
Jean-Marcel Guillon, CEO of FV Hospital, said many Vietnamese surgeons have already received certification to perform da Vinci procedures but have had limited access to the equipment.
The hospital plans to cooperate with surgeons from other medical institutions so that more doctors can use the system in clinical practice, particularly for cancer treatment requiring operations in deep or hard-to-reach areas of the body.
The system’s robotic arms can rotate up to 540 degrees, allowing surgeons to reach areas that are difficult to access using conventional techniques. The robot supports surgeons by stabilizing movements and reducing hand tremors but does not replace the doctor performing the procedure.
The platform also provides high-resolution 3D imaging that magnifies anatomical structures during surgery. According to Guillon, robotic surgery can use incisions of about eight millimeters, which may reduce post-operative pain, blood loss and complications while shortening recovery time. Some patients in less complex cases may be discharged after about 24 hours.
Dang Dinh Minh Thanh, head of the FV da Vinci Robotic Surgery Center, said robotic instruments can move in multiple directions similar to a human wrist. Conventional laparoscopic tools typically move along a straight axis, which can limit access in narrow areas. The added flexibility allows surgeons to operate in confined spaces such as the chest cavity, lungs and bronchial system.
The system will initially be used for procedures involving the lungs, digestive system, urinary tract and gynecological conditions, including some cancer surgeries, the hospital said.
Robotic surgery was first introduced in Vietnam in 2014 with the earlier da Vinci Si system. FV Hospital said it is the fourth healthcare facility in the country equipped with a da Vinci platform and the second to install the newer Xi generation.
Adam Brown, business manager at Device Technologies, said more than 12,000 da Vinci systems are currently operating in hospitals worldwide. Over 20 million robotic surgeries have been performed globally, including more than three million in 2025.
Brown added that robotic surgery in Southeast Asia grew by about 24% in 2025.
