A warm light now shines at 496 Nguyen Cuu Phu Street, just steps away from City Children’s Hospital Ho Chi Minh City, where the first Ronald McDonald House in Vietnam has officially opened its doors. Operated by Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) — the nonprofit arm of McDonald’s — this new sanctuary offers families with hospitalized children from distant provinces a place of comfort, connection, and care.
More than a facility, the House is a symbol of McDonald’s belief that every child deserves not just medical treatment, but the warmth of family nearby. It is a physical manifestation of compassion — a home built from love, powered by partnerships, and sustained by the enduring values that McDonald’s has championed around the world for decades.
A home for hearts in need
The Ronald McDonald House can host up to 15 families at a time, offering free accommodation with cozy bedrooms, a communal kitchen, family lounges, and play areas for children. Located beside the hospital, it allows parents to stay close to their children’s bedside while finding moments of rest and emotional strength amid uncertainty.
“The House is a beacon of hope — a place where families can find light in their darkest days,” said Rodney Jordan, global operations director of RMHC. “We are deeply grateful to our partners — especially HCMC Children’s Hospital, our sponsors like McDonald’s, Bếp Sẻ Chia, Ariston, BreadTalk, and our dedicated volunteers — for helping us bring this model to Vietnam. I believe it will inspire stronger connections between hospitals and communities nationwide.”
Beyond offering shelter, RMHC’s model, supported by McDonald’s, helps ease financial burdens and rebuild trust in the compassion of healthcare systems. “A warm, supportive place like this helps families feel cared for — and that emotional comfort can even accelerate a child’s recovery,” noted Dr. Ho Tan Thanh Binh, deputy director of the hospital.
Indeed, the impact of this first Ronald McDonald House extends beyond its 15 rooms. It lays the foundation for a sustainable ecosystem where businesses and social organizations work hand in hand — placing people, families, and community well-being at the center of progress.
From a global brand to a local supporter
While McDonald’s is often recognized as a symbol of speed, consistency, and convenience, fewer people realize its long-standing partnership with RMHC — a relationship that reflects the brand’s global heart and humanitarian mission.
In Vietnam, this spirit is carried forward by Good Day Hospitality, the developmental licensee of McDonald’s Vietnam, which has been entrusted with continuing the brand’s legacy of care through RMHC initiatives.
“McDonald’s and RMHC share one core value — bringing joy to children and families,” said Nguyen Bao Hoang, chairman of Good Day Hospitality. “Supporting RMHC allows us to offer more than just meals — it’s about joy, compassion, and hope. We believe a truly sustainable business must create lasting value for the community.”
That belief echoes a broader global shift: corporations today are increasingly defined not only by their products but by their purpose. For McDonald’s, supporting RMHC is more than philanthropy — it is a reflection of what it means to be a responsible global citizen.
A broader mission of compassion
In Vietnam, McDonald’s has made community care a defining part of its identity since opening its first outlet. Through Ronald McDonald House Charities Vietnam, the company has extended its commitment beyond its restaurants, reaching into communities that need it most.
One of its signature initiatives is the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, a traveling clinic that delivers healthcare services to underserved areas — bringing medical professionals, treatments, and compassion directly to families who might otherwise go without care.
Within hospitals, McDonald’s compassion continues through the Ronald McDonald Family Room, a comforting space located inside intensive care units, where caregivers can rest, recover, and remain close to their child’s bedside.
And when overlapping storms recently struck northern Vietnam, McDonald’s — through RMHC Vietnam — contributed VND100 million to The Saigon Times – Great Circle campaign, offering immediate relief to storm-affected families and reaffirming its enduring commitment to community well-being.
Together, these efforts are expressions of a company that does not simply serve food, but also serves humanity — extending care and comfort wherever it is needed most.
Feeding hope, building futures
Each Ronald McDonald House is more than a building — it is a story of empathy, connection, and the quiet strength that families find when they are not alone. With this first House in Vietnam, McDonald’s and RMHC have laid a cornerstone for the future: one built not of bricks and mortar, but of trust, community, and love.
The organization plans to expand its “Homes Away from Home” network across Vietnam, partnering with hospitals, corporations, and local organizations to reach more families in need. These initiatives are not just about providing shelter or healthcare — they are about preserving dignity, inspiring resilience, and nurturing the next generation with care and compassion.
With McDonald’s at the helm, RMHC Vietnam’s journey has only just begun — a journey that proves compassion can be scaled, hope can be built, and a global brand can become a local lifeline for thousands of Vietnamese families seeking warmth and healing.
