When Vinmec launched High-Tech Robotic Surgery Center Network in June 2026, the goal was to build a surgical model that could combine personalized treatment, robotic precision and standardized care across multiple hospitals.
That vision was reflected in the experience of patient Phan Thi Nghiep, 63-year-old woman with Grade 4 knee osteoarthritis. At Vinmec Da Nang, she underwent total knee replacement using the CORI robotic platform, which generated a real-time three-dimensional model of her joint anatomy in the operating room and supported implant positioning with sub-millimeter precision. Hours after surgery, she was standing and walking with assistance from medical staff.
The Model Behind the Outcomes
The framework rests on three pillars that Vinmec calls its "3-in-1" robotic surgery model: Personalization, Automation, and Standardization. Every patient in the network receives an individualized treatment plan developed through preoperative 3D reconstruction and surgical simulation.
Speaking about the High-Tech Robotic Surgery Center Network's long-term strategy, Prof. Tran Trung Dung, CEO of Vinmec Healthcare System, emphasized: "Beyond providing advanced procedures, we envision it becoming a regional center for training, research, and technology transfer, contributing to elevating the standing of Vietnamese medicine on the global stage."
The network now spans nine robotic platforms across five cities: Da Vinci Xi, Hugo RAS, and Toumai MT-1000 for general surgery; ROSA, MISSO, and CORI for orthopedics; and StealthStation S8, Mazor X Stealth Edition, and the O-arm platform for neurosurgery and spine. Vinmec Times City serves as the national coordination hub, linking connected centers at Vinmec Smart City, Da Nang, Central Park, and Can Tho.
Training the Next Generation
As robotic surgery expands, healthcare systems need to develop the workforce capable of using increasingly sophisticated tools safely and effectively.
At Vinmec, that has translated into a greater emphasis on surgeon training, competency assessment and continuing professional development alongside investments in new technologies.
According to Assoc. Prof. Pham Van Binh, Director of Vinmec's High-Tech Robotic Surgery Center Network, building a sustainable robotic surgery program depends as much on people as on platforms.
"The most difficult part is not purchasing robots," he said. "It is building a truly effective robotic surgery program. Such a program is determined by people, not equipment."
To support that objective, Vinmec established the Robotic Surgery Academy at Vinmec Times City to provide training, assessment and certification pathways for surgeons working across the network.
The broader aim extends beyond today's procedures. It is an investment in the next generation of Vietnamese surgeons who will increasingly practice in an environment shaped by robotics, artificial intelligence and precision medicine.
Access Beyond Geography
For the advances in robotic surgery, one challenge remains: access to specialist expertise is often concentrated in major urban centers. Remote robotic surgery is increasingly being explored as one way to narrow that gap. Vinmec has deployed the Toumai MT-1000 platform at Vinmec Smart City and Vinmec Can Tho.
According to Assoc. Prof. Binh, the principle behind the technology is straightforward: geographical distance should not prevent patients from receiving treatment from the specialists best equipped to care for them.
Internationally, robotic procedures have already been performed across distances of thousands of kilometers while maintaining high levels of precision and safety. In Vietnam, the approach could prove valuable for supporting regions with limited access to highly specialized surgical expertise.
Its wider adoption, however, will depend on several factors, including reliable connectivity infrastructure, an appropriate regulatory framework and safeguards that ensure patient safety throughout the procedure.
If those conditions can be met, geography may become less of a constraint on access to advanced surgical care.
